Very early BSA L1A1 lower ..

[mrclark303]

Saw this "rather down at heal" deactivated BSA L1 this morning, its the lowest serial number BSA TMH I have ever seen, UB57 A469!

deactivated deact weapon gun replica militaria

Makes this TMH a very early example off the line.


Can't make out the numbers on the receiver, so not matching I guess.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Jeeeeeees, that rifle has certainly been around the block a few times! There is a NS number where the serial number usually is on the body. Mind you, you'd get rifles that tatty in service especially those used in the mangrove swampy areas but once they'd been through the main workshops, stripped, run through the blaster and phosphate/paint line and reassembled, then range tested they'd look like new again.

[mrclark303]

Interesting Peter, why the NSN on the receiver instead of the SN, that's new to me, or were the early rifles marked this way? If so, then this is quite a rare early rifle if its matching.

[Peter Laidler]

The serial number will be on the body as well because the body is the 'master component', the accountable part. The TMH's were a replaceable component at Field or Base level.

[nzl1a1collector]

Only the very early British L1A1 rifles had the full NSN marked on the Body as part of the designation.

If I was you, grab the rifle and restore it !

The NSN will be 1005-99-960-0001 The problem is 1005-99-960-0001 is designated as Rifle, 7.62 mm, L1A1 fitted with normal butt.

As soon as you fitted a Short Butt it became 1005-99-960-0002. Rifle, 7.62 mm, L1A1 fitted with short butt.

With a Long Butt it became 1005-99-960-0000. Rifle, 7.62 mm, L1A1 fitted with long butt.

So you can see what seemed like a good idea at the start quickly turned into a nightmare so the NSN was dropped from the body marking.

[mrclark303]

Morning all,

Shame its in such rough condition, looks like its been cut straight through the trunnion too, unfortunately you do see this occasionally, lazy work ... I guess it saved the de activator the time and trouble of removing the barrel to slot it. It makes a real mess and is a pain to (cosmetically) repair.

This example is welded solid, so the carrier will be welded home, without the bolt or rats tail present, selector welded to the hammer etc etc. All in all a real mess and £450 is a lot of money for that train wreck of a rifle!

Looks like it was deactivated last year, I wonder were this L1's been stored, its even worse than the ex Malaysian Lithgows examples you see and that's saying something!

I might make them an offer on it, it is a rare early rifle, worthy of preservation and not beyond restoration, alas as a welded up wall hanger....

[Peter Laidler]

The FIRST British made L1A1 rifles were hurriedly shipped out to Malaya to arm the South Wales Borderers in early 1958. who were at Segamat. Looking at the state of this rifle I wouldn't mind betting that it was one of them.

[Charlie303]

There were quite a few de-act L1A1s like this (but not quite that bad ) at Stoneleigh last Sunday. Really sad, as John says, all welded up, no bolt carrier etc. But there was one very nice old spec FAL G1. I'd not seen one 'in the flesh', the quality was stunning. Dare I say it, somewhat better than the L1A1s made by BSA? Unfortunately I didn't have the £1000 the dealer was asking (luckily says my wife!).

[tankhunter]

[QUOTE=mrclark303;354399]Morning all,

Shame its in such rough condition, looks like its been cut straight through the trunnion too, unfortunately you do see this occasionally, lazy work ... I guess it saved the de activator the time and trouble of removing the barrel to slot it. It makes a real mess and is a pain to (cosmetically) repair.

John, I agree. I have Owned / Traded a few I have had through my own hands done like this. I could never understand lack of 'Craftsmanship' of deacting an L1A1 by slicing through the receiver underneath!
It is a highly visual area, & spoils the asthetic view of these Weapons. Myself, I usually LIFT & PULL Back the cocking slide. Cut a small width slot under the receiver area where the folding cocking handle.
Will lay flat in the Forward Position. & this HIDES the cut, Simple!.......NO Bloody gapeing great slot through the receiver looking ugly when not hidden!....

With the receiver thus 'Split', it is a VERY simple action to unscrew the barrel now. To machine a slot up the barrel underneath. Insert the steel rod in the bore. & weld in place! Pin the chamber & weld the head of the pin to the barrel.

At worst, these 'Butchers' could have Hand screwed the barrel back into the receiver, noteing the CORRECT orientation! & then it would be a very simple matter to weld up the slot in the receiver to the threaded exposed section of the barrel at the chamber end. Dress to profile, & a little bit of Black Paint. Job NEATLY completed!!!......Dosen't take a lot of thought, does it?................

RE: Craftsmanship. It is always sad to have to take a live functioning Weapon & then Deactivate it. In the UK, this is Generally the ONLY way a 'Normal Citizen' is allowed to own & possess one!
So, in MY View. If you HAVE to Deactivate a Firearm. Even THAT process SHOULD be approached with a View to neatness & visual appeal when completed. Even the act of decomisioning should be executed with a view to doing a professional Job. Or am I wrong here?...........

[Peter Laidler]

You're right. Do the bloody job properly!

Talking of early rifles, we did occasionally see very early rifles where the section across the carrying handle and screw threaded section, where the piston entered into the breech block carrier, this section was SQUARED off across the top as opposed to being rounded. The breeching up jig had to be slightly changed to accommodate the later rounded bodies as I recall.