Finally, the last piece for my Canadian FN collection

[stencollector]

The receivers are mated by welding them together just behind the magazines. The shop I use to do the deactivations has always kept them clean, while at the same time making it not easily reversible. Too many gunsmiths go way overboard and produce terrible looking products.

So I put it's older brother next to it for some comparisons. Here are a couple of shots of the charging handle area on the EX2 and my EX1. As Enfield pointed out, the serial on the EX2 is indeed just over the 0B1700 mark.

I am also including a couple of photos of a variance between the two. The mag removal lever seems to have changed design.

As well, there is a photo of the unique (and currently useless) front sight of the EX2. There would be a metal back up sight on the rear body cover, which I suspect is part of the scope mounting assembly (which will be another holy grail...the fun does not stop).

[stencollector]

Here are a couple of side by side shots of the two. Happy to report that change levers on both are the same. You can see the proper placement of the pin to prevent the rifles from going to full auto, which was, apart from the DP conversion, the only mofication instruction I have seen for the EX series of rifles.

I had always seen these rifles at cadet units, but really didn't know what they were. I would also see them come thru the weapons shops once in a while to be torn down and disposed of. There may have been a little dumpster diving on those days.

We have a couple of EX1 rifles at work, but one of them has the nomenclature of EX1/2. I have to remember to get into the vault again and get some shots of the side of that one. No idea of what change, if any there was to it. It came to us as a regular EX1.

[browningautorifle]

Nice pieces, regardless...very nice.

[mrclark303]

Agreed Jim, they are lovely examples, many thanks for sharing and we all have to work within the confines of our respective laws, so if we have to go the deactivated route on occasion, then so be it.

[Lee Enfield]

I wanted to add photos of the unit optic and emergency iron sights for an Ex2 to Stencollectors post as there are really no photos available on the internet. Not sure why they posted sideways (maybe one of the mods can fix this?).
right view
Attachment 88309
left view
Attachment 88313
front sight
Attachment 88315Attachment 88314
shooters view, (notice iron sight to left of bore)
Attachment 88316

windage is controlled at the front of the mount by an eccentric nut
Attachment 88311
elevation is controlled at the rear of the mount
Attachment 88312
the pin ensures theoretical "return to zero"
Attachment 88318

The bayonet uses the "force elastic" principal, if you pull on the blade it will pull forward against the latch
Attachment 88317

3 notes:
1) this rifle's carry handle is actually early C1 pattern with steel bushings on the ends
2) this rifle currently has early L1A1 handguards fitted (for some reason).
3) the bolt carrier is copper washed to demonstrate that it is "drill purpose".

[mrclark303]

Fascinating, the top cover locating pin is new to me. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[stencollector]

Not sure why they posted sideways (maybe one of the mods can fix this?).
.

Seems like this is often the case when photos are taken on phones then posted to the net. I have tried to rotate and save the photos thru an edit progtam, and it still ends up sideways. Must be some kind of a code thing.

Thanks for the photos. Now I need an optic sight for mine......can anybody help??

[Airforce1]

Hello,

I have in my collection some parts of EX1 or EX2 rifles which was also used as Drill Purpose (DP) for the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) up to 1995. The white band on the butt was to indicate a DP rifle. In 1994/1995Department of National Defence (DND) removed all those DP rifles from the RCACC units because they had a look of an assault rifle. The Base Weapon Technicians received the orders to put those rifles in pieces and send back to the Depot the barrels, the upper and lower receivers. All other parts were to be destroyed locally. You can see the serial number of the rifle was stamped on the right of the butt and my is O.B.1647 and only the four (4) numbers were put on the bayonet.

Please find some pictures of my two Canadian Trials X2E1 bayonets made in Belgium by Fabrique nationale in 1954. Some 2000 bayonets and a mix of CDN EX1 and EX2 rifles were purchased for trials in Canada's winter and in Germany for testing under all climatic conditions. Normally a serial number, from 0001 to 2000, was marked on the right side of the pommel by stamping or by electric pencil. No Government of Canada ownership on the bayonets. I have one which was stamped with the serial number 1210 and the other the serial number 1834 was inscribed with electric pencil on both side of the pommel (note the number "4" in the serial number is inversed on the left side of the pommel).

Please see video on the EX1 rifles in the British Army in 1954:

[mrclark303]

Some great pieces of Canadian and Fal history. Well done for securing them.

[Peter Laidler]

The video is filmed at the School of Infantry with the hills leading onto Salisbury Plain in the back ground and the chimneys of the old boiler house etc etc in the back ground with the tank hangars to the left and right. Just below the top of the hill, follow the old road round, and there's the now Harman Lines where the tanks are based now.

The bayonets......., yes....... Someone at FN was trying to pull a fast one by stating that the catch allowed white mans magic to come into place and this would use tidal laws at the spring equinox to enable the shooter to use the rifle - with bayonet fixed - and not affect the MPI, presumably due to some paradox only found in some laws of basic physics, of which I'm not aware. Some call it pure bull-shixe. Others have other more descriptive words for it. They even gave it some flowery technical description. But the long and short was that we didn't fall for it either and as I understand it, neither did anyone else! I mean...... what good is a flash eliminator that's only there when the bayonet is fitted?