SAS L1A1 (but not really)

[mrclark303]

New straight pull Enfield SAS short rifle. I shall let the description and pictures talk for themselves ...

So Enfield made Lithgow cut receiver equipped L1A1's for the SAS did they ....

Enfield L1A1 Straight Pull 7.62 mm Rifles- GunStar

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

O, bless 'em! But they do try. As if anyone in the real army world would use a straight pull. Doesn't anyone tell these retailers that we're taking the pxxx out of them?

I would imagine that they have used that flash eliminator to fit under the gas block and therefore cover all traces of the gas port. Just a guess of course.......

[mrclark303]

The straight pull L1A1'S aren't exactly tack drivers as they stand, they were designed to fill a gap in collections left open after the semi autos were banned.

So, lop off 5" of barrel and what do we have, yep further reduced accuracy and £500 more!

Tell me, Peter, Mike, Geoff, Andy .... Having an interest in all things inch pattern, I re-created a deac example of an ANZAC "special" L1 a while back, I waited until I had an original one to exactly copy, but does this SP re-creation have any basis in reality, as I have never seen any evidence whatsoever of a British cut down Spec ops L1A1??

[Peter Laidler]

To be honest, I served in Australia, NZ and the UK and I'm the first to admit it, never with these sneaky-beaky people. Or if I did, not that I know of. Plus the fact that if I did, I wouldn't say so! But I digress..... I have never seen an L1A1 shortened as an army issue thing in the UK, Oz or NZ although the NZ people were very close to us at Papakura and we were their Field/Base workshop. I have seen one (or two?) shortened for a training/trial/scientific student examples to show how accuracy degrades at a logarithmic rate almost at the same rate as the flash enlarges almost! And of course, its inability to operate the gas system as I mentioned in a paper a year or so ago here. I'm not saying anything that I haven't said before but how that second pistol grip ever holds onto or even remains firmly attached to a set of flimsy handguards while the rifle is rocking and rolling and bucking like a bronco with a bee stinging its axxe, while on auto is totally beyond me. But nope, I never saw a shortie outside a test lab. When I asked WO2 Ian Kxxxxx at DSE Axxxxx for one (for the collection) he said that they'd never heard of them.

Seen plenty tarted up with green paint and assorted camo style 'look-at-me-mum' tape. Same tape used on cars also known as 'go-faster tape'.

[browningautorifle]

It is interesting how they profess to them having been at the Falklands fight, yet during all the footage and after pics there were none to be seen. They act like they're standard fare. And they're an awful lot of $$$$

[mrclark303]

It is interesting how they profess to them having been at the Falklands fight, yet during all the footage and after pics there were none to be seen. They act like they're standard fare. And they're an awful lot of $$$$

Funny that Jim, as you say, with the exception of the Australian/New Zealand SAS Vietnam specials, (plenty of period pictures online), I have never seen or heard of any British special rifles....Only the often told tall stories!

[Gil Boyd]

John,
No one had them down south, and to my knowledge, I have never seen one issued to anyone regardless of Regiment status, it was always "as issued" and use dependable proven British kit, that you could always rely on, or use U.S kit for a variance such as Jungle warfare ie M16 and other special duties, and sometimes they too were used in NI, but rarely, because to take away a proven SLR from any squaddie, was like ripping off his right arm.

If you asked me, if my issue SLR failed me, would I cast it aside and pick up an AK47?...............I would fix bayonets, rather then get rid of my trusty bondook the SLR.

Everything seems to have to be sold these days, with an "ex SAS/PARA/RM" tag on it to make it somehow acceptable and more appealing, or is it me??

John, I think you started the thread right with SAS L1A1 (not really) was spot on mate.
I am still sat here thinking, what the hell would you want that for in any contact

[mrclark303]

Cheers Gil, thanks for the feedback mate, it's total rubbish isn't it, I think Luxembourg Defence Technic started this nonsense a few years back with their fun "SAS builds", basically same as this rifle (but semi auto) with the FE attached straight in front of the gas block.

From there, Chinese Whispers took firm hold and the bullsh*t bus hit the road hard!

As you say Gil, mention the Falklands, SAS, Para and watch the till ring !!

I do wish buyers would get clued up before they swallow this rubbish.

As many wise Voices on here say again and again (all together now) ... Buy the rifle, not the story!

[Flying10uk]

Is it possible to tell from the 3 pictures provided in the link that it is definitely a British spec L1A1 SLR and not an Australian or Canadian version?

[browningautorifle]

with the exception of

I remember the long, long thread we had here reference that...

not an Australian or Canadian version?

I think if were Canadian they would be happy to jump on a cash bandwagon and try to sell it for big bucks that way. They're scarce...