FN 1A1 vs. FN L1A1 vs. FN C1A1

[Sunray]

"...formerly known as Longbranch..." Always known as Canadian Arsenals Ltd - Longbranch Plant. Only known as 'Longbranch' on the assorted Internet forums. Usually when speaking of No. 4 Lee-Enfields.
Longbranch was a village/town in what is now Mississauga, Ontario. The plant, at Dixie Rd and Lakeshore Ave, was closed by Trudeau as soon as the C1A1 production run ended in 1975. The SOB couldn't close it fast enough. All the machinery and tooling was sold. Most of it supposedly went to India.
Had a 1957, I think, might have been a '56 or '58, C1A1 on my MIU when I commanded a CF Army Cadet Corps, long ago. Cadets were 13 to 18 then.
"...a neat revolving aperture sight..." Always thought it was a poor design. Felt flimsy. It folded down and was held on with just a wee bolt/machine screw. Had visions of it getting breaken off with heavy combat use. Worked ok for range shooting though.

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[Cpl Kendall]

Thanks for this post, very informative. I found this bit odd though;

Canada - the first country to adopt the FAL design as the C1 (June 1955), in inch pattern. All the guns were made at Canadian Arsenals Limited, a state factory (Note by Claven2: formerly known as Longbranch). The C1A1, and C2A1 followed. The C1A1 (adopted 1959) is a slightly modified version, including a two piece firing pin and a plastic carrying handle. The C2A1 is a squad auto version of the FAL, with a built in full auto function, as well as a heavier, longer barrel, and a bipod that folds into up to become the front handguard. The C2A1 also uses a rear sight mounted on the top cover, not the lower receiver. The squad auto inch pattern guns apparently did not work very well in that role.

Everything I had heard from the old timers was that the C2 was an excellent weapon, despite the drawbacks of using a rifle-based LMG. But from what I understand they used the Browning C5 to make up for that.

[stencollector]

"...formerly known as Longbranch..." Always known as Canadian Arsenals Ltd - Longbranch Plant. Only known as 'Longbranch' on the assorted Internet forums. .

By my understanding the corporation was originally known as SAL for Small Arms Ltd. Post war it changed to Cdn Arsenals Ltd.