SAS L1A1 (but not really)

[mrclark303]

Is it possible to tell from the 3 pictures provided in the link that it is definitely a British spec L1A1 SLR and not an Australian or Canadian version?

Receiver is Lithgow cut F10, just another nail in its coffin...

---------- Post added at 01:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:58 AM ----------

I remember the long, long thread we had here reference that...



I think if were Canadian they would be happy to jump on a cash bandwagon and try to sell it for big bucks that way. They're scarce...

Never seen anything C1 here Jim, except for the Warminster example.

If someone could make one up here it would be a real one off!

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[Buccaneer]

Is it possible to tell from the 3 pictures provided in the link that it is definitely a British spec L1A1 SLR and not an Australian or Canadian version?

If it is a British Build I don't see how it can be legal as all British held L1A1 rifles became "Section 5" after the Hungerford tragedy banning all semi auto rifles above .22.
In the UK you are not allowed to convert a "Section 5" semi auto gun to "Section 1" straight pull nor may you use any pressure bearing parts that were once on a "Section 5" rifle to create a straight pull rifle.
Section 5 is a UK classification and therefore only applies to rifles in the UK, this means parts from rifles outside the UK in theory can be used to create a straight pull but this interpretation is a very grey area.
I have two straight pull L1A1 rifles both built on Australian actions with Italian barrels which appear to be ok with the powers that be as they have passed through the proof house without any problems.

[mrclark303]

If it is a British Build I don't see how it can be legal as all British held L1A1 rifles became "Section 5" after the Hungerford tragedy banning all semi auto rifles above .22.
In the UK you are not allowed to convert a "Section 5" semi auto gun to "Section 1" straight pull nor may you use any pressure bearing parts that were once on a "Section 5" rifle to create a straight pull rifle.
Section 5 is a UK classification and therefore only applies to rifles in the UK, this means parts from rifles outside the UK in theory can be used to create a straight pull but this interpretation is a very grey area.
I have two straight pull L1A1 rifles both built on Australian actions with Italian barrels which appear to be ok with the powers that be as they have passed through the proof house without any problems.

This what is and what isn't Sec5 is interesting isn't it. I also have two, one Enfield and Lithgow (NZ contact).

I would imagine both yours are Malay contract examples Buccaneer, all the examples I have seen from that source have been ex Malay.

The thing is, both my parts kits were sourced in the UK, I procured the Lithgow kit myself from a well known UK dealer and had it built into a straight pull L1A1.

So both kits procured, built as Sec1, proofed and placed on my FAC here in the UK, without any issues whatever.

My local Police force were consulted right off the bat and they had no issues.

It was just a case of being sensible regarding the builds and ensuring a new barrel was used without bleed, plus suitable modifications to the gas block, plug and bolt carrier.

After all, an L1A1 procured as parts is only a collection of Sec1 parts, so built up with the new barrel it's a Sec1 rifle.

You can't do the same thing with an existing Sec5 L1A1, because it retains its Sec5 designation no matter what you subsequently do to it.

Edit: Also as a complete Sec5 firearm, its history is known via end users documentation, RFD registers, etc. So you can't just strip it down and say, look what I found!

That's why a certain UK based dealer came to get the high jump the other year, because he was rather stupidly down converting sec5 firearms to Straight pull!

[CINDERS]

Couple of pics from a book I have on the SASR with modded SLR's in VN, the author Mick Malone OAM was a member of the SASR and toured VN with the Regiment during that conflict I say this as sometimes info is gathered by the 3rd person and can be erroneous in content this is by one who was there, he now sells WW history books.

[mrclark303]

Thanks for posting Cinders, plenty of accounts and pictorial evidence for the ANZAC modified L1's, absolutely none for a Northern hemisphere example.

[Brit plumber]

Original NI photo of a shorty L1A1 courtesy of Adobe PS9

Attachment 83053

[mrclark303]

Original NI photo of a shorty L1A1 courtesy of Adobe PS9

Attachment 83053

I see the FE is attached to the gas plug, very funny, what have you done, the dealers will be using this as proof Ha!

Caption should read, Private Adobe of the Queens 1st Foot and Mouth tests the "Special Army Soldier" short rifle, as he stands guard after a Glaswegian Stag night...

[browningautorifle]

Original NI photo of a shorty L1A1 courtesy of Adobe PS9

That pic has been altered and it's easy to see. Just look closely...

[Woodsy]

In my experience (having made many 'shorties') the accuracy is noticeably improved as the barrel is shortened. A good condition L1A1 is usually capable of consistent 2 - 3" groups at 100 yards with good ammo, but shortening (as much as only 1.5" ahead of the gas port) can bring the groups down to 1". Of course this comes at the expense of some velocity, and the gas port has to be enlarged to operate with the lower port pressure. The end result is a handy little unit!

[Peter Laidler]

No need to go through it all again, but we found barrel length most critical for accuracy using 7.62mm NATO, issued ammo. It was for this very reason that the L4 barrel had to have a longer barrel than the old Mk3 gun barrel it replaced! Check it out next time you see them together. They WANTED to keep the 762 barrel shorter for technical manufacturing purposes but the accuracy figures fell away.
Never seen that photo before but it needs further info from somewhere. But VERY early....., still in the old original sateen combats. Probably 1969 I'd say. With all the thousands of photos taken during the time, others with short rifles that noone has ever seen would have emerged.