Sterling Mk4 L2A3

[mrclark303]

That's a very comprehensive chop job Jim, a really solid wall hanger!

The old spec (pre October 1995) Sterlings here in the UK could be done in a variety of ways, some much nicer than others.

Some would have a huge section of bolt front removed, while others would only remove a small area of bolt to remove cartridge support.

I have seen Sterlings with barrels slotted and rods welded full length, to overbored and left clear with only a slotted chamber. All had the barrels welded home though (front, rear or both). Charnwood Ordinance deactivated examples are among the best I have seen.

With the exception of welded on barrels, the bodies are more often than not left alone, occasionally they are slotted by the trigger mechanism, trigger mechs are generally left alone.

Information

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[Brit plumber]

My old spec was a Charmwood example and was mint. The block was cut at 45' at the front, the barrel slotted and riddled and then pinned to the body through the bottom into the breech. One of the best I've seen, the down side is that it was a NZ gun not a Brit issue.

[mrclark303]

My old spec was a Charmwood example and was mint. The block was cut at 45' at the front, the barrel slotted and riddled and then pinned to the body through the bottom into the breech. One of the best I've seen, the down side is that it was a NZ gun not a Brit issue.

Yep, Charnwood seemed to employ engineers for the task, while others employed blacksmiths... (I also have an ex NZ Charnwood example in superb order) Good luck finding a British issue Faz made L2A3, Peter has gone into the reasons for their (almost) total absence from the collectors market before in some detail, basically, Government skulduggery again, caught with their trousers down manufacturing L2's at ROF Fazakerley without having the manners to inform, ask or pay royalties to The Sterling Armament Company !

A deal was reached, where Sterling would provide all export examples and spare parts and Fazakerley would solely manufacture examples for the UK, a caveat was also included detailing the scrapping of surplus Faz examples, prohibiting them from onward sale. (Is that about it Peter)??

That said, one of our merry band has a Faz example in his collection, so some got through .. I would guess, lost in pooled ordnance at some point, so escaped the axe! Got to be a rare example now..

[Vincent]

I also have an ex NZ Charnwood example in superb order

Do you have any pictures of it you could post?

[mrclark303]

I posted her a little while back mate, linky https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=56495

[Vincent]

Oh, that one. It looks like new.

[Flying10uk]

Would the Sterlings produced at ROF Fazakerley still have their mag housing engraved/stamped "Sterling" logic would say no? Or to put it another way does the "Sterling" on the mag housing indicate the type of smg or the company that made it?

[Vincent]

The boxed "Sterling" logo indicates the company.

There is a picture of the ROF Fazakerley magazine housing markings on page 138 of the GoD book.

[mrclark303]

Another linky, a few years back this was covered in some fascinating detail by Peter

https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....9&d=1342556536

[Vincent]

Yes. Those details are very interesting.



This breech block looks to have been made using different processes than most Sterling breech blocks I have seen. The numbers on it are large too. I am wondering if it’s early Sterling or ROF Fazakerley production?