British Forces weapons

[chas]

17 hours ago, Murdoc said:

Your methot is nice (I may try it on else, for example on a GBB pistol slide, or western rifle), however letters of the L119 script are too fine for that, plus a professional CNC cut sticker will cost more than the engraving.

No, what I meant is do the electroetching with the laser engraving. The electroetching will only take away metal from the laser marking, while the rest is covered by the paint.

[Murdoc]

Ok, that can be made! 

[Tarnish]

My small collection of primary British personal weapons from WW2 to now.

ARES Lee Enfield No4 Mk1*

Northeast STEN Mk2

ARES L1A1 SLR

S&T L2A3 SMG

WE Browning Hi Power Mk3

G&G L85A2 (an L85A1 when originally purchased in 2005)

[Darkmikey22]

20 minutes ago, Tarnish said:

My small collection of primary British personal weapons from WW2 to now.

ARES Lee Enfield No4 Mk1*

Northeast STEN Mk2

ARES L1A1 SLR

S&T L2A3 SMG

WE Browning Hi Power Mk3

G&G L85A2 (an L85A1 when originally purchased in 2005)

I've been struggling to find a L2 for my collection. Very hard to find. 

Nice collection. 

[Tarnish]

1 hour ago, Darkmikey22 said:

I've been struggling to find a L2 for my collection. Very hard to find. 

Nice collection. 

Cheers, it would appear that S&T have discontinued it so they're like rocking horse poo now. I have discovered that a third party company is making magazines for them which is good as I could do with a couple more.

[Darkmikey22]

2 more UK AR platforms added. 

 

First up. 

COLT MODEL 604

Here I have started to build a colt model 604, As issued to the British army in the late 60s, early 70s. 

 

So the Model 604 is a slight variation from the original model 602 (XM16/M16 VN)

The 604 comprises of a XM16 stock with a pivoting sling mount. Not the static version fitted to the later model 603 (M16A1)

Compared to the model 602 (M16 VN) which had a slab side, and the full fence of the model 603 (M16A1). The Model 604 used a partial fence. 

Now despite being upgraded internally the same as the 603, the externals pretty much still resembled the 602, with it's 3 prong (duck bill) flash hider and lack of forward assist. 

The British version differed from it's U.S. counterpart, and only had the standard colt export markings.

As Well as being painted black with a paint called Suncorite, which all UK weapons had at the time. 

 

Now mine is still a work in progress.

Ive had the markings filled. 

I'm still to source the correct rear sling mount, as well as the chrome smooth fake bolt. 

I then tried to replicate the suncurite paint best I could. As the real paint was just slapped on. I tried the same but in the picture below, looks smoother than it actually is. 

Only other thing is slings. 

Early version came with AR15 slings. But very quickly guys swapped these out for L1A1 SLR slings. So will look at that in the future too. 

 

 

 

Next up. 

COLT MODEL 701

To most its just a M16A2.... 

It is, but not quite. 

Main difference being, the fire selection. 

The U.S. issued A2 was colt model 702. 

Which externally are identical apart from the 702 was 3 round burst. Where the British issued 701 was full auto. 

 

Pictured here in use during OP barras in 2000. 

As far as I'm aware these where only purchased in small numbers, compared to the earlier colt model 715 (C7) which is still in wide use today.

 

With mine, I've replicated the correct export markings along with with the correct "auto" marking. 

Upper is just a standard G&P upper with a real A2 handguard. 

 

 

[Colin_The+Ferret]

The 701 is still knocking around as a "Foreign Weapon" for training purposes.

[Darkmikey22]

1 hour ago, Colin_The+Ferret said:

The 701 is still knocking around as a "Foreign Weapon" for training purposes.

That's not a 701.....

A 701 is a M16A2 just with the auto function, not 3 Rd burst. 

I'm not sure what that is.... 

Maybe a put together by armourer. 

But Has a A2 stock, A2 barrel profile and A2 flash hider. 

But has a A1 llower with only a partial fence, and A1 upper.... 

Interesting pic none the less buddy. 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Darkmikey22

[Darkmikey22]

Another one been worked on. 

 

A replica of the L108A1 MINIMI used by the ill fated SAS team "Bravo two zero" in Iraq 1991. 

I won't go too much into what happened. I'll leave it to you guys to go have a read. But basically the unit was plaqued by issues from the beginning. And most the guys were captured along with their weapons. 

The pic below is their actual weapons that were captured!. 

 

The weapon system itself was just a standard Mk1 minimi. You may notice in the pics there is one difference!

it was fitted with a gpmg flash hider. 

Which was also adopted by the Australians on their minimi's. (Designation F89) 

The L108 was only ever really used by the SAS. It was some years later before the minimi would become issued among the regular army. But that was the PARA version which was later designated the L110A1. 

However the L108 was, and believed still is held in stores. 

 

My L108 is an original TOP M249.

Has been upgraded externally with 

Guarder steel gas block & front sight, guarder steel upgrade body parts, guarder steel barrel/top cover block, g&p steel cocking lever, g&p steel bipod. 

Replica steel gpmg flash hider. 

I will eventually get round to doing internal, and convert the original gearbox over to a classic army one. 

Was then sprayed and weathered. 

 

[Darkmikey22]

A new one to the collection. 

Finally got my hands on the Daves custom airsoft L129A1 

The real rifle is a Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) 7.62mm sharpshooter rifle. 

The British then gave it the designation L129A1. 

It features 

*LMT crane stock

*LMT rail panel

*LMT sling point

*LMT Ergo grip

*KAC flip up sights

*Harris bipod with A.R.M.S QD mount

*Surefire FH762K05 flash hider

*TDI arms FFGB2 folding grip

 

Most models came with the 

*Trijicon Acog 6x48 BAC .308 scope. 

But some others were also fitted with the

*Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25x56 scope.

These were the main scope used on the L115A3 rifles. 

 

 

The airsoft one;

These are not your run of the mill production models. 

Both the flash hider and rail, are custom made replicas of the real thing. 

Mine comes with the clone

*Clone KAC flip up sights. 

*Clone LMT panels

*Clone LMT stock

*Clone LMT Ergo grip. 

*Clone TDI arms grip

*Clone Harris bipod

*G&P bipod mount

The base rifle is a G&G SR25 E2 APU model. 

I've also added butt number with a white paint pen and also the British QR code to the magwell. This is where it is placed on the real rifle. 

There are a few things that needs doing to this. Mainly getting the correct trades done. A few other parts of the body changed. 

Then giving it a coat of FDE as per the real rifle. 

 

Next up is the 6X48 Acog. 

Mine is a 3D printed version. 

Lots of stuff has been done to this to make it as accurate as possible. 

A clone 4x acog was used as a donor internals. 

Then I've added perspex and other bits to finish off and hide the internal. 

Was base coated silver, then had several layers of black over the top. Then just weathered it back to look like it's really metal.

Also added the QR code, serial numbers and butt number to the top. 

 

[k.a]

All very nice and a shameless plug ;  ) :    

 

[Darkmikey22]

Haven't posted for a while. So time for a small update. 

 

First up, after years of looking. I have finally got my hands on a S&T L2A3 Sterling SMG. 

 

A few bits will need sorting. 

And so far have managed to source a real end cap and sling.  Just need to source one or two more parts before I eventually start work on it. I have already started on the mags and making them look close to the real thing. 

Will do a full write up once the build is coming along. 

 

 

Update 2

The L115A3 has come along further. 

 

I've now managed to source the correct Type scope mount, and a replica S&B scope. 

Then I've had a dovetail to picatinny scope mount 3D printed, correct to the real one. 

Now at this stage, it is just a prototype. And still working on the finer details. 

Other part 3D printed, is the L115A3 45° STIC NVG rail. This Is clipped into the front of the rifle as per the real thing. 

Both parts have been painted an aluminium colour. Then sprayed over with black. 

Worn back around the edges, giving the illusion it's metal. 

Then finally, have given the L115 a slight camo effect. 

Now usually seen was just rifles covered in SCAPA tape at the time. But some individuals did add some colour/camo to their rifles. 

Was more seen on the earlier issued L96 at the beginining of the OP herricks in afghan. 

Later L115s, were eventually camouflage pretty much as standard by the user. 

This camo is based off of 2 rifles I have seen images of around the 2013 time frame. 

Now unfortunately I can't share the reference photo, as was a family members personal photo from the time. And was asked not to share. So will just have to trust me on this one. But will share a slightly different one to show it was done. 

 

 

Edited April 2 by Darkmikey22

[BigAl]

Got an ACM P226 which im either gonna sell or perhaps apply Brit Issue correct trades.  Does anyone have some good pics of all the appropriate markings for a Brit non railed 226?

[Darkmikey22]

I believe it was just a standard commercial European markings. 

But real pics are extremely hard to find. 

And only one I have I can't share. But can't make out the marking enough anyway. 

I will try finding some normal west german/european images of the non railed. 

[BigAl]

Cheers mate. Shame, fancied some Brit trades, oh well W. Gernan beats US of A.