LE No5 MK1 vs AIA M10 B1 Sport SMLE rifle

Riflechair said:
AIA is listed as a manufacturer and wholesaler of firearms. Previously they were known as Australian Collector Arms, apparently founded in 1993.

It seems they are an importer of rifle parts into Australia. So, there is the company and importer. The parts are outsourced primarily around the Pacific Rim. Earlier rifles had pieces imported from England and the US among others.

Like WW2 British and WW1 peddled scheme Lee-Enfields, components are sourced from a number of countries. Some parts come from South East Asia, just as some parts originated from England and the United States.

Good hardwood at a reasonable price is not easy to find. AIA has used plantation Teak from New Guinea, Brazil, West Africa and Laos.

Skennerton makes a good analogy in his book.

" Consider that a product made in a free trade zone in Mexico can be marked "made in the USA". An unfinished action body can be imported into North America with only one of two cuts not done, yet is can still be marked "Made in the USA" after the final machining is done. "

So these parts could have come from any where really and we'll never know. The parts can be labelled by the maker to the tune of what ever the destination company likes.

My research can not verify that any parts were manufactured in Vietnam. Having said that, I am not well versed in detailed investigation methods. Just what I can find and read. (S.Redg, I. Skenn).

I'll bet you that Remington, TC, FN USA, etc.. imports some parts from Asia too. Regardless I don't think anyone should be calling foul. If you're bothered by the possibility don'y buy one. I for my own reasons refuse to purchase any Chinese manufactured firearms. Thats my personal decision but in the end I'm probably buying firearms that still have Chinese made parts in them.

I find this global market stuff extremely disorientating :(
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Good post. I've also heard that they are built / assembled by armourers in Australia, so as long as the parts are to spec, who gives a shiite where the parts were made? Like what's already been said, nearly every company outsources parts. Besides the AIA's are damn fine rifles. I own two and I love them, and I'm planning on getting a third. One of each model.

BTW, if they are good enough for Skennerton, they are good enough for me!
 
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I think it's important to remember that during that era the British Army had enormous stock piles of ammunition to go through. My father was in the British Army in the early fifties and his fondest memories were of taking cases (enough to fill the back of a 'Champ') of 'stale' (six months old and older) ammunition to Ash Range along with a Bren gun or two and spare barrels and spending whole days sending rounds down range. There was so much ammunition that even the crows weren't safe. The same quantities fired rapidly through a No5 would definitely be more than we could replicate today, so maybe both sides have a point.

PS I'd love to see an AIA L42 clone (either that or I'll have to make one, that could get ugly)
 
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ian_in_vic said:
I think it's important to remember that during that era the British Army had enormous stock piles of ammunition to go through. My father was in the British Army in the early fifties and his fondest memories were of taking cases (enough to fill the back of a 'Champ') of 'stale' (six months old and older) ammunition to Ash Range along with a Bren gun or two and spare barrels and spending whole days sending rounds down range. There was so much ammunition that even the crows weren't safe. The same quantities fired rapidly through a No5 would definitely be more than we could replicate today, so maybe both sides have a point.

PS I'd love to see an AIA L42 clone (either that or I'll have to make one, that could get ugly)
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Hey, the AIA B2 is as close as you'll ever see...it really is a clone of the L42.
 
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Go to: www.australianinternationalarms.com.au/history.htm.
" Development and manufacture of the A.I.A. rifles is truly international.... many component parts and work is outsourced.... Rifles are currently prepared in Queensland, Australia, from local and imported component parts and groups...." A.I.A. uses the term "prepared in Queensland, Australia". There are specific requirements under Australian law which must be met before the term "manufactured in Australia" can be used.
Like many, many other products, parts production occurs internationally.
The A.I.A. rifles are well thought of; their owners report that they are well made and are excelent shooters.
As far as comparing A.I.A. rifles with an original Lee Enfield goes, they really are apples and oranges.
 
Vimy Ridge said:
Spec2ARSMLE-3.jpg
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TRG21 said:
Hi Cantom, Never mind the purists. Who makes that Franken Enfield?
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TRG21 said:
The highly attractive thumbhole stock synthetic stock. Of course! OOOPs, sorry it was Vimy.
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It's just a picture I found on the net. IIRC, it was from an Australian target shooter's club website. It must be a custom job, I don't think any company built it. Or maybe it's their idea of an "assault rifle", sad really.

:p
 
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Vimy Ridge said:
It's just a picture I found on the net. IIRC, it was from an Australian target shooter's club website. It must be a custom job, I don't think any company built it. Or maybe it's their idea of an "assault rifle", sad really.

:p
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It does look like it would be exactly like an AR/C7 grip, doesn't it, although lookswise...:eek::runaway:

edited to add, just had a better look at the pic, it is done up as an AR/Field. I guess if it was the only option...
 
That looks cool. Where'd you see that? AIA's site or Lawrence Ordnance?

Still hope to see the 7.62x39 AIA rifles...the case lot cheap ammo would make them much more appealing. Add a chrome lined barrel with no gas system to clean and it would be a snap to clean up after corrosive surplus.
 
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I have a nice AIA in 7.62x51 and also a No5 carbine.I took my No5 out yesterday and it shot under an inch with 180 Remington Core Lokt's and 174 grain Sierra Matchkings.
The AIA will soon be wearing a 6-24 Mildot scope and the No5 already has a 2x7 Leupold mounted on an S&K no drill scope mount. The 7.62x51 AIA shot well under an inch with a 3x9 Bausch & Lomb,so I hope to be able to do better with a higher magnification scope.
I don't know if the "wandering zero" is real or not,but my No5 shoots under an inch,so at least for my rifle, I would have to say no.
 
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