Anyone Seen These Drawings Before?

[mrclark303]

That is a very sturdy looking mounting system, good job and many thanks for posting the picture. I wonder if my ex NZ Lithgow (AD64 example) was one that went through your hands on its way to the UK?

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[Woodsy]

That is a very sturdy looking mounting system, good job and many thanks for posting the picture. I wonder if my ex NZ Lithgow (AD64 example) was one that went through your hands on its way to the UK?

I doubt it as mine were sold locally. I do know that later batches were sold overseas. The NZ L1A1's were mostly AD59 through to AD64, with very small numbers in later years. The bulk of them were supplied in 61-62. I have a 59 in excellent original condition with the acceptance number NZ 43 (only the first thousand rifles were so marked) which is the only one I have kept from the 1,000. I suspect it is either ex Navy or Air Force judging by the condition, as the Army were pretty hard on their gear and virtually all of their early rifles had been upgraded with later parts (laminated fore-ends, plastic furniture, etc.) in a mix and match fashion as required to keep them serviceable.

When I went to BOD Trentham to collect my rifles I saw many cases of new AUG's ex Steyr in Austria, as Lithgow were not in production of them till later. The first 5,000 were Austrian manufacture with the NZ prefix on the serial number. The armourers had mistakenly issued NZ0001 to the field and had only just got it back to give to the Army museum. It was only two weeks old and was well scuffed up when they got it back. The Steyrs are now being replaced with the Lewis Machine Tool version of the AR15 in various iterations to suit the different services. Sadly, the Steyrs will either be destroyed or sold overseas. Probably not a bad thing as I think they are bloody awful anyway, and only marginally better than the SA80!

[mrclark303]

I doubt it as mine were sold locally. I do know that later batches were sold overseas. The NZ L1A1's were mostly AD59 through to AD64, with very small numbers in later years. The bulk of them were supplied in 61-62. I have a 59 in excellent original condition with the acceptance number NZ 43 (only the first thousand rifles were so marked) which is the only one I have kept from the 1,000. I suspect it is either ex Navy or Air Force judging by the condition, as the Army were pretty hard on their gear and virtually all of their early rifles had been upgraded with later parts (laminated fore-ends, plastic furniture, etc.) in a mix and match fashion as required to keep them serviceable.

When I went to BOD Trentham to collect my rifles I saw many cases of new AUG's ex Steyr in Austria, as Lithgow were not in production of them till later. The first 5,000 were Austrian manufacture with the NZ prefix on the serial number. The armourers had mistakenly issued NZ0001 to the field and had only just got it back to give to the Army museum. It was only two weeks old and was well scuffed up when they got it back. The Steyrs are now being replaced with the Lewis Machine Tool version of the AR15 in various iterations to suit the different services. Sadly, the Steyrs will either be destroyed or sold overseas. Probably not a bad thing as I think they are bloody awful anyway, and only marginally better than the SA80!

Having an NZ census marked AD59 is one hell of a rare beast,wow, well done Woodsy! Love to see some pics of her...

I believe virtually all of the early NZ contact 1959 rifles had their receivers replaced, alas the NZ census numbers went with them..