Commonwealth Inch, Commonwealth Finish?

[tankhunter]

I note with an Armourers eye for detail. That your Top rifle &Aussie) Has the hinge pin screw in the WRONG way round! This was Illegal stripping for users in the UK, & often accompanying inspections found the Proverbial Matchstick under the sear! Result, user was informed Armourer KNEW user had Illegally strippied his weapon & tampered with internal componant parts.
Result: A case of Beer for the Armourers Workshop, of face being charged in front of the company commander! I think you know which course of action the 'User' prefered!

[Peter Laidler]

I must say that I've never seen our sunkorite actually flaking off the rifle as shown in the BSA with black plastic furniture. It would wear off of course but the bead blasted and phosphated surface was a very good key for the paint. I think that the rifle wasn't properly degreased in the boiling trichlorethylene vapour tank. Any comments on this Tankie..........?

[nzl1a1collector]

Indeed tankhunter, the Hinge Pin is in around the wrong way. Another point not to have it this way is because you will rake your fingers across the ends of the screw.

Peter the BSA is well used and it looks like the last time someone messed with the finish they just put black paint on it hence the flaking look to it?

The new 1961 Enfield I have has a top notch Factory Phosphated/Stoving finish.

[tankhunter]

I agree Peter, I have never seen flaking of the suncorite finnish. it was a VERY hard surface finnish. If the weapon was dropped on something hard & slipped. It would be a small scratch to the finnish rather than a chip or flaking to the paint!
I suspect that the finnish shown in the finnish is a post Service applied one.

[AmEngRifles]

So nzl1a1, your new 1961 Enfield is an English rifle that has migrated commercially to New Zealand (during private collecting), or did the New Zealand government purchase directly from the factories in the UK?

Seems I should get the book. Is there a good publication out there that covers all the Commonwealth models, instead of just a chapter in an FAL book?

Sorry to be so unversed in all this.

[Peter Laidler]

I keep on at NZ L1A1 collectot to publish a book on the complete story of the Commonwealth LA1's and variants. He will one day for sure!

[AmEngRifles]

I fully support that Peter! By the way nzl1a1, if you need a book designer, I have been a graphic artist for 30 years and can help you arrange, build and give the book a fantastic look. We just need a good editor!? Peter? Need a side project?

High quality photos are the key. One of my favorite publications is now over 30 years old. Modern Small Arms by Major Frederick Myatt M.C., Salamander Book, is still a great reference for me.

If only books had panarama 360 degree capability. Ah, hence the internet!

[nzl1a1collector]

So nzl1a1, your new 1961 Enfield is an English rifle that has migrated commercially to New Zealand (during private collecting), or did the New Zealand government purchase directly from the factories in the UK?

Seems I should get the book. Is there a good publication out there that covers all the Commonwealth models, instead of just a chapter in an FAL book?

Sorry to be so unversed in all this.

The rifle was one of 10 sent to New Zealand from Enfield as part of us being a member of the Rifle Steering Committee (RSC). It has all the 'new' features that had been incorporated into production, basically from this point forward the rifle was the Mk. 2 Self Loading Rifle and really should of been called the L1A2. The 10 rifles were keep at the SEME Armoury as 'Control Rifles' till the L1A1 was replaced by the Steyr AUG A1/F88.

[browningautorifle]

That's interesting, in Victoria BC we had ten EX rifles held in Regimental Quartermaster store for decades and no one was aware let alone allowed to touch. Copper wash pistons and all. I saw them in the summer of 84 when I was standing somewhere I shouldn't have been. I was able to return to that spot some months later and they were gone. Magically spirited away I expect! I always wonder if it was because of my asking that did it. Until then no one cared or knew what they had? I did mention they were worth coin!

[AmEngRifles]

Thanks for all this interesting information. Kind of like getting the bits and pieces to a treasure map. Wonder where those EX rifles ended up BAR? Be nice to see them resurface.