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Thread: L1A1 wood hand guard differences.....

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member 82Trooper's Avatar
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    L1A1 wood hand guard differences.....

    So my rifle is safe and sound being diagnosed by Brian Dickicon. Knowing the rifle is in his capable hands, has freed my mind (from solving my own problems) to wondering about unimportant stuff....
    Like what is the proper application for these hand guards? One has metal trim on the exterior of the front tip , one is all wood on the outside.
    What gives?
    And while I am at it....what is the "proper" finish for the metal butt plate cover assembly? Almost every one I see is silver, with no finish rmaining. How did the leave the factory? Blued? parkerized? painted?
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    Last edited by 82Trooper; 08-27-2018 at 07:37 PM.
    "Audacia....By daring deed"

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    There MUST be a better buttplate available... I like the first set of handguards, those are most like what we used... The second are classic UKicon (pre plastic)or AUS...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member 82Trooper's Avatar
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    Yes, the pix are really just for reference for this discussion. They are not my actual parts.
    I was just curious in general....
    "Audacia....By daring deed"

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    Legacy Member Aussie48's Avatar
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    The first set of hand guards are the first Aust pattern before we went to the round formed plywood ones. All Australianicon but tplates were parkarised.

    Dixk

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    Legacy Member 82Trooper's Avatar
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    And how about UKicon or Canadianicon butt plates?

  8. #6
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Canadian buttplates are different and need a Canadian butt and some extra parts. They came parkerized.

    Look at the different type parts... Marstar Canada - Parts
    Last edited by browningautorifle; 08-27-2018 at 09:26 PM.
    Regards, Jim

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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    From a UKicon perspective, the woodwork was originally walnut, with later production being beech.

    In the late 1960's, we replaced the triangular two slot handguards with new laminated examples. These were also adopted by Australiaicon.

    The UK then adopted plastic furniture in the 1970's.

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    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    The butt-plates are made from an aluminium alloy of a composition unknown to me. Any hints on whether it was related to mazakicon or something completely different.

    They were "anodized" at the manufacturer's plant, but, as the alloy is not pure aluminium or one of the alloys that can be nicely anodized, they were usually given a coat of black paint. This worked about as well as expected, so there was little effort made to keep them "black".

    I would be very loath to try to "parkerize" one, for fear of it dissolving in the tank.

    Whatever material it was, it could survive an astonishing amount of "square-bashing" and rough handling in the bush. Using the butt-plate as the striking end of a hammer to drive in short star-pickets was a sure way to break them, however.

  11. #9
    Legacy Member 82Trooper's Avatar
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    Thank you all for continuing my education into the L1A1 and it’s mysteries!

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    I think that the butt plates were sintered - or compressed alloy powder and definately not cast as you will see if you snap one. Easily machined too. You can polish one until the cows come home but after a day it'll just turn a dirty grey again. In the UKicon they were made by the same people who made SU Carburettors (but NOT SU) - and probably the same material too. One of the Birmingham alloy founders such as BIRMALLOY or QUALCAST

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