Sterling L2A3 Wrinkle Finish Paint

[Stanleyrf89]

A question for the British contingent I suspect, but when did Sterling SMG's gain their wrinkle finish paint? was it applied in the factory, or a base refurbishment feature - and if so when did it become a feature?
Thanks in advance of some quality posts!

Information

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[Brian Dick]

Sterling SMG's were painted with the wrinkle finish during new production when going for commercial or export sales. British military variants were painted with smooth Suncorite 259 paint at the factory and during subsequent FTR programs.

[Peter Laidler]

Dead right Brian. Additionally, the crackle paint was painted over the phosphate finish. It was the same paint, made by TRIMITE, that was used on MGB dashboards if you're interested

[Brian Dick]

I've experimented here doing Sterling refinishing for customers using a crinkle finish paint I get from a company called Easton. I apply it over fresh manganese phosphate and it's very tough once cured out and has the same fine crinkle like the originals.

[Peter Laidler]

We had a little company locally who used to refurbish MGB dashboards. They did a superb job too. Maybe you ought to do them too Brian!

[Stanleyrf89]

Thanks, so British service issue weapons should always have a smooth not a wrinkled finish, or in the best tradition of the MoD did batches get mixed? I'm pretty sure that in 1986 when I used one at the range in Gibraltar it had a wrinkle finish, but time has a habit of interfering with reality!

[bouletbill]

Our Norfolk CCF had five mint crackle black Sterlings, at least between 1966 - 70. Supposedly for demonstration purposes only, but after the Royal Norfolks were disbanded (or merged ?) a very useful quantity of 9mm appeared in our stores. made our summer camp near Folkstone more fun.

[Peter Laidler]

|The UK Military spec for the Fazakerley and Sterling SMG's specified the bog standard UK MoD finish. This included the L34 silenced guns too which put the Sterling company out a bit because when the UK MoD ordered xxx (restricted quantity), they couldn't be supplied from stock because the stocks were all crackle finish. So they had to do a new run, just for the UK MoD.

As a matter of interest, the UK MoD found themselves sitting on a large quantity of commercial crackle finish end caps and butts. In order to utilise these within the spares supply system, special relaxation was sought - and approved. But there was no relaxation granted for a large quantity of commercial crackle finish casings. As a result, they were scrapped although some were bought back by Sterling. So, in theory, the owner of an ex UK Military gun could have a crackle finish butt and/or end cap. But that's all............. Not plain finish, Not UK Military

There's a good, cheap little book about the Sterling SMG that you might enjoy reading Stan. Available from Collector Grade I seem to remember

[stencollector]

Were the sterlings built for the Indian army (and never shipped) the crinkle finish or the plain finish? Did they end up in the British system as either parts or as whole guns?

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, yes....... Good question Stencollector. The cancelled Indian order were the source of the crackle finished parts. The UK Military stripped them down as spares but scrapped the casings as they didn't comply with our spec.

India didn't worry too much that we cancelled their lucrative order. They simply negotiated a licensing agreement with Sterling and built their own. And never came back to us for small arms. What a way to treat a previously friendly government.

Incidentally, it wasn't just the Sterlings that were blocked but a similar quantity of 7.62mm No4's too (.....the origins of the L8 programme and source of the L8 extractors and magazines used in the subsequent L42's - hence the 1965 dates)