Lithgow F1

[Peter Laidler]

We had both while they overlapped. During the trials - and they were pretty exhaustive - the F1 was a better all-round gun and definately more reliable as regards stoppages. But you've got to compare like with like here. The Owens they compared it with were old and well worn/used. F1 simpler to produce too. I seem to recall that the actual tube part came to Lithgow already perforated as part of the price/deal.

One of our old RAEME Armourer WO's, John Deegan (? Deeghan) was on the trial. He won't mind me saying so now, but while I didn't know him well - he was a WO and I was a Craftsman - he was a bit stuffy (for an Australian....., more like a pom) but you wouldn't be able to bluff him or pull the wool over his eyes. I think he part-wrote the EMEI too

What the F1 didn't have going for it was........ A bit like the L2 rifle when it replaced the Bren. There must be a word for it. But in short, the old and the bold rule the roost for many years after new kit is introduced and the young and inexperienced listen to the old and the bold

[muffett.2008]

True Pete. I cut my teeth on the Owen, my first Skill at Arms badge, could make them talk.
When the F1 was phased in, it was hard to come to terms with it, but as a left hander, using an overhand grip, I soon mastered it, we used to practice drawing faces on targets with it(some ugly grins) but it was as good as the Owen to shoot, not quite as instinctive, but we learnt to adapt.
Got me a few junket trips for International Competition with it, so I guess I can't complain.

[Vincent]

What the F1 didn't have going for it was........ A bit like the L2 rifle when it replaced the Bren. There must be a word for it. But in short, the old and the bold rule the roost for many years after new kit is introduced and the young and inexperienced listen to the old and the bold

That reminds me of the crusty old Boeing 707 captains who loved the flying boats they used to fly.

They would tell the young copilots and flight engineers stories that often started with, “Back on the boat……...”

[browningautorifle]

It's something about the familiarity achieved when you're a soldier handling a weapon compared to later in life when you don't get the hands on time to become second nature with a weapon...

[Peter Laidler]

Welcome back BAR.......

[browningautorifle]

Thanks Peter...

[Brian Dick]

That's an FNC. I had/sold several of the semi-auto variants many years ago. I never cared for them much either. I still have an original User Handbook around here someplace.

[browningautorifle]

I'd still like to wring them out a bit. Both the short Para and the infantry model. Our guys that trialed them in the '70s didn't have glowing reports but the didn't say the things they did about the FaMas...(Johnny 7)...

[Brian Dick]

I don't think they're a bad weapon Jim. Not many FN products are in my experience. I just never took to them or felt the need to own one unlike the 7.62 SLR. I'll admit that I was, (still am), thoroughly biased in favor of the good old AR design, especially now that it's had a zillion product improvements over the years. Of course, saying that, I never saw too many serious problems with the well used, bog standard M16A1 rifles we had during my military service in the 80's. Paratroopers beat the crap out of them too!

[browningautorifle]

I'm just one of those guys that wants to do my own trials once in a while. Not many of us had the chance to take a Sten to the field for fun in about 1986 or so...I had to make a BFA for it though... Did that sort of thing all I could.