SAS L1A1 (but not really)

[Buccaneer]

Is it possible to tell from the 3 pictures provided in the link that it is definitely a British spec L1A1 SLR and not an Australian or Canadian version?

If it is a British Build I don't see how it can be legal as all British held L1A1 rifles became "Section 5" after the Hungerford tragedy banning all semi auto rifles above .22.
In the UK you are not allowed to convert a "Section 5" semi auto gun to "Section 1" straight pull nor may you use any pressure bearing parts that were once on a "Section 5" rifle to create a straight pull rifle.
Section 5 is a UK classification and therefore only applies to rifles in the UK, this means parts from rifles outside the UK in theory can be used to create a straight pull but this interpretation is a very grey area.
I have two straight pull L1A1 rifles both built on Australian actions with Italian barrels which appear to be ok with the powers that be as they have passed through the proof house without any problems.

[mrclark303]

If it is a British Build I don't see how it can be legal as all British held L1A1 rifles became "Section 5" after the Hungerford tragedy banning all semi auto rifles above .22.
In the UK you are not allowed to convert a "Section 5" semi auto gun to "Section 1" straight pull nor may you use any pressure bearing parts that were once on a "Section 5" rifle to create a straight pull rifle.
Section 5 is a UK classification and therefore only applies to rifles in the UK, this means parts from rifles outside the UK in theory can be used to create a straight pull but this interpretation is a very grey area.
I have two straight pull L1A1 rifles both built on Australian actions with Italian barrels which appear to be ok with the powers that be as they have passed through the proof house without any problems.

This what is and what isn't Sec5 is interesting isn't it. I also have two, one Enfield and Lithgow (NZ contact).

I would imagine both yours are Malay contract examples Buccaneer, all the examples I have seen from that source have been ex Malay.

The thing is, both my parts kits were sourced in the UK, I procured the Lithgow kit myself from a well known UK dealer and had it built into a straight pull L1A1.

So both kits procured, built as Sec1, proofed and placed on my FAC here in the UK, without any issues whatever.

My local Police force were consulted right off the bat and they had no issues.

It was just a case of being sensible regarding the builds and ensuring a new barrel was used without bleed, plus suitable modifications to the gas block, plug and bolt carrier.

After all, an L1A1 procured as parts is only a collection of Sec1 parts, so built up with the new barrel it's a Sec1 rifle.

You can't do the same thing with an existing Sec5 L1A1, because it retains its Sec5 designation no matter what you subsequently do to it.

Edit: Also as a complete Sec5 firearm, its history is known via end users documentation, RFD registers, etc. So you can't just strip it down and say, look what I found!

That's why a certain UK based dealer came to get the high jump the other year, because he was rather stupidly down converting sec5 firearms to Straight pull!

[Peter Laidler]

Mmmmmmmmmm......... The barrel can have a gas port too. There is a legal precedence for this situation too. However, if that is the case, the gas block MUST be solid. But anyone with such a pre ban straight-pull rifle is skating on thin ice without compensation under the authority entrusted to the Home Secretary

[mrclark303]

Mmmmmmmmmm......... The barrel can have a gas port too. There is a legal precedence for this situation too. However, if that is the case, the gas block MUST be solid. But anyone with such a pre ban straight-pull rifle is skating on thin ice without compensation under the authority entrusted to the Home Secretary

Its a tricky situation Peter, a right minefield in fact. I do think to play it safe though, use a new manufacture barrel that's never been near a Sec5 firearm.

I do have the original receipts from the main dealers for both my rifles, stating the S/N and stating Sec1 parts kits.

My Lithgow came from a very well known large UK dealer who happens to probably have enough parts kits to re-equip the British army!