P-H M85 Cleaning Kit

[chosenman]

Does anyone know what cleaning kit was supplied in the chest with the Parker Hale M85? Was it a plastic case or metal? What were the contents?

Any help appreciated.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

I would imagine that by the time of the M85 it would have been the plastic 'tin'. This was the 'tin' generally on issue at the time/era and was certainly the kit issued with the old L81 Cadet P-H rifles. I could be wrong of course as we only ever saw the L81's (ugh.....) but in the real world, while there would have been a norm, they'd have supplied whatever the purchasers demanded

[Gil Boyd]

Chris,
Tin as per MOD one invariably as a MilSpec item in the hole in YOUR case, you lucky bugger

[rgg_7]

Can you post a picture or 2 of your case. Thanks. Ron (Canada).

[Beerhunter]

we only ever saw the L81's (ugh.....)

The MoD seems to have made a right mess of both the 7.62mm and the 5.56 mm procurements for the Cadets didn't they?

Although I believe that the Cadet GP Rifle ended up such a dog's breakfast due to the "input" of ACPO.

[Peter Laidler]

But the plastic one was also military approved specification/mil-spec too Gil. The tin/metal one was obsolescent by the late 70's as I recall. Don't know the date/year but.......

[Gil Boyd]

Peter,
Agreed, remember getting the plastic ones at the same time we were trialling the plastic webbing at JWS Pulada, Johore Bahru, as soon as we got back to the UK we were back to metal.
I think it was just a case of any port in a storm for a pull through etc
As soon as the SA80 came in it was onto green plasticy rolls made in China ha ha

[Peter Laidler]

i'm not sure that ACPO had any imput with the little L98 rifle although I can't say for sure of course. After all, they already had Brens in .303" and 7.62mm plus the LSW. The single shot thing and configuration was always a strange notion too! Once the cranked handle slide rail had been modified to prevent it working loose and the........ anyway. It seems, from talk back that the Cadet Forces themselves sort of took it upon themselves to modify the dopey cranked lever thing (read The Last Lee Enfield by Steve Raw) and rifles modified by them to eliminate this dire notion were sanctioned in a demi-official way. I certainly did it to my own L98 and the same mysteriously appeared on my sons school CCF L98's together with SUSATS.

Now they've got what they should have had at the start. An A2 version, self loading, semi auto only. That project was my last at Warminster. If it'd gone fully my way, it would have retained the Auto and Repetition change lever* so that the rifle drills would be the same for the LSW AND rifle. That having been said, and I only fired a new L98A2 a few times, they seem to be popular and certainly trouble free
* Regardless of the position of the change lever, it would ONLY fire in the R mode but it means that you are required to physically check it - as you do with the LSW and service L85.

But privately owned L98's still attract attention when used. Alas, you can't say that about the L81.

Bright sunny dayhere. Sunniest since I can't remember when!

[Beerhunter]

i'm not sure that ACPO had any imput with the little L98 rifle although I can't say for sure of course. After all, they already had Brens in .303" and 7.62mm plus the LSW.

I had it on good authority (Friends in law places.) That ACPO were absolutely opposed to Cadets having semi-auto anything. (The LSW was a after-thought to repaper the Brens BUT ONLY the Service Brens that were by then only held in secure armouries. By then the majority of ACF Detachments had lost their Service Brens. Many only had L59s plus maybe a couple or three No.8s.

Remember most MoD Cadet Units are ACF or ATC - the CCF Contingents are in a minority.

I certainly did it to my own L98 and.

In spite of it weirdness or perhaps because of it I should really like one in my collection. I fired one when they were first being issued. (More friends in low places!) We had one at an HBSA Symposium that I ran a couple of year ago and one often turns up at the NRA Open Day(s). (That may be the same rifle.)

Now they've got what they should have had at the start. An A2 version, self loading, semi auto only.

I absolutely agree with that.

BTW I hear that the No.8 is for the chop. Lack of spares. I bet they won't let us buy any of them either!

[Peter Laidler]

When thge original single shot straight pull L98 SA80's were aboiut to be replaced I suggested to a large RFD and the NRA that they should approach the MOD Disposals at Donnington to enquire as to whether, as they were toally legal to own as single shot rifles, they would release a quantity onto the home market. After all, they had previously (pre-ban) allowed them and semi auto SA80's for sale. My suggestion presumably fell on deaf ears.

I probably won't be making the same suggestion about the No8 rifles. There are plenty in stock though and while some spare parts are NLA and some are in short supply, there's sufficient to keep Cadet Forces going.