Commonwealth Inch, Commonwealth Finish?

[browningautorifle]

Knowing the Canadian military they were destroyed. We didn't release ANY of the FNC1A1 rifles for public sale, the 8L series you men are familiar with were Ontario Provincial Police issue. We weren't even issued 8L until almost the end when there were no spare parts left. The rifle teams got them from war reserve and we canablised ours. Like I say I only say those EX by accident. When I made noise, they disappeared.

[AmEngRifles]

Jim, Having worked in the museum business for the last 15 years, I have to say that mixing my pleasure (firearms) with my professional background (graphic design/exhibit design) is my greatest pleasure. While I understand that not ALL war material can be kept and preserved for future generations, when you see the really special stuff preserved, it brings those moments when you feel like your work has meant something. Hate to entertain that those EXs may have been destroyed, for the museum industry those moments are heartbreaking. Kinda like chopping up a TSR-2!

[enbloc8]

On the Suncorite-painted rifles...how much wear and tear of the paint was considered acceptable before a rifle would be sent back for refinishing?

[Peter Laidler]

If the paint was worn through to the phosphating, then that was just touch painted up by the unit Armourers. Likewise when it went through to the white metal but here, once it was obviously apparent and at a 25 to 30 percent bare, then they were returned to Base workshop facility for 'the works'

To be honest, the crunchies/soldiers/squaddies were their own worse enemies. Even worse was when they put those harsh 'scotch-brite' cloths into the cleaning regime. If they were used correctly, on the hard chrome parts, they were wonderful and made cleaning the gas parts a doddle. (Doddle: an Army technical phrase used to indicate 'simplcity itself.....'. Directly opposite of '---ing difficult!). Anyway, they'd use it to clean the gas parts off, well....., anything. As a result, the paint, phosphate and anything else was linished down to the core. I swear that some of them have been known to clean the lenses of the SUSAT sights with it! Bless 'em.......

Anyway enblock, has that answered the question in a roundabout way?

[enbloc8]

Yes it has! Thanks a bunch!!

[AmEngRifles]

"Roundabouts" fully appreciated on MilSurps posts!