Australian L1A1 Date of service entry ?

[David K]

... The reference sources that I've come across show the L1A1 as being manufactured by Lithgow commencing in 1959. Yet I clearly recall some Australian Troops being "on parade" during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, armed with the then brand new, SLR (aka L1A1) ... Anyone know if these were in fact manufactured by Lithgow, or would they have been exported and under testing, from the UK ? ..... David K.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Oatmeal Savage]

I found a 1958 date in John Walter's book.

[David K]

..Well, 1958 is closer to 1956 ! During the Melbourne Olympics, I think it was also when the Australian Army REALLY went for the "Jungle Green " uniforms as well ! I know the "new" rifles weren't in full issue, certainly not down to the Cadet Level, as the school cadets where I went to school, still had SMLE #3s, mostly dated from before WW2, plus the Vickers/Bren's and Owens. ...... David K.

[Claven2]

... The reference sources that I've come across show the L1A1 as being manufactured by Lithgow commencing in 1959. Yet I clearly recall some Australian Troops being "on parade" during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, armed with the then brand new, SLR (aka L1A1) ... Anyone know if these were in fact manufactured by Lithgow, or would they have been exported and under testing, from the UK ? ..... David K.

Given the accepted Lithgow manufacture start of 1958, I doubt they were Lithgows. Britain likely lent them some as a commonwealth favor for trials. Or possibly FN trying to convince the Aussies to purchase a manufacturing license.

[Oatmeal Savage]

Brits started production in 1958, IIRC Canada was the first commonwealth country to us the FN, 1957.

Edited to add, Trials began in 1954 and Canada adopted the FAL in June 1955.

[green]

Australia received X8 FALs in 1955.First Aus L1 made in Oct 1958. From "SLR Australia's FN FAL". British L1 prodn started in Mar 1957.

[David K]

"Green" the date fits in ! But who made the X8 FALS ? There must have been a pretty fair number sent out for Trials, to judge by the number of troops that I remember seeing lining some of the Parade routes ! ...David K.

[green]

X8 were Belgian made like Cdn EX1 &2.

[Lee Enfield]

"Green" the date fits in ! But who made the X8 FALS ? There must have been a pretty fair number sent out for Trials, to judge by the number of troops that I remember seeing lining some of the Parade routes ! ...David K.

Canada was the first builder of the FN-FAL outside of Belgium. The first series production C1s were dated (sept)1956, 0L0000 is illustrated in the "bible".

14,500 X8 rifles were built for the British by FN according to the big ugly "bible".

Australia & NZ were customers of the British ordnance procurement system at that time. They got their trials guns through the Brit orders. (there is a cool pic of Brit/Aus troops in Malaya during the emerg armed w/ Owens & X8s).

The X8E1 corresponds with the Canadian EX1 while the X8E2 corresponds with the EX2. IIRC they went thru X8E14....
The major difference (X8E1 vs. EX1) was the X8 selector switch was like the ugly Israeli one rather than the EX standard metric selector. They also tested a forward bolt assist also adopted by Israel...

[Oatmeal Savage]

Speaking of Belgian Fal's, what was the first round that the Fal was intended to fire?:-)