Parts and upkeep for British civilian L1A1s?

[mrclark303]

I have seen a claim (on a FB group, so take it for what it's worth) that BSA terminated their L1A1 contract around 1962-63 over a financial issue (supposedly they discovered that RSAF Enfield was being paid 18% more per rifle than BSA), and then sold off their last completed rifles and parts stock on the civilian market. The author additionally claimed that some of these rifles were then acquired by a movie production company's prop unit, or an arms supply house for the movie industry, and appeared in many movies and TV shows of the era.

Interesting, I've never heard that one before.

I know BSA sold small batches rifles to various foreign countries, India, Jamaica etc.

I would find it slightly odd that BSA were paid less per rifle, considering ROF Enfield were a government owned factory.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen a BSA example younger than 1963, possibly 1964...