British L1A1 rifle

[Airforce1]

Please see below some pages from the last edition of the User Hanbook from the British Ministrey of Defence dated April 1977:

 

[Gator Monroe]

Faptastic !

 

[Airforce1]

Faptastic !

Thanks.

 

[the gman]

From the proof marks, it appears your rifle was released to the UK gun trade after it's service as those proof marks weren't required in service. Nor were they required for government export. Prior to 1988, it was legal to buy L1A1's in the UK with a firearm certificate but then the British government banned them...

Absolutely gorgeous rifle and the gas plug recess cleaning tool is extremely rare indeed. So jealous as I've always wanted a legit representative rifle of the one I carried in my service. Stupid politicians...

 

[enbloc8]

From the proof marks, it appears your rifle was released to the UK gun trade after it's service as those proof marks weren't required in service. Nor were they required for government export. Prior to 1988, it was legal to buy L1A1's in the UK with a firearm certificate but then the British government banned them...

Absolutely gorgeous rifle and the gas plug recess cleaning tool is extremely rare indeed. So jealous as I've always wanted a legit representative rifle of the one I carried in my service. Stupid politicians...

I've inquired previously on another board as to whether any genuine British L1A1s made it into UK civilian hands prior to the 1988 ban. Outside of a few examples held by one of the arms rental houses for movie studios, like Bapty or Stembridge (supposedly sold to them by BSA after they ended their L1A1 contract), all I could find anything definite on were Australian rifles out of Malaysia and Singapore.

Was it legal for the UK gun trade to purchase such arms (on an export-only basis) after the 1988 ban?

 

[Gator Monroe]

From the proof marks, it appears your rifle was released to the UK gun trade after it's service as those proof marks weren't required in service. Nor were they required for government export. Prior to 1988, it was legal to buy L1A1's in the UK with a firearm certificate but then the British government banned them...

Absolutely gorgeous rifle and the gas plug recess cleaning tool is extremely rare indeed. So jealous as I've always wanted a legit representative rifle of the one I carried in my service. Stupid politicians...

Being burnt the fuck out on AR pattern Rifle / Carbine Building ( After soon to be 37 examples ) I was so glad I lucked onto a nice British L1A1 kit at the 11th Hour pre Covid shutdown Big Reno Show . It was the most challenging fun build and research / Gathering Parts & spares & learning the platform was part of gettin through the dark shutdown times .

 

[Airforce1]

Being burnt the fuck out on AR pattern Rifle / Carbine Building ( After soon to be 37 examples ) I was so glad I lucked onto a nice British L1A1 kit at the 11th Hour pre Covid shutdown Big Reno Show . It was the most challenging fun build and research / Gathering Parts & spares & learning the platform was part of gettin through the dark shutdown times .

I am looking for to see pictures of your L1A1 rifle.

 

[the gman]

I've inquired previously on another board as to whether any genuine British L1A1s made it into UK civilian hands prior to the 1988 ban. Outside of a few examples held by one of the arms rental houses for movie studios, like Bapty or Stembridge (supposedly sold to them by BSA after they ended their L1A1 contract), all I could find anything definite on were Australian rifles out of Malaysia and Singapore.

Was it legal for the UK gun trade to purchase such arms (on an export-only basis) after the 1988 ban?

Yes, there were a few legit British L1A1 rifles in private hands prior to the ban. All my stuff is in storage at the moment but I have many issues of the the UK "Handgunner" magazine, published prior to the ban and there are several firearm's dealers offering L1A1's. IIRC, there were certainly many Aussie rifles offered and some BSA and Enfield rifles. Thing to remember is when the semi-auto rifle ban occurred, there were only around 78,000 such rifles confiscated. Hard to say which was the most popular make back then but there were plenty of Sterling Ar-180's, AR's, M1A's, G3's, HK 91, 93's, IMI Galil's, Valmet and Mini 14's etc hanging around. L1A1's were also present but hell, its so long ago, I can barely remember what else... Another thing to remember is the UK didn't have the stupid "once a MG, always a MG" rule, so many select fire rifles were made semi-auto only and were perfectly legal to sell and own. Once you had the required firearms certificate, buying things was very easy. Damn, I miss those days...

 

[Gator Monroe]

 

[Gator Monroe]

 

[fal308762]

I used the L1A1 rifle for many years I have never seen the tool fitted to the gas tube. that is issued for cleaning?

 

[enbloc8]

I used the L1A1 rifle for many years I have never seen the tool fitted to the gas tube. that is issued for cleaning?

That was for armorers only, for cleaning out heavy carbon buildup from inside the gas block.

I saw one of those posted on another board, and a former armorer said that they were to be used only in extreme cases, and with great care...damaging the inside of the gas block meant a barrel change.

 

[Airforce1]

That was for armorers only, for cleaning out heavy carbon buildup from inside the gas block.

I saw one of those posted on another board, and a former armorer said that they were to be used only in extreme cases, and with great care...damaging the inside of the gas block meant a barrel change.

This tool was not available in the toolbox of the Weapon Tech in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).