FN 1A1 vs. FN L1A1 vs. FN C1A1

[browningautorifle]

The C-79 Elcan was never issued as part of the FN family accessories... That's what I said. The C79 never had anything to do with the FN family.

[Peter Laidler]

On the Commonwealth spec L1/C1 series rifles you couldn't just change the change lever to get automatic fire. You HAD to remove the pistol grip and plate, pistol grip to get at and change (or shorten) the PLUNGER, trigger. Without doing this, even if you pressed the trigger until the cows came home, the plunger would foul the pistol grip collar in the trigger mech housing. You MUST shorten the plunger.

As an Armourer, these rifles, in both L1A1 and L2A1 LMG's were my bread and butter for many years in Australia and Malaya. I often made my old and well worn L1A1 (AD6104714 - where are you now trusty and reliable old friend.....) fire as a 'big iron' when it was quiet on the ranges or when we were using L2's and later, Brens! But it was like a bloody demon. It would jump around like a frog on fire and any notion of hitting the fig.11 (or even triple fig.11) target frames was just a joke. I was just a little lightweight shortarse and while some of the big nasho (national service) ex-cow hands from the wilds of Queensland could handle them, they were just a wild handfull (both the rifles and the wild cow cockies......). The L2's couldn't compete with the pom L4 Brens and eventually, in 4 RAR and thereafter, we were supplied with 7.62mm Brens, transferred over from the last poms to leave Malaya.......... I think they were the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, in 1967.

It was on the L2's that I first saw the split flash eliminators. I told the REME Inspectorate at HQ FarELF in Singapore and they didn't believe it so Armourer Sgt Cottrell from 8 RAR workshop sent a couple over to the Inspection team lead by ASM Clive Connors (RAEME) who sent them down to Singapore. I don't know what they did with them because the poms left soon afterwards anyway. Later we got the 3 prong types. But, as per usual, I digress. As a matter of interest, did Canada adopt the three pronger flash eliminator at all?

[browningautorifle]

No, we kept the 5 slot to the end. We also had split flash eliminators at the end but like the rear sight breakage and the ejector breakage it was due I think to metal fatigue. The weapons for the most part were in continuous service from initial issue with only required rebuilds and repairs. Normal for a service rifle of a small army. I always related the 3 slot to the ishy's. Not so?