#tab reference collection

L21A1 .50 Calibre Machine Gun – 1960s Illustrated Spares List

This week’s Armourer’s Bench video looks at another item from the TAB reference collection – an illustrated spare parts list for the L21A1. L21A1 is the British designation for the American Browning M2 .50 cal (12.7×99mm) machine gun. A past owner has written ‘Ranging’ on the cover, perhaps suggesting this booklet specifically covered the guns used by the UK’s Royal Armoured Corps in its Centurion and Chieftain tanks.

Really pleased to have assisted with Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons with his latest book, contributing some imagery from rare manuals from my reference collection! I also provided some captions and carried out a peer review of the book.

As with all Headstamp books, 'Battle Rifles of NATO' is beautifully laid out and features exquisite photos from James Rupley.

To help with projects like this is just one of the reasons I've spent years collecting and cataloguing small arms manuals and ephemera from around the world, dating from 1900 to the present.