Accurizing an L1A1/FAL?

[enbloc8]

There were about 160 complete Lithgow-made rifles and a bunch of receivers imported in the late 1980s. One complete Lithgow rifle is currently up on an auction site with the Lithgow packaging and papers; last I looked it was bid up to $4000 and expected to go much higher.

[DOD 7.62]

200 for the US as I understand, SAF830001 to SAF830200 in 1983. There were going to do another 10 in 1987 as an Australian Bi-Centenial collectors gun project ( on L1 A1A receivers ) but only built one prior to a law change prohibiting sale after Hodel St ( a massacre at the time ) out here.

I recently acquired (I'm a licences dealer) a new barrelled reciever actually stamped L1A1A without the safety (auto) sear present hence my previous question Peter. I have seen and handled a few of the Lithgow L1A1 single shot target rifles they produced but never ever thought to pull one down to see what the difference was. A friend and fellow dealer recently sold two he had. Lithgow also did experimental magazine fed L1A1 target rifles with the cocking handle mounted directly to the front of the bolt carrier and a corresponding cut in the top cover, the receivers had no cocking handle slot cut and had a central sight block attached to the left hand side.

[enbloc8]

It was supposed to be 200, yes. Unfortunately, a new gun control bill that banned importation of complete "assault rifles" from overseas after 1989 meant that the last forty or so never made it in.

There were a quantity of L1A1A ATF-approved receivers imported as well; an unknown quantity (fully finished to Lithgow specs) were imported by Onyx, and a good-sized number--I've heard possibly as many as 600--were imported by Eden International. Unfortunately, many of the Edens were imported in a semi-finished condition, and a great many of them were in-the-white and had no markings save for the ABN steel batch mark, crossed-flags proof mark, and the serial number.

Nevertheless, L1A1s built up from parts or kits on an Eden or Onyx receiver are almost as hotly sought after as one of the Lithgow-assembled Poyer rifles.

[enbloc8]

A link to the auction, for those interested in seeing a Poyer L1A1A. (Apologies if this violates any rules, and I have no material interest in this auction.)

FN/FAL L1A1 308 Rare Joe Poyer : Semi Auto Rifles at GunBroker.com

[Lee Enfield]

200 for the US as I understand, SAF830001 to SAF830200 in 1983. There were going to do another 10 in 1987 as an Australian Bi-Centenial collectors gun project ( on L1 A1A receivers ) but only built one prior to a law change prohibiting sale after Hodel St ( a massacre at the time ) out here.

I recently acquired (I'm a licences dealer) a new barrelled reciever actually stamped L1A1A without the safety (auto) sear present hence my previous question Peter. I have seen and handled a few of the Lithgow L1A1 single shot target rifles they produced but never ever thought to pull one down to see what the difference was. A friend and fellow dealer recently sold two he had. Lithgow also did experimental magazine fed L1A1 target rifles with the cocking handle mounted directly to the front of the bolt carrier and a corresponding cut in the top cover, the receivers had no cocking handle slot cut and had a central sight block attached to the left hand side.

The 1960s-70s Lithgow single shot heavy barrel target rifles without the magazine feature have the safety sear.

Sad story, but I owned one for a while.

It was imported to Canada from the usa so there are probably a few still in the us.