BRITISH L1A1 RIFLE In the 1950s, the Allies set up a Rifle Commission with the objective of introducing a single rifle and cartridge that would serve as standard issue for all NATO countries. The British military had originally opted for the EM-2 Janson bullpup rifle, which it adopted briefly adopted in 1951. However, Winston Churchill's incoming government overturned the decision under US pressure to abide by NATO’s plan to standardise small arms and ammunition. Central to this plan was the adoption of the American 7.62×51mm cartridge in 1954. NATO countries developed their own rifles around this cartridge. The US adopted the M14 while the UK and the principal Commonwealth countries turned their attention to the selective fire Belgian FN FAL, which even Germany acquired initially before it turned to the HK G3. Canada's experiments with the FAL led to the C1A1, while Australia adopted the semi-automatic L1A1. The United Kingdom produced its own variant, designating it the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR). The rifle entered into production in 1957 at the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) and the Royal Ordinance Factory Fazakerley. The L1A1 served the British Armed Forces until approximately 1994, being replaced by the L85A1 bullpup rifles from 1985 onwards. The L1A1 was designed using Imperial measurements and included several changes from the standard FN FAL. A significant change from the original FAL was that the L1A1 operates in semi-automatic mode only. Other changes include: the introduction of a folding cocking handle; an enclosed slotted flash suppressor; folding rear sight; sand-clearing modifications to the upper receiver, bolt and bolt carrier; folding trigger guard to allow use with Arctic mitts; strengthened butt; enlarged change lever and magazine release catch; vertical stripping catch to prevent unintended activation; deletion of the automatic hold-open device and the addition of retaining tabs at the rear of the top cover to prevent forward movement of the top cover (and resulting loss of zero) when the L2A1 SUIT was fitted. The flash suppressor is fitted with a lug which allows the fitting of an L1-series bayonet, an L1A1/A2 or L6A1 blank firing attachment or an L1A1/A2 Energa rifle grenade launcher. The L1A1 could be modified at unit level to take two additional sighting systems. The first was the "Hythe sight," formally known as the "Conversion Kit, 7.62mm Rifle Sight, Trilux, L5A1" and intended for use in close range and in poor lighting conditions. The second sight was the L2A2 "Sight Unit, Infantry, Trilux" (SUIT), a 4× optical sight which mounted on a rail welded to a top cover. Initial production rifles were fitted with walnut furniture, consisting of the pistol grip, forward handguard, carrying handle and butt. Later production weapons were produced with synthetic “Maranyl”, a nylon 6-6 and fiberglass composite. Maranyl furniture was also retrofitted to older rifles as they underwent scheduled maintenance. The L1A1 was officially replaced in 1985 by the bullpup design L85A1 service rifle, firing the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The L1A1 rifles were gradually phased out by 1994 and mothballed after refurbishment by REME. Later, most of the rifles were destroyed while some were sold to dealers in the UK and internationally. Many of these were acquired by British maritime security companies. However, few made it to the collector and sport shooter market. The L1A1 remains one of the most respected British rifles of the 20th century.