Pictured above is an actual photo of " The Royal Ordnance MFI (Electric) L85A1 Air Soft Battle Rifle ". (Just as MFI supplies to the Professional Motion Picture Industry.) Attention Prop Masters: This item like many of our other airsoft replicas / bb guns comes with an Approved Alternative Orange DOC marking and the Original Black Flash Suppressor so you can swap in a matter of minutes. Additionally nice is the fact that the Approved Alternative Orange Marking is identical to the original black on in shape and size so if you loose the original (or damage it during filming you could paint the orange one black as a substitute. The L85A1 AEG and the MP5 K, PDW, A5 & A4 are the only MFI airsoft that have "identical DOC parts". We also carry these spare parts in stock if you need them.

This Air Soft Bull Pup is a dimensionally near the original of the British Army Standard Rifle. This L85A1 is a low volume electric air rifle and is select fire (shoots both semi-auto and full automatic). Commonly known as Air Soft. All plastic hand guards and grips come off just as on the real thing. The weight of the weapon is the only give away (real weapon weighs in at near 10 lbs.) As there are only 5 real L85A1 / SA 80s in the USA finding one for under $15,000.00 is nearly impossible. Even parts sets are unavailable!! Your next best chance to own a piece of British history has arrived. The L85A1 Shoots a 6mm plastic BB.

Correct right down to the markings of the rifle on the right hand guard "5.56mm L85A1 and NATO stock number."

This L85A1 is one of the very first electric airsoft guns made. MFI has had a contract manufacture make a number of improvements over the years to improve performance and reliability. This is important to know as with every passing year the current technology and amount of metal parts increases. We basically resurrected this model from the dead in 1997 to supply a need in the industry for this model. Because of the unfamiliarity of the public with this weapon in particular and bull pups in general there has never been a high enough demand / interest in the market for Tokyo Marui to make this gun in airsoft. Additionally because we continue to make this via contract manufactures means that Marui knows there is already competition from MFI.

The weapon has very good plastic detail but, lacks many of the metal parts found on current airsoft guns. Things like the barrel and flash suppressor are usually metal if manufacture after 1998. Unfortunately MFI does not have the financial wherewithal to pay for the $200,000.00 US Dollars that it would take to update it to what is typically metal on current airsoft guns.

The cocking handle is the same as on the single shot L85A1. This is an incorrect size and shape (too tall and too narrow) as the only available live weapon version that the manufactures had was the Cadet Single Shot L85A1 which has a extended cocking mechanism and when this is taken off the real weapon the cocking handle beneath is a different shape than the standard to be able to operate properly. This is the dimensional object they used for the airsoft versions. It is not really that far off... only 4mms wider and 10mms shorter and it would be right on dimensionally. As the owner of MFI has a real SA80 we have to make this note. Any non-owner of a real one might never have noticed. Finally this item could be easliy fabricated out of wood, bondo, plastic or metal and use to replace the original less than perfect cocking handle.

As no company wishes or has any plans to make the L85A1 in the future this is your only choice in full auto for the L85A1. If you are looking for a Prop Gun or Wall Hanger for your collection you should buy the single shot L85A1 as it is just slightly more correct than the electric version. The electric version has a trap door in the lower front hand guard which if you look closely at the above photo you can see. Be sure to compare it with the single shot picture. Both the single shot and electric come with a SUSAT scope. These scopes are entirely plastic. The electric version has a simulated red dot for an aiming mechanism. This is done via a light admitting diode not, a low intensity laser. You get whet you pay for as a real SUSAT scope is $1200.00+. Real laser aim points are $150.00+.

NOTE: SUSAT as mentioned is all plastic. It also can not be readily fitted to another weapon without modification. This means modification to the base of the scope to fill in the empty cavity of the base and modification to your mount to accept the SUSAT duel holes found in the base. Even if you did mount it... it would be more for looks as you could easily knock it off in a skirmish.

All in all a nice set up, just a bit dated. Shoots as well as any other electric we sell just a little less power and more gear box noise. The battery is also specific to this weapon. You could use an MFI or Marui Large Battery but, you would need to make an adapter set for the plugs... no big deal... easy and cost less than $10.00. This would give you a slightly higher rate of fire... not more power... just increased RPM.

It does come in a nice package deal set up with spare mags, bottle of bbs, carry case etc. Additionally there is a all Black parts set available. The gun has no hop up either… not that that is any big deal anyway. Just be aware that at hop up did not ever exist in the time of it's original production (1993). MFI purchased the molds and rights to make this gun in 1996 and reworked much of the tooling and made a number of improvements… most of which center around reliability issues the original gun had as well as most electric guns prior to 1997.

As for gaming we do sell a few of these to customers who use them and are happy (especially in doors) but, you will run into the Marui snobs in every crowd who think you have a dinosaur. We supply a lot of the single shot and electric L85A1 to the film industry and true military weapons collectors. This is the gun that you see in the movies... Because the real thing is so difficult to find.

---

---