Help ID these L1A1 barrel markings

**sturmgrenadiere** · January 15, 2007, 15:04

Help ID these L1A1 barrels if possible.

From a concurrent post, I know the first barrel depicted is one of the very nice, hammer forged Aussie barrels, chrome chamber but steel bore, with the blank made by Black Mountain (BCF), as used on the Poyer rifles so I am told. Does anyone know the specifics of the other particular makings/proofs? What are they / do they stand for?

Here is another L1A1 barrel. I am pretty certain it is also and Aussie military barrel that is fully chrome lined. The muzzle seems to have a pretty definite “ring” around the crown as compared to no-lined barrels. It is my understanding that all the Aussie military barrels were fully chrome lined (is this so?). What does the “W G” stand for? What is symbolized in the cipher that is stamped? Is that the Lithgow mark, or an Aussie gov’t mark? As much minutia that know about FAL’s, L1A1 marking are new to me.

Last barrel for now. I think this is a run of the mill British L1A1 barrel. The bore appears unlined from the appearance of the muzzle. Also, I have always seen Brit barrels and weapons seem to have more random markings and lettering on them than a kindergarten class after arts and crafts. The royal cipher /arsenal mark looks like a Royal Small Arms Works mark I had on some contract HK G3 barrels, but this particular one was not struck very well. What does the rest of it all mean…? As you can see, some prior owner used a vice with no jaw liners to wrench the barrel. Excellent barrel otherwise.

Any info is appreciated. If there is a web page out there dedicated to ID’ing inch rifle markings, let me know. Otherwise, maybe we should pool our resources and make a FAC thread if it already doesn’t exist.

Regards

Ben

chrsdwns · January 15, 2007, 17:38

AGA is the steel batch or heat number for the barrel. BCF means cold hammer forged bore - Blue Mountain manufacuted. The crest is the Lithgow acceptance stamp.

The lower barrel is Brit cold forged from Enfield. The B may stand for Blue Mountain as well or it may denote the the barrel has been NDT inspected for cracks which was a problem for the early barrels because they tried to cold forge the chamber along with the bore.

82 is the year it was made - 1982.

The 960 number is the NATO Stock code. It was probably off of an Enfield rework.

The middle barrel is Lithgow. The WG looks like a Lithgow Batch or heat number and the stamp looks like a Lithgow stamp. Probably a post 1967 Lithgow 6 groove chrome lined barrel.

Nice barrels.

**sturmgrenadiere** · January 15, 2007, 20:20

Thank you Sir, that's what I was concluding based on my recent flury of FAQ reading, etc.

**.308er1** · January 15, 2007, 23:51

I have the same exact barrel as the first. I bought it new in the wrap and in the box also. The letters AGA are a code for the year of manufacture. I don't have my Skinnertons book, but the book has a list of the letter codes, and the year of manufacture that they stand for. The same goes for the barrel marked W G. The barrel marked AGA is from the early 80's. I think 81. If someone has a Skinnertons book on the Aussie rifles, please look these letter codes up. As far as the ring in the chaimber of the new barrel...mine has the same thing. I wondered about it also. Must be the parting line in the chrome. I'll post the years of the barrels if I can dig my book up. The AGA marked barrel is the cream of the crop!

**Andy the Aussie** · January 16, 2007, 00:02

BCF (BLACK Mountain) barrels were first available as an option from the factory around 1986 as I recall....allow me a second to run to the bookcase....seems AGA date code is 82. I should add that Black Mountain Barrels are in fact a subsidiary or marketing name from Lithgow NOT as separate company as I have always presumed. They were well respected among target shooters in not only the run that were available for the L1A1s but also in the Omark M44 (?) target rifles so popular with the big bore crowds. I should have read the book a little closer.

Andy

**.308er1** · January 16, 2007, 00:11

Thanks for posting the date 82' for the AGA letter code Andy. Could you also look up what year the letter code W G stands for? My Skinnertons book ain't on my bookshelf??

**Andy the Aussie** · January 16, 2007, 00:20

WA-WG (WF NOT used) was 65-66

65 saw the commencement of a full chrome (not just chamber) bore in Aussie production.

Andy

**.308er1** · January 16, 2007, 00:29

Thanks Andy...

chrsdwns · January 16, 2007, 01:16

Sorry Andy, I'm color blind and going senile. Black Mountain is correct. You may wish to check the Brit barrel for a Lithgow crest to see if it was bought from them.

**Andy the Aussie** · January 16, 2007, 01:25

Fear not age gets the better of us all....!!! That barrel seems all Brit to me.

Andy

**sturmgrenadiere** · January 16, 2007, 09:29

Thanks all for the info

January 15, 2007, 15:04	#1
sturmgrenadiere Moderator Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 1010 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Quantico, Va Posts: 2,538	Help ID these L1A1 barrel markings Help ID these L1A1 barrels if possible. From a concurrent post, I know the first barrel depicted is one of the very nice, hammer forged Aussie barrels, chrome chamber but steel bore, with the blank made by Black Mountain (BCF), as used on the Poyer rifles so I am told. Does anyone know the specifics of the other particular makings/proofs? What are they / do they stand for? Here is another L1A1 barrel. I am pretty certain it is also and Aussie military barrel that is fully chrome lined. The muzzle seems to have a pretty definite “ring” around the crown as compared to no-lined barrels. It is my understanding that all the Aussie military barrels were fully chrome lined (is this so?). What does the “W G” stand for? What is symbolized in the cipher that is stamped? Is that the Lithgow mark, or an Aussie gov’t mark? As much minutia that know about FAL’s, L1A1 marking are new to me. Last barrel for now. I think this is a run of the mill British L1A1 barrel. The bore appears unlined from the appearance of the muzzle. Also, I have always seen Brit barrels and weapons seem to have more random markings and lettering on them than a kindergarten class after arts and crafts. The royal cipher /arsenal mark looks like a Royal Small Arms Works mark I had on some contract HK G3 barrels, but this particular one was not struck very well. What does the rest of it all mean…? As you can see, some prior owner used a vice with no jaw liners to wrench the barrel. Excellent barrel otherwise. Any info is appreciated. If there is a web page out there dedicated to ID’ing inch rifle markings, let me know. Otherwise, maybe we should pool our resources and make a FAC thread if it already doesn’t exist. Regards Ben __________________ They had Kings and Queens, we had a flag. The grass is neither greener or better. It is just grass, and it still itches. No rubber dogshit out of Hong Kong yet, but I am waiting for that mission... Last edited by sturmgrenadiere; January 16, 2007 at 09:29.

January 15, 2007, 20:20	#3
sturmgrenadiere Moderator Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 1010 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Quantico, Va Posts: 2,538	Thank you Sir, that's what I was concluding based on my recent flury of FAQ reading, etc. __________________ They had Kings and Queens, we had a flag. The grass is neither greener or better. It is just grass, and it still itches. No rubber dogshit out of Hong Kong yet, but I am waiting for that mission...

January 16, 2007, 09:29	#11
sturmgrenadiere Moderator Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 1010 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Quantico, Va Posts: 2,538	Thanks all for the info __________________ They had Kings and Queens, we had a flag. The grass is neither greener or better. It is just grass, and it still itches. No rubber dogshit out of Hong Kong yet, but I am waiting for that mission...

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January 15, 2007, 17:38	#2
chrsdwns Registered FALaholic #: 9846 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,581	AGA is the steel batch or heat number for the barrel. BCF means cold hammer forged bore - Blue Mountain manufacuted. The crest is the Lithgow acceptance stamp. The lower barrel is Brit cold forged from Enfield. The B may stand for Blue Mountain as well or it may denote the the barrel has been NDT inspected for cracks which was a problem for the early barrels because they tried to cold forge the chamber along with the bore. 82 is the year it was made - 1982. The 960 number is the NATO Stock code. It was probably off of an Enfield rework. The middle barrel is Lithgow. The WG looks like a Lithgow Batch or heat number and the stamp looks like a Lithgow stamp. Probably a post 1967 Lithgow 6 groove chrome lined barrel. Nice barrels.

January 15, 2007, 23:51	#4
.308er1 Senior Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 17273 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Catskills Posts: 738	I have the same exact barrel as the first. I bought it new in the wrap and in the box also. The letters AGA are a code for the year of manufacture. I don't have my Skinnertons book, but the book has a list of the letter codes, and the year of manufacture that they stand for. The same goes for the barrel marked W G. The barrel marked AGA is from the early 80's. I think 81. If someone has a Skinnertons book on the Aussie rifles, please look these letter codes up. As far as the ring in the chaimber of the new barrel...mine has the same thing. I wondered about it also. Must be the parting line in the chrome. I'll post the years of the barrels if I can dig my book up. The AGA marked barrel is the cream of the crop!

January 16, 2007, 00:02	#5
Andy the Aussie Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 216 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Down Under Posts: 12,718	BCF (BLACK Mountain) barrels were first available as an option from the factory around 1986 as I recall....allow me a second to run to the bookcase....seems AGA date code is 82. I should add that Black Mountain Barrels are in fact a subsidiary or marketing name from Lithgow NOT as separate company as I have always presumed. They were well respected among target shooters in not only the run that were available for the L1A1s but also in the Omark M44 (?) target rifles so popular with the big bore crowds. I should have read the book a little closer. Andy

January 16, 2007, 00:11	#6
.308er1 Senior Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 17273 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Catskills Posts: 738	Thanks for posting the date 82' for the AGA letter code Andy. Could you also look up what year the letter code W G stands for? My Skinnertons book ain't on my bookshelf??

January 16, 2007, 00:20	#7
Andy the Aussie Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 216 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Down Under Posts: 12,718	WA-WG (WF NOT used) was 65-66 65 saw the commencement of a full chrome (not just chamber) bore in Aussie production. Andy

January 16, 2007, 00:29	#8
.308er1 Senior Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 17273 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Catskills Posts: 738	Thanks Andy...

January 16, 2007, 01:16	#9
chrsdwns Registered FALaholic #: 9846 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,581	Sorry Andy, I'm color blind and going senile. Black Mountain is correct. You may wish to check the Brit barrel for a Lithgow crest to see if it was bought from them.

January 16, 2007, 01:25	#10
Andy the Aussie Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 216 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Down Under Posts: 12,718	Fear not age gets the better of us all....!!! That barrel seems all Brit to me. Andy