price check on FNFAL - c1a1-canadian

[ODDJOB UNO]

have a line on an alleged "original c1a1" FN FAL in .308. plastic black furniture. has 10-20rd mags for it and manual.


states in great condition no rust no scratches.

the receiver should say CAL for canadian arsenals limited.


thats all i know about them.


asking $1300.


is it worth it?


anything in particular i look for aside from "bright shiney bore with no pitting"?

[Jim Bremner]

Sounds good! unless you're here in California.

[James Brown]

Unfired, only dropped once! For that price you can have a M1A, my choice in .308 new.

[ODDJOB UNO]

nope i dont have to worry about nuffing here in airy-zoney.

1) we now own (3) m1a's and a m-1 carbine. all over the top OCD UBER-IZED. we have been playing w/them for years.

2) multiple hk's-been playing with them for over 30 years now.

3) was interested because i read most of the c1a1's were crushed by the canadian gubbermint when the c1a1 was retired back in 1984.

4) i can get from DSA a austrian fnfal for $1200 bucks NEW IN BOX w/lifetime warranty. and pick multiple flavors of options at an added cost of course.

5) the confusing part is the internet b.s. one site says its "metric" another says its "inch" pattern. and thats were it gets real bizarro as far as BUYING PARTS and what interchanges.

6) was just wondering is this canadian version a keeper? i know to avoid century arms models.

7) gonna take my bore light and a flashlight and my magnifying glass and take a good hard look at it today.

[Joeaksa]

Good thing to do on a rainy day in Phoenix!

[ODDJOB UNO]

wow i figured some canadian at least would have real world info on these kritters. least of all some yank rambo with 1st hand experience on what to look for and what to avoid?

well me being me finally found at least (1) identifying mark. if its a "real" canuck fnfal in .308. the damn receiver better state "C.A.L. for canadian arsenals limited.

that gem was derived from plugging into the wonders of google and FINALLY FINDING A REAL C1A1. and i have spent HOURS at this.


now if yer interested in these..................well caveat emptor BIG TIME ME BUCKO. cause after reading miles of stoopid azz drival about these damn spoons its real damn obvious most of them are a hodgepodge of bastardized parts heaping metric upon inch upon indian(india) upon imbel and the end result of these armchair wannabe fnfal armourers is just flat downright scary. one einstein suggested sticking a wooden match stick into the trigger works to make it go "full auto" which 1st is really really ILLEGAL and 2nd the damn thing could freeking BLOW UP! which really isnt what the hell i am after.


so as stated i am doing my due dilligence on these before i step over the abyss and buy one. some of the crap i read was really beyond belief as far as what people have done with these. i guess when ya have a boatload of countries making them this is the end result.


i also know to buy an original BELGIAN MADE.................is gonna run some ser-i-azz bucks and i think i am learning why this is. ITS FREEKING ORIGINAL!

[ODDJOB UNO]

yep joe i am up to a 1/4" of precipitation here.

[Jim Bremner]

Owner of a M1A, I want to add a FN FAL to the safel.

I think that the FAL comes back to target quicker. Dog poo for a trigger, but easier on the shoulder. Much better design to clean

I've only ran 20 rounds down rage in one but I LKIE it

[id10t]

Worth it if yes, it is a Real contract rifle.

But... Century marked some of theirs as C1A1 (as well as R1A1 and L1A1 and "sporter")

Double check importer, upper manufacture.


If it is a Canadian, then it would be inch pattern. Inch guns can use metric mags but they may be a little wobbly. Metric guns can't use inch mags.

Lots of stuff interchanges between the two. Be aware that inch patterns dont have a last shot bolt hold open, so you adjust the gas in a different manner.


If you want a deal on a FAL right now, I'd go with a DSA Imbel - $1k is "retail" to your dealer, your FFL can get you a lower price. Or check the marketplace on http://www.falfiles.com/forums - there are a few SAR48 and 4800s for sale which are all Real licensed manufacture, or you can find a quality build. I just picked up a Imbel on a DCI receiver that needs a few more 922r parts (about $80) for $780 w/ shipping and xfer fee.

[JJ 911SC]

We use to call it FNC1 when I was in the Navy, we carry a few onboard along with SMG and 9mm pistol and shot gun. The FNC2 was the automatic version.

Funny coincidence, I just post a FNC1 story at Going Ballistic on a Nuclear Submarine (post 5) a few minutes before I came accross this post.

Extract L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


"Canada adopted the FAL in 1954, the first country in the world to actually ante up and order enough rifles for meaningful troop trials. Up to this point FN had been making these rifles in small test lots of ones and twos, each embodying changes and improvements over its predecessor. The Canadian order for 2,000 rifles "cast the FAL in concrete" for the first time, and at FN, from 1954 to 1958 the standard model of the FAL rifle was called the FAL 'Canada'.
North American FALs documents the development of the Imperial (inch)-measurement of the FAL, and its manufacture in Canada as the C1 rifle and C2 automatic rifle (later modified to C1A1 and C2A1 configuration). These excellent Canadian-built rifles were the standard arms of the Canadian military from first production in 1955 until 1984."
—[7]


The C1A1 with the unique revolving plate aperture rear sight visible.
Canadian soldier with C2 light machine gun. The C2 is a Canadian version of the L2A1The Canadian Forces operated several versions, the most common being the C1A1, similar to the British L1A1 (which became more or less a Commonwealth standard), the main difference being that rotating disc rear sight graduated from 200 to 600 yards and a two piece firing pin. The trigger guard was able to be folded into the pistol grip, this allowed the user to wear mitts when using the weapon. The Canadian rifle also has a shorter receiver cover than other Commonwealth variants to allow for refilling the magazine by charging it with stripper clips. It was manufactured under license by the Canadian Arsenals Limited company.[8] Canada was the first country to use the FAL. It served as Canada's standard battle rifle from the early 1950s to 1984, when it began to be phased out in favor of the lighter Diemaco C7, a licence-built version of the AR-15.

The Canadians also operated an automatic variant, the C2A1, as a section support weapon, which was very similar to the Australian L2A1. It was similar to the FN FAL 50.41/42, but with wooden attachments to the bipod legs that work as a handguard when the legs are folded. The C2A1 used a tangent rear sight attached to the receiver cover with ranges from 200 to 1000 meters. The C1 was equipped with a 20-round magazine and the C2 with a 30-round magazine, although the two were interchangeable. Variants of the initial C1 and the product improved C1A1 were also made for the Royal Canadian Navy, which were capable of automatic fire, under the designations C1D and C1A1D.[9] These weapons are identifiable by a "A" for automatic, carved or stamped into the butt stock. Boarding parties for domestic and international searches used these models.

[James Brown]

They are nice rifles but heavy (and heave hitters).

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by ODDJOB UNO

yep joe i am up to a 1/4" of precipitation here.

About the same here but it just started again and coming down harder.

Was thinking about going to the Mesa show with Rick but not in this rain...