L1A1/L2A1

[mrclark303]

I can't get a no BS answer out of anyone, Sentryduty is about the closest to having been through there lately...no one seems to know ANYTHING about a foreign weapons collection down there. That was 21 years ago now. Absolutely anything could have happened. Sadly...

Jim, I sincerely hope the T48 you adopted survived and didn't get the chop, it would be criminal to destroy such a rare rifle...

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[green]

What's a 3303 rifle?

[mrclark303]

Quebecers I think F10...

[browningautorifle]

What's a 3303 rifle?

They produced about 3303 test rifles. Caliber was 7.62 X 51, it wasn't a misprint.

the regimental collections were largely "cleaned out" shortly after the FLQ crisis

Couldn't say about that, I know the lockup in Calgary at out museum still had a number of Model '86 Winchesters, a S&W light rifle 1940(no mag) and some M2 carbine variants. Lots of other stuff, that was 1981/82. This collection was gleaned out of the cracks in 1993/96. The racks were built specially for these and it took lots of room. Stores has to account for these so it's a pain. I expect they went away again.

[Flying10uk]

One would hope that they would have deactivated rather than completely destroy a rare rifle.

[browningautorifle]

One would hope that they would have deactivated

The military doesn't care a jot for that sort of thing. At best they'd be kept as a trophy which means welded solid and bolted to a board. If being disposed of they'll be cut into four inch pieces by the oxy/acetylene torch and tossed into the scrap bin. Ask Peter...and others here. The gov't here is in that whole train of though too. That whole time is past. Doesn't bother me either...too old to care.

[mrclark303]

I would have thought deactivation was unlikely F10, you have to bare in mind the vast majority of the population (Military and civilian) really couldn't care a less and have zero interest in such things as rare firearms.

The general mind set is, If it doesn't represent current issue equipment, or have a direct training value (i.e enemy weapons likely to be encountered) then it simply has no place being there.

They just don't see it the way enthusiast's like us see it...

There's been a big sweep out of non issue "live" Firearms from Military facilities right across the UK over the last couple of years, small base collections etc.

[Brit plumber]

Thanks to forum member mrclarke I now have a replacement hammer for my L1A1/L2A1. Like my hammer, this one had been cut through the centre but it was 100% better than the one fitted. I did 40 minutes of welding and filing to fill the cut and then a quick refinish and fitted it to the gun. It now cocks and functions (As functional as De-ac can be) perfectly.

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[mrclark303]

Thanks to forum member mrclarke I now have a replacement hammer for my L1A1/L2A1. Like my hammer, this one had been cut through the centre but it was 100% better than the one fitted. I did 40 minutes of welding and filing to fill the cut and then a quick refinish and fitted it to the gun. It now cocks and functions (As functional as De-ac can be) perfectly.

Attachment 80579Attachment 80580Attachment 80581Attachment 80582Attachment 80583Attachment 80584Attachment 80585Attachment 80586

Happy to help, so I guess your example was one of the L2's assembled from parts, Lithgow L1A1 receiver and TMH (with British woodwork)??, an L2 barrel, gas block and bipod...

I think quite a few ex Malay and Singapore contract L1's and L2's were "reduced to produce" in the UK back in the 1990's, some deactivated and assembled. Others sent as parts kits to the US.

[browningautorifle]

That's better, gives me the shivers just looking at one of those again. I must have been younger then...