FNFAL virgin....help me pick the right one for my first time.....

[mrclark303]

Interesting Jim, did you fit a C1 TMH to fit the C1 butt?

I had a 1A1 for a while, its now with another member.

An interesting, if rather rough rifle.

I remember being somewhat surprised that a SUIT top cover wouldn't fit, literally Jammed solid halfway on!

Yep, a curious beast, Fal back end, with non tabbed top cover and a sort of low quality Inch pattern copy front end.

It has the look and feel of a Khyber pass special, with everything just not quite right...

They make a very interesting study if any member has one to share images of?

It goes without saying that FN were absolutely bloody furious that their design was blatantly stolen and the Indians were forced to reach an agreement with FN regarding payment, plus orders for Fals and Australian and British L1A1's.

[82Trooper]

Interesting Jim, did you fit a C1 TMH to fit the C1 butt?

Can you break don the abbreviations...C1 and TMH?
Thanks!

[mrclark303]

C1, the Canadian Inch pattern variation of the L1A1 rifle.

TMH, Trigger Mounting Housing, or lower receiver for our American cousins.

[browningautorifle]

did you fit a C1 TMH to fit the C1 butt?

I used Canadian trigger mech, removed the plunger frame for the trigger plunger...altered the CDN pistol grip to the correct contour at the top. I had to use the original butt, but had it stripped by a furniture refinisher to remove all the smelly grease... I altered the dovetail to take a CDN sight... I used a CDN forestock after fitting an imperial barrel. I had to run a tap into the receiver and a die onto the barrel shank. I think it was 12TPI??? One inch?? Something like that.

[mrclark303]

Nice one Jim, any pics of your efforts?

[browningautorifle]

any pics

Sadly no. I did that one back about 1989 and it was sold to my Transport Officer at the time, my direct commander. He later had some trouble with the law and it was forfeit so it's long gone...and no pics. It was about the nicest looking IAI that was seen. Most were about scrap. I remember taking the tube out of the lower to clean all the rusty oil and do some glass beading. This one almost looked like an FN C1 A1 except for the Mahogany FAL type butt. I had to put in the small impressions at the back of the body cover grooves in the upper for the folds in our half body cover too. Lots of work to change over.

The way I understood it, these were a mix of metric and imperial and some "Other" so they thought they didn't have to pay royalties...

[82Trooper]

So...here is what I am looking at....can you folks help me decode this one?
Clearly it is an Imbel receiver, imported by CAI. That is clearly marked in electro pencil, with a serial # (?) 120643 penciled on the lower receiver ( or TMH as I will start saying!)
Also stamped "UE 59" and A45009. Appears to have a broad arrow over a D 77 near the lower butt stock screw, and some other markings on the components.

Can you help me decode some of these?

Attachment 93145
Attachment 93140
Attachment 93141
Attachment 93142
Attachment 93143
Attachment 93144
Attachment 93146
Attachment 93147

[desperatedan]

Yes you're correct. The Imbel serial of the receiver is 120643.

The "UE59" on the TMH means that it was made by Enfield in 1959. The "A45009" is the serial number. The original upper receiver would have had the same number (UE...etc)

Markings on other parts indicate where/when made and the part number i.e. The "B58" on the gas block means it was made by BSA in 1958.

[mrclark303]

Just to add to that, the trigger MA80 number identifies this as a Lithgow 1980 manufactured part.

She looks good, ask about the barrel info, the info under the handguards on the left hand side.

If its Lithgow ( post 1965 I think?) it will have a chromed chamber and bore too.

[82Trooper]

OK great. Thank you for that information I will try to get a peek and get some additional information for the barrel itself. Is there anyway to tell from the serial numbers are markings who actually manufactured the lower receiver with the serial number tell us that?