FAL in the North: The Canadian C1A1
- Thread starter 9.3mauser
- Start date
Pretty good video as his are but he dropped the ball at about 6:30 and talking about "winter triggers" maybe there is such a beast and there may be tens of thousands stashed away in a Suppyl Depot shelve somewhere but I never saw one. Ian should have shown the trigger guard rotated to the back and being stowed INSIDE the pistol grip leaving the trigger open to use while wearing arctic mitts. Always nice to see a C1 rifle.
That one took me aback. Never saw such an animal as a "winter trigger". Yes, just turn the guard into the grip.
Now if a bunch of 15 and 16 year old cadets could handle the FN I am sure most men could take it.
When he mentioned the X models I recalled something I did in the early 70s. I was posted to the Airborne then as a RCEME gun plumber. For jump school we had a bunch of the X series as trainers. They were a bit bent and beat. One day a few were brought to our shop and we made 2 serviceable ones out of the bunch. Myself and another weapons tech took them to Wainright and spent a day on the range firing them on full auto (conversion was part of the rebuild). The 2 of us put over 1,000 rounds down range. I have no idea what the purpose of the thing was. Above my pay grade. A bunch of the 1 Commandos were there and they had a few turns at the bat.
A good time was had by all.
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stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
I don't think "conversion is the right word. "Reconversion" would be more appropriate, since they were selective fire in the first place. It was an early modification on the EX series of rifles to install a small pin in the trigger housing to prevent the selector from going to automatic. I have a copy of the modification at work in the tech library.
Probably a better word.
This is from quite a while back, when the shop I was working at did an enemy weapons familiarisation range ex with a reserve regiment. It belonged to the unit and was supposed to be deactivated shortly after that ex. I don't know its condition now.
the carry handle should be wooden, buttstock and plate been replaced with newer c1a1 parts.
And that, now spelled out for all to see, is why the FALs were restricted when other battle rifles (including CAs) were only NR back in the day. The FALs were deemed to be too easily converted to full-auto by the RCMP and legislators of the day....
The FNC1 was in the 10 pound range, but it wasn't a problem for young sprogs in good shape who were trained on it and conditioned to carry it. It was a reliable, proven design which served us well for many years. Its twin, the selective fire C2, is best forgotten.
I fondly remember the FN C1A1 .
Great rifle. Yes Even out to 600 yds if you were good at judging the wind.
Used it ( 4 different one as I recall ) for 15 years on different unit rifle teams.
Last one was an 8L right out of grease issued just for rifle team use .
Regret I never got one after I got out when it was possible.
As for the C2 bad idea all round .
Miss those Rifle team days .
Great rifle. Yes Even out to 600 yds if you were good at judging the wind.
Used it ( 4 different one as I recall ) for 15 years on different unit rifle teams.
Last one was an 8L right out of grease issued just for rifle team use .
Regret I never got one after I got out when it was possible.
As for the C2 bad idea all round .
Miss those Rifle team days .
In the early 70s, C1 was semi and C2 was selective fire. The C1 were very accurate. I did not get my Cross arms as there was one ragged hole. The next qualifications, they counted the rounds and I made Cross Arms with Crown. When taking the firearm apart, one should never press the trigger by accident once the bolt is out. If so, that will take 10 to 20 minutes to reset the trigger spring. They were if memory serves me, reimported by Marstar. I have a R.F.I. 1971 1A1 which has everything of the C1 except that the folding rear sight has one peep hole but can be pushed up the ramp to 600 yards. and the stripper clip provision. I don't remember using stripper clips.
highlander
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Newfoundland
