Enfield L1A1 on a Lithgow cut receiver??

[nzl1a1collector]

This is an intriguing rifle.
Ive never seen a serial number so high... well in fact two serial numbers so high (UE80 A200565 (Body) & UE83 A201447 (TMH))

The Body is Australian, it doesn't have RIFLE, 7.62MM, so its not one of the normal 'Spare' Body's that were available.

Its possible Lithgow supplied Blank body's and TMH to Enfield for their own small production run where they have put the Enfield markings on the Bodies as Lithgow did supply large quantities of parts to the MOD. Why I say that is the Body has a Concession marking C21676, probably indicating the Body doesn't match the standard British Body but is acceptable for service.

Here are some things I notice about the rifle:-
RIFLE 7.62M/M LIAI UE80 A200565
C21676
D80

960-2302 D79 /|\ (Cocking Handle Slide)

Tabs on the top cover are buggered…. RH side is missing, LH side is heavily cracked

Gas Block is British

Magazine is from an Indian 1A1 Rifle

Incorrect front Sling Swivel… possible from a Lee Enfield

Gas Plug in the wrong position by 45 degs

Early Flash Eliminator

Trigger Mechanism Housing belongs to another rifle UE83 A201447

On that I do have a pic taken from the web many years ago, probably from another deact rifle marked RIFLE7.62M/MLIAI UE83 A20xxxx


Here's the markings from a 1961 made Enfield L1A1 rifle

[mrclark303]

Cheers Kev, many thanks for your L1 expertise as ever.
It is a very interesting rifle, it's such a shame records from Enfield aren't available. It looks like some rather interesting things were going on at the factory in the early 1980's. I wonder how many rifles were built up on Lithgow Receiver and TMH assemblies?

I find it very interesting that we effectively have two rifles here with 1980's Enfield markings.

It suggests that a batch of late rifles have been stripped, deactivated and reassembled as mix masters.

[enbloc8]

Cheers Kev, many thanks for your L1 expertise as ever.
It is a very interesting rifle, it's such a shame records from Enfield aren't available. It looks like some rather interesting things were going on at the factory in the early 1980's. I wonder how many rifles were built up on Lithgow Receiver and TMH assemblies?

I find it very interesting that we effectively have two rifles here with 1980's Enfield markings.

It suggests that a batch of late rifles have been stripped, deactivated and reassembled as mix masters.

I've never even heard of such a late rifle appearing in the US, either complete or as parts.

My guess is that the MoD needed small quantities of new rifles (maybe to replace scrapped ones), they couldn't justify purchasing complete rifles from Lithgow as they had done a decade earlier, and Enfield decided they didn't need enough rifle bodies and TMHs to justify making them domestically. Sort of a "late in life" compromise to extend the rifle's service a little longer, especially with (for better or worse) a replacement already on the horizon.

A detailed examination of both rifles (the original one, and the one mentioned above by Kevin) for part dates and makers might have yielded some interesting clues.

[BigBadDog]

Also
Rear sling swivel missing.
From what I can make out in the photo the front sight grub screw could be missing.
Front sight looks suspiciously high, bent barrel?
Looks like the gas cylinder is missing. Part of the deac perhaps?
The head of the rivet under the tmh lever looks like it’s been messed with.
Locking shoulder, from r/h side looks poorly fitted.
The back sight leaf should have an angle cut on its front side on the side where the stop pin is. Prevented shearing off of said pin and losing your back sight.
On the British variant at least, there should be the rifles serial number clearly marked on the carrier and visible through the ejection slot.
Bets on the bolt having a different serial number?

The fractures in the top slide are not uncommon. When the fracture was observed the fractured section was removed and the area that had contained the now missing part was filed off to a square profile. That’s at least how we did it in the 80’s.

A Bitser? Put together by someone lacking the requisite knowledge.

We never replaced an old pattern flash eliminator just because a newer one was available. If it wasn’t broke leave it alone.

---------- Post added at 04:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:47 PM ----------

And poorly fitted hand guards.

[mrclark303]

I think many of these things are assembled from parts bins, probably because it's easier to store Section one parts than complete Section five rifles...

I believe they generally remove / don't fit gas tubes and the pivot pin assembly is now welded together to allow pivot, but prevent disassembly of the deactivated rifle.

I see what you mean about locking shoulder, looks like someone malleted it in the wrong way round with a sledgehammer!

[enbloc8]

I think many of these things are assembled from parts bins, probably because it's easier to store Section one parts than complete Section five rifles...

I could see that...what parts would require special storage, apart from the barreled action bodies?

Per the large overall view of the left side, the trigger's an Enfield 87.

[mrclark303]

I could see that...what parts would require special storage, apart from the barreled action bodies?

Per the large overall view of the left side, the trigger's an Enfield 87.

Basically, restricted and licenced parts are components that would be regarded as pressure baring, i.e, barrel, receiver, breech block and Carrier in the case of the L1A1.
The only caveat would be the Flash Eliminator, that's regarded as a controlled part.

Oddly, the TMH is a grey area, some regard it as controlled, others not. I would say controlled just be on the side of caution..

In the UK, complete rifles would be covered under the more restrictive Section 5 of the firearm Act, but reduced to component parts, the parts become Section 1. A less restrictive classification.

I think I am correct in saying that a Section one dealer, could deactivate the component parts and assemble and certificate a deactivated L1 while remaining within Section 1??

I believe the exception to this rule is handgun parts, as they remain section 5.