SAS L1A1 (but not really)

[mrclark303]

I can remember a very brief camera sweep of an IRA arms cache being decommissioned on the news, a wood stocked L1A1 was among the AK's, Armalites and M60's etc

Information

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[Bruce_in_Oz]

The only "funny" I ever saw, (and fired) was an L2A1, that had been around the block with someone and came back with a flash-hider from an M-60 attached to a slightly shortened barrel.

It had modified late-pattern L1A1 hand-guards held on with stainless-steel hose clamps, instead of the C2 type bipod / hand-guard rig. L2A1 dust-cover and sight retained. L1A1 trigger housing and components.

Looked nasty, shot fine.

Do not know of its "heritage", but doubt it was an "official" mod, even for the "interesting chaps" from Western Australia.

There was also alleged to be an L1A1 issued to a rather "gung-ho" Oz Infantry company commander (Major), which was bog-standard, but had a set of hand-guards with brass plates attached to them. On these plates were engraved the words: "Happiness is a warm barrel and a high body count." I suspect there may have been a set of "issue" hand-guards available, come "tech inspection" time.

[mrclark303]

The only "funny" I ever saw, (and fired) was an L2A1, that had been around the block with someone and came back with a flash-hider from an M-60 attached to a slightly shortened barrel.

It had modified late-pattern L1A1 hand-guards held on with stainless-steel hose clamps, instead of the C2 type bipod / hand-guard rig. L2A1 dust-cover and sight retained. L1A1 trigger housing and components.

Looked nasty, shot fine.

Do not know of its "heritage", but doubt it was an "official" mod, even for the "interesting chaps" from Western Australiaicon.

There was also alleged to be an L1A1 issued to a rather "gung-ho" Oz Infantry company commander (Major), which was bog-standard, but had a set of hand-guards with brass plates attached to them. On these plates were engraved the words: "Happiness is a warm barrel and a high body count." I suspect there may have been a set of "issue" hand-guards available, come "tech inspection" time.

Ring any bells Bruce?

[Gil Boyd]

In view of the current situation in the words of Churchill "Careless Talk Costs Wives"

but I remember it well, he was that man..............in a small town then, called Crossmaglen.

No Sheriff, no guns hung up at the edge of town, and lots of Indians, with bows and arrows..............but then there was 2 PARA to keep the PEACE, same ole same ole, we did more tours than Thomas Cook Holidays

[CINDERS]

I do not think the paddies had it all their own way in a book I have Stalk and Kill a certain IRA member was fleeing the scene of a shoot out with the British army at night and found his way into the cross hairs of a sniper whom latched on to him as he disappeared into a door way. The sniper fired as the perp disappeard into the shadows so could not claim a kill.
During daylight a patrol went out and went to the doorway where there was a nice 7.62 hole in the center of it, they had to push their way in as on the otherside dead as a trout was the IRA member with a nice old exit hole in the middle of his chest.

The sniper could only fathom what must have happened and it went like this, as he got into the door and closed it behind him he had leant against the door thinking Phew! he had escaped when the round came through the door and did the deed on him.
But they had IRA snipers that were just as good as the Brits that are mentioned in the book but it was a one way street as they could not match the training of the British snipers and often ended up holding onto the short end of the rod.

Heres one to show snipers are not with out feeling from the same book;

The were set up in an urban training environment with poppers goodies and baddies to which the snipers had x time to take out the threats anyway one sniper shot a lady pushing a pram so the CGI shouted out "Thats just great for the relations here the child will grow up hating us and wanting to kill us."
No sooner had those words left his mouth another shot rang out going straight through the pram...................total silence ensued!

Sorry for the highjack but the mention of paddies & Ireland brought those stories back into my head.......

[Peter Laidler]

The snatch GPMG saga was the late 80's and was taken from one of the Jockistan regiments during a village sweep in bandit country. Some women ran off with it plus he belt hanging from it but the stumbling block was that the engagement rules did not allow the patrol to open fire on the women due to the fact that simply running off with a gun isn't a killing offence. So they had to let them escape. But not for long. One of them had already surrounded and sliced the face of one of the others too. Reinforcements were quickly on scene and the village TOTALLY locked down and sealed. A couple of Para Reg search teams came in - I think that they called then chaos squads - very quick plus dogs and after a while it was found. Much more to it than that but there you go...... Gil, you'll remember this albeit by association with our mutual friend

[Peter Laidler]

Re Bruce in Oz, thread 37 and the handguards...... The Maoris with 1 RNZIR were notorious (but very good) at carving the handguards and butts of their rifles. Nobody seemed to try to stop them, as if it were the normal done-thing!. I took a set off one being back loaded that was beautifully carved with a Kiwi bird holding a spear on a surf board. Still have them somewhere. Another I noted was carved with the words 'death and torture to all VC'. Nice blokes but don't get into a drinking contest with them.

[mrclark303]

Re Bruce in Oz, thread 37 and the handguards...... The Maoris with 1 RNZIR were notorious (but very good) at carving the handguards and butts of their rifles. Nobody seemed to try to stop them, as if it were the normal done-thing!. I took a set off one being back loaded that was beautifully carved with a Kiwi bird holding a spear on a surf board. Still have them somewhere. Another I noted was carved with the words 'death and torture to all VC'. Nice blokes but don't get into a drinking contest with them.

Interesting to see a pic if you come across those Peter!

[Gil Boyd]

.................oh no not Peter's renowned drinking habits surely??? He's got cups and awards for it

[mrclark303]

.................oh no not Peter's renowned drinking habits surely??? He's got cups and awards for it

Now being a true Brit, I take a certain pride in not being out drank by our Commonwealth brothers .... I had more than a few beers with a Maori once and I ended up bowing out at 4am, I conceded the match to him while I still had a working liver!

I was a lot younger then and wouldn't even entertain it now!