Electro Pencilled NATO stock number on top cover

[mrclark303]

Morning fellow Milsurpers,

This is the first time I have ever come across a NATO SN electro pencilled top cover, was this often done in service? shift through the pics...

Deactivated Old Spec L1A1 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle.

I would imagine its the usual ex NZ service example (can't see the SN) as most of these old spec deacs tend to be...

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Can't say I've ever seen that before. Not something we would do normally.

[mrclark303]

Just thinking out loud, I wonder if its marked this way as it might possibly have been part of a spares consignment purchased from the UK by NZ ... just a thought.

[browningautorifle]

Usually done because the number is needed readily, regularly or has been covered by some mod.

[Brit plumber]

It looks like a Lithgow body and possibly an Enfield Lower so there's a chance it's a mix master.

[nzl1a1collector]

5855-99-966-1109
ADAPTOR, image intensified weaponsight, L4A1

Someone has modified the modified SUIT sight mount to put it back to being a SUIT sight mount. If that makes sense.

Here's what the mount use to look like. It was used with the L5A1 Night vision sight. If anyone has a spare I'm looking for one.

5855-99-966-1109 ADAPTOR, image intensified weaponsight, L4A1


This was on eBay a long time ago


This came out of a book and is credited to Pilkington PE Ltd


---------- Post added at 11:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 AM ----------

Ohhhhhhhhhhh and to answer to original question...... the markings are BRITISH Army.

New Zealand didn't worry about the 'group' part of the NSN code.... the C1/, B2/, Z7/. It just used and referenced the numbers e.g. 5855-99-966-1109

[mrclark303]

Well done Kevin, as ever, your level of detail knowledge is exceptional!

Any new buys for the collection mate?

[tankhunter]

Never encountered. Or done 'Normally' in Brit service John. as a slight aside, B1 was the 'Classification/ Grouping' for the L1A1 Rifle used by Us. -99- was the country code for the UK (& still is) So in General, any part packaging or numbered on the part. Beginning with B1, would tell you it was in the Rifle Components range of spares.

The top cover you illustrated is a trilux SUIT Sight Cover. & this may well have been done for N.I operational use. Because the nature of the campaign was such, that if you indented for a spare. It was deemed to be urgent, & you usually got in in 24 hrs of less to your location. The SUIT was used a LOT in N.I, & it MAY well be the case, that the NSN was hand engraved with the vibro etcher. So as to save time trawling through Illustrated Parts lists for the NSN. It could be ordered directly from the part No. on the component itself. I have done this over the radio when in Canada. When on attachment, On Battlegroup Major Training Exercises myself.

These are just my thoughts on this. But I feel entirely plauseable.

[mrclark303]

Many thanks for for that Mike, another great insight from an armourers perspective, yours and Kevin's reply give a broad insight into what it is/was and how it might have happened - the sort of in depth expert information we have all come to really appreciate here on Milsurps over the years !

[Peter Laidler]

I never saw that sight in service. With us it was always the old big L1 to 7 (Rank SS20) that was even used on the first L85's. Yep it was cumbersome . heavy and totally unsuited. Then we had the still current one. But nope, never saw the L4A1 as illustrated. However, a large amount of those SLR covers with the SUSAT sight top rail came on the marked some years ago but by then, the SUSAT was the norm - as were L85's.

Did you ever see one of those L4A1 sights in service Tankie? I remember that the little ears used to break off the back and the spot welds used to shear away