Lithgow L1A1

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

I have just bought a Lithgow made L1A1 c/n AD6421666 and was wondering if anyone has any info about it's service use or who it was supplied to?

Many thanks, John.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Austrailian made in 1964...I'm not sure anyone will be able to tell for sure which unit carried it.

[Peter Laidler]

Made for the NZ Army

[browningautorifle]

How'd you tell that Peter?

[mrclark303]

Many thanks for that info Peter, you really are the font of all knowledge! Curiously my example has a Fazakerley 1960 (F60) dated cocking handle and "E X" stamped into the inside base of the upper receiver (at the rear by the tip of the bolt carriers rats tale).

All the parts appear to have been together for a long time, so I can only assume these parts were sent to Lithgow to help with production start up or as patterns.

It currently has Brit plastic furniture fitted so I wonder if it ended up in UK service after leaving NZ ??

Over to you Peter!

Many thanks for the info, John.

[Peter Laidler]

Made for the NZ Army........... I just knew from the batch number.

The serial number of your rifle should be on the breech block, carrier, body (master number) and TMH. I would imagine that the rifle has been where there is pooled Ordnance stocks and if you order a cocking handle, you get a cocking handle that's in store. We didn't buy second hand rifles so you can cancell that thought but we did buy some new rifles and spares from Australia towards the end of the life of the rifle. The Australian rifles were considerably cheaper that the UK made rifles too! I wouldn't mind betting that the p[lastic furniture was fitted in the UK after it was deactivated

[nzl1a1collector]

As Peter said it Sold to the NZ Govt. It was probably an ex Air force Rifle (RNZAF) as they seem to of had a lot of 64 dated rifles.

The "EX" is the Steel Batch Marking for the Body which was used in 1961

F60 Cocking Handle: Its not uncommon to have British spares fitted to a rifle that has been is service, like Peter said we didn't care when it came from so long as it was the right part that needed to be fitted.

The rifle was sold direct from Lithgow to New Zealand and would of had all Lithgow parts to start with. Its not uncommon to find British Plastics fitted to ex New Zealand rifles. The rifle would of been part of the 15,000 rifles sold off in the early 90's, most went to the US and some went to the UK along with our Stirlings, Brens, L2A1's and GP35 Pistols.

[Peter Laidler]

I wonder where my trusty old L1A1 AD6104714 ever went. It was a nice loose rifle and it would shoot all day and night with the gas port fullly open - just closed down 2 or 3 stops. Don't ask me how you ever remember these numbers!!!!! While talking of pooled Ordnance stockpiles, it must have been done on a pro rata basis because most (but not all) of our vehicles were pom Bedfords and big stuff, Australian type Land Rovers and NZ CAC made ammo

[nzl1a1collector]

Peter, I'll keep my eyes open it might be floating around the US as a parts kit

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

Many thanks for all the help and info, I think the L1/fal really is the very best battle rifle ever designed, I like them so much I am buying a UK legal straight pull example next week!

Cheers all, John.