SAS L1A1 (but not really)

[Gil Boyd]

In view of the current situation in the words of Churchill "Careless Talk Costs Wives"

but I remember it well, he was that man..............in a small town then, called Crossmaglen.

No Sheriff, no guns hung up at the edge of town, and lots of Indians, with bows and arrows..............but then there was 2 PARA to keep the PEACE, same ole same ole, we did more tours than Thomas Cook Holidays

[Peter Laidler]

Re Bruce in Oz, thread 37 and the handguards...... The Maoris with 1 RNZIR were notorious (but very good) at carving the handguards and butts of their rifles. Nobody seemed to try to stop them, as if it were the normal done-thing!. I took a set off one being back loaded that was beautifully carved with a Kiwi bird holding a spear on a surf board. Still have them somewhere. Another I noted was carved with the words 'death and torture to all VC'. Nice blokes but don't get into a drinking contest with them.

[mrclark303]

Re Bruce in Oz, thread 37 and the handguards...... The Maoris with 1 RNZIR were notorious (but very good) at carving the handguards and butts of their rifles. Nobody seemed to try to stop them, as if it were the normal done-thing!. I took a set off one being back loaded that was beautifully carved with a Kiwi bird holding a spear on a surf board. Still have them somewhere. Another I noted was carved with the words 'death and torture to all VC'. Nice blokes but don't get into a drinking contest with them.

Interesting to see a pic if you come across those Peter!

[Gil Boyd]

.................oh no not Peter's renowned drinking habits surely??? He's got cups and awards for it

[Bruce_in_Oz]

That looks VERY similar. I can't recall exactly how the front of the hand-guards were modified to clear the "fatter" gas-block. Is that "industrial" / "gaffa" tape on those hand-guards

The one in your pic appears to have retained its L2A1 selector / "fun-switch".

I don't think I have any photos of beast I saw. And it was over twenty-five years ago..........

[mrclark303]

Hi Bruce, the picture was sent to me by one of our Milsurps brothers, it's an interesting example, can't really fathom why they would use an L2 as the base rifle, it needs a lot more work.

On the other hand, it has a heavier barrel for sustained fire (as much as a magazine fed weapon can) and I suppose it was just avalable at the time for conversion.

Looking at the logic behind these mods though, sustained fire wasn't the object, it was make an almighty bloody racket, a very brief beaten arc of fire, throw smoke and disengage while the NVA/VC patrol have their faces pressed in the mud wondering what just hit them.

[mrclark303]

.................oh no not Peter's renowned drinking habits surely??? He's got cups and awards for it

Now being a true Brit, I take a certain pride in not being out drank by our Commonwealth brothers .... I had more than a few beers with a Maori once and I ended up bowing out at 4am, I conceded the match to him while I still had a working liver!

I was a lot younger then and wouldn't even entertain it now!

[bigduke6]

I was a lot younger then and wouldn't even entertain it now!

Think were all like that now John, one of my best sessions was in Japan.....in the early 90's, I nipped out (no pun intended there) the hotel and found a bar close by (Merchant Seamen have never had a problem finding a bar, its finding the correct one that counts) it was a small, quiet and not the Slaughtered Lamb type, so sat down at the bar and quaffed on the local ale, there was a Guy who come in just after me, but dressed like an old fashioned British Banker, ... the Bowler hat, black suit with brolly etc...... he mentioned something in Japanese, my pigeon Japanese was bad at the time, so I raised my glass and we were off........

To this day I will never Know what he was celebrating, commiserating etc, but he was knocking down the Sake like there was no tomorrow, maybe he was caught with the Secretary or the cleaner in the cupboard...... who knows, but he was going for it, lucky for me the Hotel wasn't far, but I didn't envy his Journey........ as Billy Connolly describes there is about 3 drunken staggers, his was dressage......

I had an afternoon flight the next day so enough time to stem the hangover, of course back then travel was civilised and you could enjoy a bear and light up as soon as the no smoking light went out.......

[browningautorifle]

I had an afternoon flight the next day so enough time to stem the hangover,

I don't even want to recall those days let alone relive one. I remember the hangovers and sometimes travel was intolerable. Specially if you were near a diesel engine that was smoking. It was always fun at the time.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Seeing as it's almost ANZAC Day.....