L1A1 serial numbers

[woodsy]

Hi Kev

If it is of any use to forum enquiries, I have the list of serial numbers of the 1,000 rifles I purchased from the NZ Army in 1988. I might even scan in the photos of the pile of rifles in my workshop. I have rifle #AD5903978 (N^Z 43) which was the second lowest number I received, and is in original condition (probably ex RNZN or RNZAF). The lower number was a real dog and not collectable without a complete rebuild. I also have a very tidy L2A1 #AD621527, and an FAL factory Sniper rifle (select fire) with the FN marked Hensoldt sight in excellent nick which shoots sub MOA groups. ;D

[britplumber]

What does the AD stand for? I'm guessing (If its like Nato) the A is for Australia and D for ??
Also I'm guessing the 59 is the year 1959?

My Lithgow is 62 18008.

[woodsy]

Even Skennerton does not explain what the AD stands for but I have always believed 'Australian Defence'. The various Australian Defence companies (Lithgow SAF, Mulwalla Powder Factory, Footscray Ammunition Factory, etc) were amalgamated some years ago as ADI (Australian Defence Industries). Try a Google search under that heading and see what you find. The first two digits of the serial number represent the year of manufacture and the serial numbers start at 1 each year. The first production Lithgow L1A1 was made in February 1959 (AD5900001) although a small number of production prototypes were completed in late 1958. 1962 was a busy year which saw 25,500 L1A1's produced by Lithgow, the highest number in any year. NZ received 500 rifles in 1959, and then many more larger shipments over the next few years.

[NZ L1A1 Collector]

As Rod said 'AD' is believed to stand for Australian Defence and until something more concrete and offical can be uncovered it will have to do.

britplumber your rifle
Serial Number: AD6218008
was assembled in 1962
Sent to New Zealand

Your's will be another one of our rifles that was exported after the Govt. stopped the sale of L1A1 rifles (along with other weapons) to the general public

[NZ L1A1 Collector]

It's believed the N/|\Z marked rifles were stamped by New Zealand Armourers in Singapore and was a hang over form the .303 days where New Zealand rifles got a unique N/|\Z number something that dates back to the 1800's

Unfortunately the N/|\Z number is only stamped on the bodies (or as our American friends put it "Upper Receiver") and since approximately the first 1000 rifles (1959/1960) received this number. These early rifles were prone to stretching and probably 90% of them had their bodies replaced during workshop overhauls.

I have N/|\Z 824

[bodybagsryan]

Greeting from across the pond:

How common was "stretching" of the upper receivers and was there a remady for it such as a different mettalurgical blend?
Thanks

[woodsy]

The original FN FAL rifles were a bit harder in the action and freqently cracked between the locking shoulder hole and the body pivot hole. I have a selection of these old recievers which we replaced (the new ones have an R number inside the mag well) during the NZ 'deer wars' in the 1970's when the FAL's were the most popular gun for helicpter use. I was heavily involved in this, selling and repairing chopper guns and designing and making net guns.

The Aussie L1A1 rifles were made a bit softer to avoid this cracking (which showed up in the 1950's FN troop trials) and consequently stretched slightly with prolonged use. A lot of experimentation went on at Lithgow during the early 1960's with different heat treatments and steel batches until they finally got it pretty right. The L1A1 reciever is a bit light for heavy use and is one of the many reasons why the L2A1 automatic rifles were not very successful.

The FN FAL recievers gave out after about 100,000 rounds (usually 2 or 3 barrels) which is more than most shooters would fire in a lifetime. The early L1A1 recievers were good for many 1,000's of rounds before they stretched beyond the adjustment range of available locking shoulders.

Kevin Adams may be able to add some info.

[efsu]

I have just got an old spec Australian SLR in the UK the weapon is is excellent condition and is marked AD7002193 and has SPF6069 roughly stamped just above pistol grip on left side
on the barrel in front of the gas plug is marked 7.62m/m 2.015" below is marked 20tons per square inch . in front ther is proof marks a crown with BNP below and a crown with SP below and just infront of the sling swivel is a circle with X8 and 4 underneath any ideas what thease are as I have no idea on proof marks. The dealer did mention something about the barrel being from birmingham. when I stood it next to the New spec SLR I have the it appears to be a bit shorter ? different butt length,

[britishsniper]

Hello all i too have an old spec SLR L1A1 Austrailian type, its serial number is AD68044755 and also has the SPF1304 serial number. I know this was made in 1968 but can anyone tell me any further information on its history or what the SPF number stands for?

The proofmarks efsu is talking about "BNP" i know there for proofing within the UK, so it possibly was a private shooter before it was de-acted.

Also there are three different butt lengths Short, Normal and Long, should be S, N or L stamped somewere near your rear swivel but not all were marked.

Cheers
Danny

[andrewupton]

"BNP" - British Nitro Proofed if I recall correctly (and nothing to do with Birmingham).

[Kev]

SPF is for Singapore Police Force.

Quite allot of Brens and SLR's went there from contracts in the mid 50's onwards.

[woodsy]

Peter, For some reason my computer will not reply to your email. Your answer as follows;

Hi Peter

Your L1A1 rifle was not one of the 1,000 rifles that I purchased from the NZ Army in 1988, but it may well have been in that tender as there were a total of 2,400 rifles sold. The next highest number sold to one person was 400 and then the quantities got smaller, down to several people just buying 1 rifle each.

I can confirm that your rifle was one of 4,100 rifles that were purchased by NZ in 1961, and it arived in the third shipment for that year (2,000). The two earlier shipments were of 1,000 each and the last was of 100. NZ’s last shipment of L!A!’s was in 1969 (30) and the total received since 1959 was 15,633. There is no reliable way to tell which branch of the services used your rifle, but very tidy examples tended to come from the Navy and Air Force. Further, Air Force examples frequently have a brass disc maker in the butt with the station and rack number (eg. WBN 388 means Woodborne base, rack number 388, OHK for Ohakea, HVE for Hobsonville, etc).

I hope this helps.

Cheers
Rod
;D

[sparkeyboaz]

Hello Woodsy.
I found this thread and have a question for you.
I have an Inch lower w/ # AD6219534 stamped in it.
Can you confirm yes or no for the NZ contract L1A1's?
Thanks, Sparkeyboaz

[woodsy]

Hi Sparkyboaz

Your rifle was one of the second batch made for NZ in 1962 (AD6217776 - AD6220775) of 3,000 rifles. NZ purchased four batches that year totalling 5,100 rifles.

[sparkeyboaz]

Thank you Woodsy for the info.
Can you tell me where you found the info for my reference?
I finally found the reference for the proof mark on my barrel.
It the Proof mark of Lithgow Small Arms Factory from New South Wales.
It also has an { L } stamped on the barrel close to where it threads into the receiver.
I beleive it signifies it to be around 1961 manufacture.
Anyway, it was previously cut to 16.5" by CAI I presume. I plan to have it rethreaded to allow the Flash Hider w/ Bayonet to be attached.
It has an issue w/ the site/ gas block not indexed @ 12 o clock anyway. I'm sending the complete upper to Enterprise Arms to have it sorted out and threaded.
It is all I can due short of trying to find a replacement barrel.
Maybe someday!
Thanks again, Sparkeyboaz