British Colt Armalite AR15 questions

[Peter Laidler]

Off topic here a bit but....... During the licensing agreement to build the GPMG here at Enfield - and only at a government factory I hasten to add - FN would not allow any deviation from standard exccept by agreement and royalties of course! This was a bit of a sore point with Britain because when we did design in modifications, such as bipod leg strengthening straps, magazine box button, sling loop to tyhe top of the butt to name a few, we paid up but FN adopted them AND offered thjem as options for foreign buyers! Bit oif a cheek I'd say. But looking at the long view, I'd say that we got a good deal. Not just a good deal, but a VERY good deal.........

[Brit plumber]

It was marked MAG before being ground out and remarked L7A2. I have a post sample that was registered in the USA as an L7A2 but the original left hand side plate markings read MAG 2A which is an early FN mfg., Indian owned GPMG. The later ones are marked MAG 2A1. The LH side plate serial number of mine is A2336. It has also been rebuilt during it's service career and sports mostly EFD replacement parts so I'd say this is commonplace with Indian issue GPMG's.

I think alot of these ex Indian 1A and 1A1 guns were sold off by a well known UK engineering firm, I've seen some with markigns which have been stamped somthing like FTR'd by xxxxxxx Engineering, or deactivated by xxxxxxxxx Engineering. And I've seen dealers then remark these as UK L7s, one of them even had the Ashoka badly ground off bu the dealer still insisted on it being a British gun.

[Brian Dick]

The MAG 2A / L7A2 I have had to have serious repairs done to it. The RH side plate was cracked through the locking shoulder and it had been welded and painted heavily to disguise it here in the USA by a previous owner/dealer. It opened up during a demo in Virginia, surprise! I had Ohio Ordnance who build first class M240B GPMG's fit a new M240 RH side plate to get it back to perfect. There were many other small cracks in the LH side plate that they also weld repaired in the process. I finished it upon return with proper phosphate and baked Suncorite 259. It's a runner. I have the EMERS and IPL available for the L7A2 and tripod assembly if anyone wants the bibles for working and caring for these guns. They are the best of the best.

[Kev G]

or mysterious UK infra-red weaponsight XL2E1

Been looking for info on this sight without any luck ,can anyone give any info or pics please ?

Desperate from Kent

[pzluchs]

I have pict from the book "British army vehicles and equipment" by R.E.Smith only, and know that in the National Archives has User handbook for weapon sight infra-red XL2E1.

[Kev G]

pzluchs many thanks for posting the picture.
I have a similar picture but wasn't sure if it was the XL2E1 ? Looks to be similar but not quite the same ?



Credit to OP but screen grabbed it so don't know who it was or where from.
Will look into the handbook.Anyone else any other info ?

ATB KG

[pzluchs]

Looks to be similar but not quite the same ?

Look like Dutch - http://www.kvbk-cultureelerfgoed.nl/...30-01-0173.PDF

regards, Andrey

[Kev G]

Thanks........saved.

ATB KG