Sterling Mk4 L2A3

[Peter Laidler]

I KNEW that you'd ask Vince! Off at a tangent for Vince. So look away now if you despair of my going off at a tangent.

When the No4 rifle was in service, the Energa launchers were issued with the leather pouches. But when the L1A1 came on stream, the then 'new' grenade launcher was issued with instructions that the old No4 type would be withdrawn BUT quartermasters would retain the leather pouches for the new L1A1 type launchers, issued 1 for 1 at Battalion level. So far, so good. But as the new '58 pattern webbing came on stream, it already HAD a pocket for the launcher so the leather pouches sat on the QM's shelves for years........ and years....... and years! Finally in the early 70's no less, instructions were issued that they should be reduced to scrap or salvage locally. To be honest, they were useless for anything else so they were simply put in the bin (the little lift-the-dot closing studs were useless anyway but there was a VAOS part for a replacement set.....).

That is the reason why the little leather pouches are rarer than the launchers. Every Battalion had about 200* nominated 'grenadiers' so multiply that by Infantry Battalions in 1970 PLUS Ordnance stocks and it's plenty. There were some being advertised on that auction site about 5 years ago and I suggested that everyone should get one while they could. Deaf ears I suspect..........
* Germany, don't know about UK

[Vincent]

Thanks Peter. Now we know why there are so few of the pouches.

[peregrinvs]

Discussed here in March 2014:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=48080

I got one off eBay about 3 years ago for a very reasonable price as the seller didn't know what it was. Like the launchers, I believe the pouches were made in Belgium.

There's one here for sale:

British Army Energa Grenade Adapter Pouch | Post WW2 Militaria | World War Wonders

[Flying10uk]

I purchased this cleaning kit some time ago together with a couple of SA80 cleaning kits and the vendor thought that it was intended for the Sterling SMG but wasn't sure, neither am I. It was incomplete when purchased and there may still be items missing or incorrect items for the Sterling currently in it.

I was wondering if I could have confirmation that it is definitely a Sterling cleaning kit, please, and if so are there any bits missing or incorrect bits?

Thanks for any information.

[Brit plumber]

That's the original L85A1 kit, the green scotchbright pad is a no no, we were never allowed to use them as they are to abrasive, only the red.

The brushes with the steel bristles before the copper are the chamber brushes with the barrel extension brush. You always end up using something else to clean out the extension as the bristles bent anyway.

There should be a green plastic oil bottle for the pouch and a few more extensions for the rod. Oh and a nylon pull through. And a copper brush. Probably more I've forgotten.

---------- Post added at 06:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------

Of course the multi tool too

[peregrinvs]

I asked about Sterling cleaning kits on another forum in 2012:

L2A3 Sterling SMG Cleaning Kit

[tankhunter]

I asked about Sterling cleaning kits on another forum in 2012:

L2A3 Sterling SMG Cleaning Kit

And it was Me (Ferretfixer) That clarified most of the questions. LOL

[MGMike]

...
... All military surplus barrels and breechblocks have been banned from importation since July 2005.

And breechblocks?

M

[Brian Dick]

Yes Mike, barrels, breechblocks and bolt assys. Not just MG stuff either. Anything military surplus. The won't allow new stuff either unless documented for the police or military. F.A.I.R Trade Group and NFATCA have petitioned for years to change it but it hasn't happened for obvious reasons with our unfriendly gov't.

[philb]

heres a pic you may like if not seen before