Cut away L9A1

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

What does the crowd think of this? I collect Cutaway fireams and I've never seen a Cutaway L9A1 .... This one is too rich for my blood though and it's been deactivated for some odd reason, with a pinned chamber ... Quite why you would pin a chamber with 50% of it cut away is quite beyond me!

So, what do we think, is it a legit L9A1, 1968 dated, it seems to have MK3 features and a ring hammer, doesn't seem right, but I'm no Hi- Power expert, what do you think guys?
https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/deactivated-cutaway-l9a1-high-power-sn-0781

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[Roy W]

I think it is a Deact that has been skeletonised by D&B, they appear to have more than one

[mrclark303]

Cheers Roy, it doesn't seem right to me...

I thought the Fn L9A1 was basically a standard milspec MK2, so spur hammer, standard plastic grips and standard safety.

I thought the ring hammer was out of production by the late 60's, but I'm no expert on these....

[browningautorifle]

Pics for posterity.

[skiprat]

The mix of late/early parts is fine for service in the British Army as long as they worked as they should, it looks like the types I have worked on,
But I have never seen a cut away instructional L9, we did not even see them in Armourer training while learning the "action of Mech" and very few soldiers would be taught the L9 in basic training. I can not see the requirement for a cut away in the British Army ( would it not be re designated a new "L" number) and they would not obliterate the serial number!

[mrclark303]

Pics for posterity.

Cheers Jim, much appreciated...

---------- Post added at 12:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------

The mix of late/early parts is fine for service in the British Army as long as they worked as they should, it looks like the types I have worked on,
But I have never seen a cut away instructional L9, we did not even see them in Armourer training while learning the "action of Mech" and very few soldiers would be taught the L9 in basic training. I can not see the requirement for a cut away in the British Army ( would it not be re designated a new "L" number) and they would not obliterate the serial number!

Cheers Andy, I've certainly never heard of a cutaway example and was under the impression that the L9A1 was covered under the same 'block' as every other service Firearm post 2000 and prohibited from sale to the public in any capacity?

I would guess the Ring Hammer is from an earlier Ingles example..

[browningautorifle]

the L9A1 was covered under the same 'block' as every other service Firearm post 2000 and prohibited from sale to the public in any capacity?

Didn't Peter L have a big go round in court as expert witness about this sort of firearm and their ability to fire? Or something like that?

[mrclark303]

Rings a bell Jim, I think it involved a DP standard L1A1 from memory, that found itself in a private collection?

Cutaway fireams are utterly incapable of discharging anything, for obvious reasons, so deactivated by design.

I've a collection of them, all bought from RFD's, who in turn had them cleared for sale by their Police force areas and all totally safe with no usable pressure baring parts.

From a UK perspective, I've always advised anyone who's interested in buying one, to only buy from an RFD and do your due diligence checks.

[mrclark303]

Small additional point, the trigger axis pin appears to have been replaced with a roll pin, is that a standard service replacement?

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 PM ----------

Taking a closer look at the chamber cut Andy, this is slightly rough from what can be seen, I can't see this having been done in the British Army as a display, presentation, or armourers special one off for training proposes etc.

The standard of workmanship isn't good enough....

[skiprat]

the roll pin for the trigger axis pin is a standard fit towards the end of service, I don't see anything wrong as a deactivated L9 pistol....... and I am sure (!!!!) pistols were been released as surplus before the MOD's total ban ( but don't quote me on that as history may be changed to fit MOD requirements...)
I would say there were very few places that would use it as a training aid REME Armourer training, (Bordon or Arborfield) SASC in Warminster or Shrivenham,
I have seen a L1A1 that was mounted on a display board and was powered by an eclectic motor to move the working parts backwards and forwards and used in recruiting displays so one off "modifications" did happen. and the workmanship was not always the best,

Having seen the Retailers 1"1/2 "British Army Issue riot gun" I have my suspicions!