Sterling L2A3 New Zealand Contract Serial Numbers

[lugerfan]

Hi,

not sure how useful this will be but here goes....

as promised, here are the serial numbers I've tracked down with the corresponding NZ number and note on the finish. Looks like the NZ numbers were not issued sequential to serial number. Where I've put suncorite, it is a smooth black finish.

So far there don't seem to be many left with crackle finish.

Please feel free to copy / past the list with any additions.

KR24800 NZ 705 suncorite, clear markings well refinished but worn deact
KR25078 NZ 691 refinished Suncorite
KR25489 NZ 1710 parkerized Deact
KR25644 NZ 83 crackle (worn) deact
KR25648 NZ 1647 or 1047 suncorite deact
KR25751 NZ 175 suncorite over crackle worn away in places deact
KR26012 NZ 462 suncorite worn to parkerized Live ? in NZ
KR26093 NZ 1604 suncorite deact
KR26665 NZ Unclear suncorite deact

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[mrclark303]

Be warned, NZ Firearm collecting is highly addictive, I bought my L2A3 and thought I could leave it there ... Next it was an WW1 issue NZ SMLE, then came my NZ L1A1 followed by my NZ L2A1, what's next, probably an NZ Long Branch No4 if I can find a shooter.

Point being I am totally addicted and can't wait for the next NZ fix!

[lugerfan]

Hum ... I also have a mark VI webley that has an NZ stamp on it, just a shame that the top 1/2 isn't matching. Perhaps the NZ habit has snuck up on me :0)

[mrclark303]

It's not looking good, seek help fast before you get as bad as me!

Joking aside, well done for starting the NZ L2A3 list, interesting I assumed (dangerous thing I know) that the Census number would have some correlation with the S/N.

That's clearly not the case, so were they census numbered as part of the inspection and Service induction process?

[desperatedan]

I had this old spec 1995 deact until a couple of years ago.

KR25511 NZ1402 some traces of original crackle but now worn Suncorite

Cheers

Kev

[Peter Laidler]

David Howroyd told me that NZ marked their guns with the NZ census number at the factory. I"m not quite sure that I can agree with that because the natural thing to do would be to number them BEFORE they went through the (crackle) paint plant and oven. But clearly, the NZ guns were numbered AFTER they were phosphated and AFTER they went though the paint plant. So they could have been done at the incoming Northern District Ord Depot on arrival. But one thing is certain is that they weren't NZ numbered sequentially with the KR numbers.

Notice how deep the KR serial numbers are engraved. This was a security feature to ensure that they couldn't be ground out - or it would be easily noted if the number had been ground out. We were always having to re-number Faz serial numbers or get re-allocated SA numbers for them.

[mrclark303]

Thanks for that info Peter, the census number system seemed to be used for about 90 years from the Snider (earlier perhaps?) all the way to the L1A1 era and eventual phase out in 1960.

As they already have the S/N, what was the point of the census number? I never really understood quite what it was for...

[Vincent]

As they already have the S/N, what was the point of the census number? I never really understood quite what it was for...

It’s a way of expressing ownership… like dogs lifting their leg and marking their territory. A lamppost is not their lamppost until they have marked it.

[Brit plumber]

The NZ Bren and Tripod are the same, the NZ number is out of such with the Serial. Obviously a first out of the box etc etc.

One thing I noticed with the Bren is that they started as N^ZA xxxx and ended up with just N^Zxxxx.

[mrclark303]

The NZ Bren and Tripod are the same, the NZ number is out of such with the Serial. Obviously a first out of the box etc etc.

One thing I noticed with the Bren is that they started as N^ZA xxxx and ended up with just N^Zxxxx.

More interesting Census number info Chris, my WW1 NZ issue SMLE is marked S21061 she seems to be among a very few to survive with the number intact. All the others I have seen have a flat milled into the top of the receiver ring (Census No location) and the "SS" Sold out of Service marking added in its place.