L1A1 topcovers for the SUIT

[Rotor]

Lots of good info in this thread. Specifically that the tabs on the covers would be routinely removed when eventually damaged. I'll bet a lot of people did not know that.

Back to the mount variations. Many have been pictured with holes punched through for the rivets. I have one with and without holes. Is this just chalked up to different makers.
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Likewise the black one ( w/out rivet hoes in the cover) shows heavy reinforcing weld at the front and back of the T bar. Could it be that either one method or the other ( rivets or weld) were both approved to keep the T bar on there? Also of note here is Bracket height and gauge thickness of the cover. The black being noticeably thinner that the tan cover.
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JR

[Peter Laidler]

Just a couple of observations Rotor and others. On the basis that the actual covers were all from stock, I have never seen a thicker top cover. Even the top covers for the quite heavy-ish ill fated No74 scope for the L1A1 rifle were the same cover. Incidentally, the pics in The British Sniper weren't exactly what went to trial. Could it be the thick sand paint that gives it the impression of being thicker? I ask because however thich the steel pressing is, it's still got to be able to slide in the groove in the body!

Also mentioned a page or so back was the supply of the standard issue part to the contractor. I saw a batch of L1A1 magazines converted for the .22" sub-cal L41 kits. These were all/mostly bog standard issue MTY 1963 or so made L1A1 magazines sent to H&K in the 70's where they'd converted them into sub-cal, re-marked them, put them in the kits (or as spares) and sent them back

[tankhunter]

Rotor, Im sure that those weld marks do not originate from British Army Workshops! The 'Work' is far too clumsy & Uncraftsman like to have passed through 'Out Inspection'! Im SURE Peter will concur with me here?
The approved method would have been to tighten the original rivits to prevent movement on the 'T' Peice mount. If that failed, the rivits would have been replaced with new & the whole ensemble re-parkerised & Suncorite spray painted & baked. (Rustproofing) I can only magine the worst case scenario where a weld repair like this in a decent Military Worshop would have been to grind a small undercut at the front & rear of the 'T' peice, Weld it there at each end. Then dress the metal down as far as poss neatly, & repaint.
This in my own opinion, is a post service bodge 'repair'!
Mike.

[skiprat]

I have had chance to compare side by side two of the mounts with the weld at each end, and with the cover shown in the photos here it would look like all these welds are very very similar.(same place, same size, same shape) I would say they have all been produced by the same maker, are these a military contract or a later reproduction?
If it was a way of reparing loose rivets, are the rivets still loose? (it is very hard to re-tighten rivets without leaving evidence) and would it be that easy to maintain the alighnment of the mount to the top cover? I have not seen a loose mount in many years of working on/collecting SLR bits 'n' bobs
Could these "spot welded" mounts be the last to be issued to give extra support for the SAWES sight when fitted to the L1A1 SLR for use by umpires on exercise.
the photo shows a SAWES sight made in 1985 but the nuclear light source was changed April 1993.
I can remember these sights been used on cut down L1A1s well after the introduction of the L85A1 (SA80).

[Peter Laidler]

Hey, that was looking back in time seeing those SAWES things! About 150 of those little cut down rifles were made/converted from a bunch of captured Argentinian SLR's plus the usual mix of ZF SLR's.

I'd agree with Tankie about the welding. Just from the engineering view point, welding anything that's subject to any sort of stress load, sich as recoil onto sheet steel will simply fail. Not at the weld per se but in a circle around it. Spot welds are a good example. Best to re-rivet

[dpr64]

I have a few Trilux suit scopes and am in need of some FAL mounts for them.. Does anyone out there have a source or place that still has them as surplus?
Thanks...

[DocAV]

ED in a compressed logo form or even "EFD" which was formerly the ID stamp of the RSAF Enfield Inspection mark.

SUIT was a development of RSAF EFD purely for the British Army; I don't know whether the Canadians or the Australians ever used it, except for some trials...I Have a couple of SUIT units with Top covers ( all buggered Optics), which came out of an Aussie Army Store as Scrap.

Had the aluminium rivets, and was all black colour.

regards,
Doc AV
Down Under

[skiprat]

hey Doc
I have (alot of) good spare optics..... I just need bodies

[Peter Laidler]

The SUIT sights weren't developed by Enfield, they were developed by and made by ALVIS of car and AFV fame. Optically, they're quite a simple sight...... just a prismatic monocular really, We used to say that they were a bit like a mickey mouse watch.......... Good to look at but not much use when it came to telling the time.