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

[lima]

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

Peter,
Would Trimite J136 (spec below) be about the same product as the original Sterling finish? Seems to be quite popular with speaker cabinet makers at the moment.

http://www.trimite.com/products/?air...ture-black&pdf

Do you happen to know if it was spray applied and baked or just air dried at the factory?

I am restoring some Police Carbines and would love to match the factory coating as much as possible.

Thank you,
Andrew

PS - I cherish my copy of GoD

[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.

[Beerhunter]

made our summer camp near Folkstone more fun.

St. Martins Plain?

As to the CCF. When I was at school, I went on a Cadet Armourers course. On the course it was drummed into us that we should never call "The SMG, L2A3" a Sterling. I found out years later that the Government was trying to avoid paying Sterling any Royalties for the "Sterlings" produced at the Royal Ordnance Factory. So no change there then! (The British Government has form for this.)

In later years, SMG and Sterling were used interchangeably and indiscriminately by us all.

[bouletbill]

Hi Beerhunter, we were camped at Shorncliffe, late 60's, is that near ?

I was not an armourer at that time but we all had fun blasting off a load of unofficial 9mm at Hythe ranges with our nice new 'Sterlings' which were not known by any other name (by us) and were all crinkle finish with full auto selectors..... Happy days.

Did Brit-Gov pay Royalties to Brno for our LMG or was it 'modified' enough to get them off the hook, like the Webley/Enfield pistol ?