The Armys New Rifle (1954) - YouTube
£30 Pounds was the cost then...........................blimey how the price has gone up, and NO flash illiminator either!!
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The Armys New Rifle (1954) - YouTube
£30 Pounds was the cost then...........................blimey how the price has gone up, and NO flash illiminator either!!
Flash eliminator Gil, you'll be wanting ear defenders next!
Thanks for sharing, I seem to recall our Peter remembering this chap?
John, PARDON!!:lol:
Not the L1A1 Rifle, but the FN X8E2 Trials Rifle
Hi Kev, hope life is treating you well. I wonder if this rifle made its way into the collection at Warminster.
Even as a trials rifle ( early Fal) it was already a superb piece of kit, there is just something about a design that's 'right'.
The resulting inch pattern redesign, must be one of the very rare occasions, were redesign by committee didn't screw it up, but actually improved it.
Well were coming out of lock-down here and we have been very lucky with the low number of deaths and cases over all. Something that can be put down to being an island and being able to close off the boarders.
IIRC there were about 700 X8E2 rifles provided for trials the have the unique Unit Optic Sight (UOS) with an offset foresight/gas block with a peep sight on the UOS itself and no standard type iron sights.
Certainly the FAL cocking handle shown which carried on through on the full auto versions. Must have been really reliable in 1957. Anyone got one of those open tube sights?
Demonstration Of The New F. N. Rifle (1954) - YouTube
1954 Video certainly struggled with the bayonet
Very rare items Gil and command a very high price when they come up.....
1954 so did the top cover extend over the working parts at the same time for safety?
Thanks, very interesting info.
The standard long cover was fitted to the X8E2 unit optic sighted riflesQuote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
The half stripper clip loading cover was fitted to the X8E1 rifles.
The X8E3 was an X8E1 fitted fitted with the American designed 5 slot flash eliminator (often referred to the the 'Browning Flash Hider' on the 'G Series FAL rifles)
The X8E4, unknown but probably an X8E2 fitted with the Flash Eliminator
The X8E5 was a modified X8E1 with newly designed components such as a new version of Auxiliary Catch on the Cocking handle slide, new sling swivels, new butt plate and semi auto etc
The X8E6, unknown but probably an X8E2 fitted with X8E5 components
I have had the pleasure of putting a few hundred rounds through one of those...... lovely condition, also an early L1A1 full wood etc, again all excellent condition.Quote:
Originally Posted by nzl1a1collector
This rifle was in use for about 18 months (1954 - 1956) and had Its barrel replaced after 10,407 rounds and has fired a total of 17,320 rounds after which it was returned to RSAF Enfield due to the Body (Upper Receiver) cracking through the Locking Shoulder hole.
I know this as the rifle has its own official report: T.S 56’ 100, RIFLE FN No 5011, Investigation, Fractured Body
The report details the life and use of the rifle. It was sent to Radway Green and was used for “Ammunition Proof”.
Although it doesn’t say when the rifle started trials it was withdrawn from service on the 6 November 1956 after it was gauged and failed.
It’s likely the rifle spent about 18 months in service at Radway Green, which works out at about 509 Working days. This can be further broken down to:
A total of 866 Magazines (20 round) used.
Or 48 Magazines / 962 rounds a month.
Or 34 Rounds each and every work day
It had a hard life in its short operational career.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../tGO1g0R-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Kikty5G-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../onzVu2n-1.jpg
Nice one:thup:
Many in Britain were converted to L38 Drill Purpose and used and Hereford for the country walks during selection,
the one I have was fitted with a "para" type rear sight when I got it dressed as a deactivated L1A, I believe the rear sight is original to the X8 as it has the same patina of the finish
. I have since found all of the missing parts, with 2 sets of wood to make it look like an X8 or the L38 DP
https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...8&d=1376342069https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...9&d=1376342104
nice restoration
The para sight isn't original, this type of sight didn't come into existence till the early 60's. It would of had the standard TALL backsight, if you tried to use the para sight with the original front sights you wouldn't be able to hit the side of a barn from the inside. I suspect the original TALL sight was damaged and then replaced with a para sight taken from one of the Argentine Para FAL's brought back from the Falklands. Also it looks like your rifle has had a coating of Suncorite at some stage.