
Fazakerley’s output was approximately 164,000 guns between 1956 and 1960-at which time the production line was permanently closed down. Tooling, fixtures, equipment, scrap receiver casings & parts were purchased by Sterling.
Sterling continued to supply spare parts and magazines to the MoD up until 1988 as a sole source supplier. The markings and marking requirements between the two gun manufacturers varied widely. For example, commercial barrels were proofed at the London Proof House while UK military contract barrels and breech blocks were all proofed at RSAF Enfield. For the most part, inspector and acceptance stamps are widely used during individual component production and final assembly. When Sterling commercial parts were sent to the MoD for use as spares, they could have additional acceptance markings applied by the MoD.

Early 1956 Sterling Company (US) magazine housing. Induction brazed to the receiver casing..
Checkered magazine catch screw. CR 53 GA is the Ministry of Supply part number for the entire gun.
The full number would be B3/CR 53 GA.
B3 is the vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores category (A No. 4 rifle would be B1/CR xxxx)
CR is the Ministry of Supply category for weaponry
53 is the consecutive number
GA is General Assembly
1856 is the serial number

Early 1957 Fazakerly (UF) production. Housing is welded to the receiver casing and smoothly finished. Checkered magazine catch screw. Note bevel cut underneath catch on top edge of housing. CR 53 GA Ministry of Supply number.

1958 Fazakerly. Bevel cut visible to the left of release catch hole. Faint government inspectors marks in lower right corner. Housing still very similar to Sterling’s design despite severe production problems attaching housing to the receiver.

Late 1958 Fazakerly revision showing new flanged style housing. Numerous inspector, acceptance markings in lower right corner. Bevel cut edge.

1958 Sterling L2A3. NATO number, checkered magazine catch and inspector/acceptance marks at lower right corner.
1959, the final year of Fazakerly L2A3 production. Flange is induction brazed to receiver casing, bevel cut edge, checkered magazine release button. NATO number replaces the old Ministry of Supply number. New number for SMG’s is B3/1005-99-960-0029.
Bottom side of Fazakerly L2A3 magazine housing. Inspector and acceptance marks seen at lower left corner.

Underside of Sterling Mk4 (L2A3) housing. All Sterling commercial guns are marked with the patent numbers that applied to the original Patchett Machine Carbine. From top, left to right: trigger, folding butt, helically ribbed breech block and double return springs.
Mystery Housing , Fazakerly Or Sterling?

The following housing is a commercial Mk4 gun made by Sterling Armament Company. According to the Guns of Dagenham, serial number KR 132766 should be from 1972 yet it is higher than the last estimated KR number by more than 18,700. The top surface of the housing has been welded over and ground down prior to engraving. This is especially apparent underneath the 9m/m MK4 line.

The lower right hand corner shows an H19 inspector’s mark. H prefix marks were commonly used by inspectors at the Fazakerly plant. It also has the bevel cut edge to the left of the catch screw hole which are found only on Fazakerly housings.

The bottom side is void of any engraving as would be expected from a military contract gun produced by either Fazakerly or Sterling. The lower left corner shows multiple H prefix inspectors’ marks indicating origin of manufacture at Fazakerly.
The last government produced L2A3 came out of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Fazakerly in 1960 and the Sterling Armament KR serial number suggests 1972. An interesting combination to say the least!

Underside of Sterling Mk4 (L2A3) housing. All Sterling commercial guns are marked with the patent numbers that applied to the original Patchett Machine Carbine. From top, left to right: trigger, folding butt, helically ribbed breech block and double return springs.
The last government produced L2A3 came out of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Fazakerly in 1960 and the Sterling Armament KR serial number suggests 1972. An interesting combination to say the least!

Left: Sterling Mk4. Right:Fazakerly L2A3 with bevel cut edge on upper left corner.

1958 Sterling L2A3. Sterling did not bevel the edge under the catch.