Custom order C1A1?

[stencollector]

It was the same for us mechanics Peter. On any road move across the Canadian prairies, there would be the inevitable breakdown in the middle of nowhere. We would pull up, and the first word out of the guy's mouth would be: "I'm not the driver....I just signed for it yesterday." We would look West (you could see for about 40kms) the East, and reply: If you're not the driver, then how did it get here?"

Arte et Marte indeed.

[browningautorifle]

This will make Peter's teeth wiggle...

No small pin to use as a tommy bar to tighten the gas cylinder

You can use the firing pin for a bar. Just slip it through the holes provided. That's after you use it to drive out the small pin, retaining, he refers to. You can use the bayonet handle for a hammers, tapping...imagine coming upon this in the quarters when on rounds...? The standard "That's further than you're taught to strip it" might apply...seemed a bit blunt at the time...

[Peter Laidler]

Another was polishing up the woodwork with brown (or black on the later plastic stocked weapons.....) boot polish to get them to shine for some parade or something.......... I used to tell them, in front of the NCO's that people like me and others have spent 50 years, since the end of the old nasho (national service) and blanco/polished brass webbing era trying to consign bullshi...., er spit and polish to the past. Ironing razor sharp creases into work-a-day strides and shirts............ All anyone can ever ask for and expect is clean and smart.

And when someone commented that it was OK for me because I had a batman to do my stuff..... Then I let them have both barrels! Batman.......... I'm the xxxxxxx batman! I have to say that the best/nicest thing any of the crunchies ever said to me was something very small and almost insignificant. That what they liked was that I had a pair of overalls - and used to wear them! (probably because I hadn't ironed my good stuff I used to tell 'em)

Happy days. But under the skin, all Armies and the crunchies are the same, certainly in Oz and NZ they were. Arte et Marte

[green]

I have examined 2 of the C1s on the above invoice and they both had the early pattern solid sight guards integral with the gas block.

[browningautorifle]

Very interesting info. I wonder what came about there. Maybe they didn't see need to install the new model barrels for civilian use. I NEVER even heard of the solid sights on 8L series in service use...and we sure had lots of them.

[Peter Laidler]

The replaceable foresight protectors is a good idea to me. Ther were a bit of a pain at Field and Base workshops if they'd broken oiff as it was a barrel change. If it'd been bent and cracked open at one side you were allowed to weld repair but missing.... New barrel. No5's were as bad but we were permitted to make a new semi circular protector(s) from square section lock washers and re-weld. Just take Bren and No4 barrels as good examples. Why did they have replaceable protectors and not the rifles?