1 Para at the Dhekelia Ranges 1973

[mrclark303]

I thought 73 was very early for plastics, 76 would fit with the transition to plastic...

[Gil Boyd]

John,
Have to agree 1973 was pre plastic crap.
We started to identify CROWS...."new" lads as we called them, by their black plastic issue rifles, cos they couldn't get any of us sensible lot, (who had only bounced on our heads 30 times) to change from wood.
Thats why wood is to die for these days, all matching!!

[browningautorifle]

Thats why wood is to die for

We never did change from wood until we changed rifles.

[Gil Boyd]

Always taught to hold the rifle firmly, you certainly can't do that with plastic, especially in wet weather

[Daan Kemp]

Never had a problem with plastic on the R1. Might be different plastics LEW used.

[Gil Boyd]

Daan...............probably just as the Chinese came into the MOD supply chain

[1886nut]

No gender confused lads in that photo.

[Daan Kemp]

Gil, long before Chinese. Locally manufactured, didn't slip in wet weather.

[Gil Boyd]

Daan,
Must have been my soft Fairy Liquid hands then.

[mrclark303]

I thought you were in the 'Maroon Machine' Gil, not the cook house rifles mate!