Quote Originally Posted by lugerfan View Post
Hi all,
just thought I'd upload some pics of my Sterling Mk4 L2A3. Old Spec UK Deact It was my final purchase before the Old Spec sales ban.

UK deactivated by Worldwide Arms it seems to be in pretty good condition, I'm guessing that the smooth finish is original ex works (Suncorite ?) as the markings all look nice and deep. The only negative is the horrible blob of weld on one of the barrel screws and the body (as seen in the picture), but I guess there's no fixing that.

Despite some serious effort I have failed massively over the last couple of year to pick up Guns of Dagenham (refusing to pay the £400 or more it's now going for) so its one of the weapons I don't have much info on, but from what I can work out it was made in approx. March 1959 ? (please correct or confirm if you know)

can anyone also confirm if the original NZicon batch of January '59 was an order for 2000 and were they all this smooth finish? and if they ordered any more subsequently? (800 more at some point?)

The Mag it came with is the version that has "Magazine Sterling 9mm 34 Rds" on the spine, is this the correct variant for an NZ export.

One final request for help, it seem to have the ejector retaining grub screw missing, is there anyone in the UK who sells them ?

I'd be interested to know why so many of the NZ guns ended up back in the UK for deactivation, I'm guessing direct from NZ as army surplus, or did they perhaps end up back with our army first for use somehow?

many thanks
Really well done for buying one while you had the chance, they form an important part of a Britishicon Military firearm collection.

I think the ex NZ L2A3's were imported to the UK along with a few thousand ex L1A1's and a very small number of L2A1 Section Automatics​.

As Peter said, the vast majority of these Firearms were deactivated or reduced to parts kits for onward sale to the USAicon.

NZ stopped property marking firearms with the NZ stamp and census number in 1960. So any post 1960 batches won't be marked and you would need the good book to find out what S/N's fell into what contact.

A book I also wished I had too!