Rebuilt British L1A1s--how marked?

[mrclark303]

On that front, I have what's clearly a replacement TMH (UB58 serial number on a 1966 Enfield TMH) and it has no non-standard markings at all...not even the little "4" and "7" upgrade marks on the stock tang.

Looks like it was a brand new TMH...no evidence of a removed serial number, just a nice deep number that's polar opposite from the shallow markings that seemed common to BSA-made rifles.

I've had a similar rifle come through my hands a few years ago, I came to the decision that the TMH might possibly have started life as as a Canadian Arsenals TMH, due to the total lack of any NATO stock markings.

I believe the Canadians never marked their TMH's??

Re the deep numbers, I recall our Peter mentioning that reissued TMH's had the original S/N number panel machined out in an oval panel, with the replacement S/N added in its place as a base workshop repair.

I've two rifles with re-numbered TMH's done exactly this way.

[Peter Laidler]

I don't recall seeing UK FTR marked rifles but what we did see a lot of, in the Far East were Base Workshop details stamped into the butts, such as BWS and date or 13FWT ( 13 Field Workshop Taiping or 2 FWM and date code from the big mixed Aust NZ and Brit workshop. Same as Hong Kong.

There wasn't a move to keep L1A1's as war reserve stockpiles or Mob Stores because the 3 year (it became 4+ years.....) deployment of L85's made war reserve stocks of L1A1's unnecessary. As the main report said in effect '.......who wanted to buy L1A1's when there were AK's for free and M16's as cheap!

[nzl1a1collector]

Here's the British FTR marking. Enfeild did a batch in 1967

[Gil Boyd]

Ha Ha........saw that label Building B54 Donnington, made me laugh. I had the pleasure of being in there last year, really tight security as you would expect..........floor to ceiling with weapons all boxed a massive WW2 building akin to a hangar, and MOD Police all over the place watching every move you made. Its termed the SECURE building on site.

[Peter Laidler]

Like I said, I never saw or was aware of FTR'd L1A1's. Notifications such as this would come through in a little restricted booklet titled 'information for Quartermasters' or within the Misc Instructions or Information part of the EMER's. It does seem strange that the example still has the turreted type body locking catch lever.

[browningautorifle]

It does seem strange that the example still has the turreted type body locking catch lever.

Not if it were assembled after release from parts...

[nzl1a1collector]

its a photo of an American assembled L1A1 made from parts fitted to a compliant "American" body. The TMH is the important piece of information

[mrclark303]

Well done for finding that pic Kev, starting to think I had dreamt it! I recall the small FTR marking on the TMH, clocked it on two BSA examples (I think), wish I had taken pictures!!!!

---------- Post added at 12:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 AM ----------

Bee Hive locking lever, good spot Peter, a rare item to find these days...