A couple of British L1A1 Rifles

[enbloc8]

Yes, it's true that only a handful of FN C1s (A1) exist out in the civilian market. Most were bought by DCRA members way back when that was the thing. Some were sold by the OPP when they changed rifles, but most were destroyed when they were no longer required in war reserve...just in time for the war... There's the odd one deactivated, but most are Aussie or UK...the live ones too.

When the FNs were retired from active Canadian service, something like 50,000 rifles were overhauled by Colt Canada and put into war reserve. From which they went straight to the chopper.

I understand there are a *very* small handful of legitimate Canadian-made C1/C1A1s in the States, but the emphasis is on "very". And since they would have "walked" across the border and were probably never registered as machine guns (stupid auto-sear!), it's a safe bet they stay well out of sight.

Most of the C1s and C2s in the States are the result of literal years of searching for Canadian parts to build on a legal US made receiver. Very few parts kits made it over here, all parts are expensive, and some items, such as Longbranch-made barrels and many C2 parts, are made of unobtainium at this point.

---------- Post added at 07:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

Well, I know some of the people who chopped up the C1 FN-FAL in the early 2000s. Truly sad, the one guy was telling me how they still had some NOS in the box from 1960 and they were just taken out of the box, wood taken off for burning and the metal chopped with a torch.

There are only two legal sources the C1 FN-FAL could have come from that I am aware of. One being the ex-OPP rifles, the other was back when the C1 was being made they offered some for sale to members of the DCRA so they could buy them for service rifle competitions. From what I understand very few took up the offer, as the catalog I saw it in advertised show it as 150 or 160$ back then (in comparison to 10$ Lee Enfields).

I've been told that rifles remaining in stock at Longbranch Arsenal/CAL were sold off along with the plant machinery and other assets when the Arsenal was closed in 1976.

[browningautorifle]

The parts were apparently bought by the pound as scrap by Blake Stevens...and when Diemaco was doing the refurbishment for war reserve, he sold the parts back at unit price...so I was told...Warren might know more about that.

[enbloc8]

The parts were apparently bought by the pound as scrap by Blake Stevens...and when Diemaco was doing the refurbishment for war reserve, he sold the parts back at unit price...so I was told...Warren might know more about that.

I've wondered if that refurbishment program is why Canadian barrels are basically nonexistent...unless they too were buying barrels and other parts from Australia in later years.

[mrclark303]

Its such a shame, the C1A1 is a very nice looking rifle, I would love to have added one to my inch pattern collection, but that's just an unachievable pipe dream now. When looking into the possibility of procuring an C1A1 parts kit and bringing it to the UK earlier this year, I contacted a number of Canadian dealers ... more than one said, what's a C1?? ... sums it up really, the forgotten rifle!

I tried to locate a deactivated C1A1 for my collection, as a fall back position, that too was a no go, no one imported any to the UK..

Never mind, new project, I am going to attempt to build a straight pull L2A1 lookalike (it will have to be based on a Lithgow L1A1 receiver kit though) as utilising an L2 receiver (even if you could find one) would be a step to far here in the UK, even though the only difference is the bloody markings, because of our ridiculous laws here.

I have an old heavy Enfield 7.62 target barrel tucked away at my RFD, that has enough meat on it to be adjusted to the correct profile, Lithgow receiver, TMH and bolt kit and FE isn't a problem, got the straight 30 mag, just need the L2 gas block, retaining ring and bipod legs to start the build.

[Peter Laidler]

Surely there will be a heavy L2 barrel somewhere in the US that can be exported here instead of the palava of turning one down from scratch.

Engraving your body to L2A1 spec shouldn't be a problem either

[mrclark303]

Hi Peter,

An original L2 barrel is a no go, as its ported, again a step to far, its a delicate balancing act building these things to Sec1 in the UK!

Burnt at the post by an angry pinch folk wielding mob from the Home Office for using that unfortunately!

[Peter Laidler]

That's funny....... The CAM rifle uses a blanked off ported M-16 barrel. Just looked up the bore and it's still there as we speak. It can't be both illegal AND legal surely...........

[Brian Dick]

I built C1A1 clone in the early 1990's using one of the very first Entreprise Arms receivers and a new Australian barrel. I had sets of new wood and all the small parts at that time. I still have it and it's a lovely rifle that shoots extremely well. I've only heard tell of one original C1A1 that found it's way down from the Great White North but I never saw it. It used to reside in Atlanta. I had several of the C2 barrels and couldn't give them away at the time along with the walnut bipod/handguards.

[Peter Laidler]

There you go Clarkie..... They're out there!

[mrclark303]

Afternoon all,

I had to look up the CAM rifle Peter, interesting hybrid SP beast indeed, I guess it hails from a time when the first straight pull AR15's also came to these shores too, they were converted by simply crimping the gas line!

The pioneer post semi auto ban days!

If you tried making/importing anything now with a ported barrel they would have your guts for garters!

Here in the UK, it is a particular issue when mated with a "potentially semi automatic" receiver like the L1A1.

These rifle builds receive very close attention from the Home Office these days and they have mandated a clear set of rules for the builds.

To comply with Sec1, the rifle must be built up from a parts kit (with a clear paper trail proving that), the build must utilise a new un-ported barrel and modifications made to ensure it can't easily be made to operate as an semi/automatic firearm, ie, de-activated gas block, no gas tube and piston etc.

So, no choice but to machine the Enfield barrel I'm afraid.