Fn Fal C1A1 Information

1ronM@n

1ronM@n

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Hi there,

I'm in no way an expert in anything. I just learn from experience like most people. If it comes through my hands, well , that's usually where my experiences come from.

I collect all sorts of firearms that catch my interests and lately I had the opportunity to buy a Canadian C1A1, I was late by one day. I already have a Belgium Falo and an Indian Ishapor (I thought I'd get a nice Gew 1 but , turns out it's a 12.3 instead of 12.5) and I don't have a 12.3 ...damnit! I was told that you cannot buy a arsenal Canadian Fal bcz they still have them stockpiled or they sold them for scrap to other countries... bla bla bla...

I've looked on-line high and low and have not found any information that can confirm any of the bla bla. I do know that the last 2 C1A1 that I saw had OPP scratched off near the butt end of the rifle. So I looked into that and except for the fact that I know where the rifles have been from manufacture to OPP in Englehart, to UK for FTR, then back to Canada then sold to collectors and occasionally we see one for sale.

So please someone enlighten me .

Did the CF sell Military issued C1A1 to the public (or did you have to know someone?) Or are the only C1A1 available are the Ex-OPP rifles I seem to come across too late?)

I think that Collectors source had C1a1 for sale years ago for about 750$ but were they Canadian forces issued weapons or Ex-OPP rifles? (I would get either one) back then I wasn't interested. I already had a Fal and wanted something else.

So hopefully I'm not crashing the Norinco M14 party with my FN FAL questions but I have an enquiringly mind and I want to know!

Thanks for your time

Keeping an eye on the prize
1ronM@n
 
I think all the C1A1"s are all ex-OPP's. The guns were supposed to be exported out of Canada, but they came back.
 
Not all are ex OPP rifles. Canadian Arsenals Limited did sell to the public, usually via the DRCA clubs. But there are some examples around that did go brand new, from CAL to civilian gun owners.

Don't know if there has ever been a 7-11 held up, or a girl's college blasted with a C1 or not, but there are a few of them around.
 
"...turns out it's a 12.3..." Nope. C1A1's were never FA. Prohibited by name along with all FAL type rifles, though.
"...Did the CF sell Military issued C1A1 to the public..." No. I believe there were some released by Canadian Arsenals in the 60's, but the CF released none. CF rifles were chopped along with all remaining No. 4's and No. 7's.
Mind you, somehow, the last one ever made was released. Documented in Blake Stevens' book. It went through the shop I worked in long ago. A couple of times for 4 figures in the eraly '80's, as I recall.
 
Canadian Arsenals made 200 each of the C1, C2 and the Sterling (forget the correct name) for a pre-production trial to test their version. These 200 belonged to CA, not the military.

After the trials, they were all refurbed and put into storage. When the C1 and C2 were modified to A1 status, these guns were also modified.

After 20 or so years in storage, CA decided to sell them to the public. Prices, as I recall, were $99 for the Sterling, $139 for the C1 and $199 for the C2.

Each came in a box with all the exras, like sling, bayo, extra mags and grenade launcher.

These are identical in very way to the CF guns, but were never part of the CF inventory.
 
It was the Gew 1 that was 12.3 not the C1A1. That's a nice rifle too with bi-pod integrated in the front grip.

Sigh.. :)


sunray said:
"...turns out it's a 12.3..." Nope. C1A1's were never FA. Prohibited by name along with all FAL type rifles, though.
"...Did the CF sell Military issued C1A1 to the public..." No. I believe there were some released by Canadian Arsenals in the 60's, but the CF released none. CF rifles were chopped along with all remaining No. 4's and No. 7's.
Mind you, somehow, the last one ever made was released. Documented in Blake Stevens' book. It went through the shop I worked in long ago. A couple of times for 4 figures in the eraly '80's, as I recall.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, I heard that the first batch of 2000 .These were the experimental FNs used in trials by Canada in the early 50s, and numbered less than 2000 of both the EX1 and EX2 examples.

Once the Cdn C1A1 was adopted, these were retained in service as either cadet drill purpose rifles, or as rifles issued by the airborne school for jumping.

Their fate was sealed around 2000 when they were smelted, with small numbers offered first to military museums. There are around 10 or so legally registered in Canada.

Wow, between 99$ and 199$...sigh I would of bought TWO! of EACH!! in that was insuring my 12.3

Thanks for the info Ganderite


quOTE=Ganderite;4595972]Canadian Arsenals made 200 each of the C1, C2 and the Sterling (forget the correct name) for a pre-production trial to test their version. These 200 belonged to CA, not the military.

After the trials, they were all refurbed and put into storage. When the C1 and C2 were modified to A1 status, these guns were also modified.

After 20 or so years in storage, CA decided to sell them to the public. Prices, as I recall, were $99 for the Sterling, $139 for the C1 and $199 for the C2.

Each came in a box with all the exras, like sling, bayo, extra mags and grenade launcher.

These are identical in very way to the CF guns, but were never part of the CF inventory.[/QUOTE]
 
For some reason , they ended up in England (where the they got stamped on their barrels and then came back.)

can14 said:
I think all the C1A1"s are all ex-OPP's. The guns were supposed to be exported out of Canada, but they came back.
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Why 8LIMA (military designation?) . And IIRC stands for ?
And .

I cannot understand the "limitation" of Home field , where a you cannot have a military rifle that was issued to your population/military. Yet you can buy so much stuff now that's a 1000 better. Sorry having a brain fart... It just bugs me. If I want I can buy a .50 and go shoot it but having a grandfathered weapon. I cannot shoot it. Why let us have them in the first place. If I was able to shoot my FN FAl before , then why not now . I wasn't a problem before ...what !? I'm one now... end of brain fart (thank you for your understanding) :)

Thanks for info
Looking forward to your reply

jennis said:
The ones you see from time to time ( once a year ) are X-OPP '8Lima' series , IIRC the OPP had 200 + - of these rifles
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DRCA stands for ? and Canadian Arsenals Limited that was originally Longbranch?

Well, the 2 X-OPP were better than a indian fal look wise but the guts were like new . You couldn't even see the machining , very nice.

C1 , not that I've heard but there was one guy who used Sterlings :

Denis Lortie is a former Canadian army corporal. In 1984, he stormed into the National Assembly of Quebec building and killed three Quebec government employees.

Cpl Lortie was a Supply Technician in the Canadian Forces and was disgruntled with a number of policies of the Quebec and federal governments. He planned a killing spree as a means of broadcasting his discontent.

Then Lortie was paroled in December 1995.

Marc Lépine, who murdered 14 women in 1989 in the École Polytechnique

Massacre, left a suicide note expressing his admiration of Lortie.

He applied but didn't pass CF inspection or tests. Ended up buying a mini 14 and doing what he did. I've got to say ...if you hate yourself ...then do yourself...don't take to loser way out and take people with you...it's just a waste. They should have to booths like in Futurama . You go in pay and it does it for you ...no mess. Anyways that a whole other ball of wax.

Back to our regular schedule programing


koldt said:
Not all are ex OPP rifles. Canadian Arsenals Limited did sell to the public, usually via the DRCA clubs. But there are some examples around that did go brand new, from CAL to civilian gun owners.

Don't know if there has ever been a 7-11 held up, or a girl's college blasted with a C1 or not, but there are a few of them around.
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So I'm curious,

Does anyone here @ CGN own a C1A1 ? and how does it compare to other FAL's
I used some at cadets but never paid much attention except that they weight a ton . Especially at attention. I can even remember if they were .22 or 7.62x51
and that was at the Pointe Claire cadet corps in the West Island. I remember having to go to the Police station to go get them bcz that's were we used to store them. 14 years old parading with FN FAL's ..hehe good times.

So how many have Fal's and how many have Canadian Fals ( real CAL and EX-OPP) ?

Keeping an eye on the prize
1ronM@n
 
I have several Cdn FNs in deactivated condition, and one which is live but held by a friend who is licensed for the class. Of the 3 C1A1s, two were ex OPP sold by collectors source, and the third one was a DCRA sale. In fact, the original bill of sale showing that FN's serial number (which is rumored to be about the third last one produced) is printed in an early FN book on the subject.

Also in my collection is an EX1, a C2A1, and a SMG C1,again all deactivated.

I still have not decided whether to deactivate the last C1A1 I picked up, that is stored at a friends. The extra copies of the rifles are good for displaying accessories like NVD, scopes, bayonets, grenade launchers, parade gear, etc. Actually, I may have to find a couple more C1s yet.
 
I've got a nice Ex OPP C1A1 in live state, (not for sale).

Apparently every OPP Detachment in Ontario had 2 C1's in their lockups, in the late 80's, they were deemed to be surplus, collected together, and sold out of the country.

An enterprising individual apparently brokered the deal, and managed to re-import over 300 of the rifles back into Canada through England. (Any firearm passing through the UK must pass through a "proof house", which results in the "ENGLAND" stamp on it.)

Commonwealth Militaria (many moons ago) had a number of these for sale, and even had sequentially serially numbered C1A1's for sale, I think at around $1200 a rifle. Ish.

Those are the C1A1's most often seen in the civilian market.

There are also a few C1's that were sold through the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association to it's members direct from Canadian Arsenals Limited.

I was unaware of the "200" that were mentioned below, but there is photographic evidence of a bill of sale for some rifles, and spare magazines to the DCRA shooters shown in the Stevens book.

That all said, a friend of mine has a live EX-1 rifle, and I have a video somewhere of him firing a service rifle match with it several years ago (2004 I think.)

Oh, and for those who think that the FN-C1 was NEVER full auto, you are patently incorrect.

The FN-C1A1D was a full auto variant of the C1A1, used in the Navy.

I'm quite certain that they were never sold to the public. It is, perhaps, the true "unobtanium" version of the C1.

NS
 
I am needing a .22 kit... Probably had 3 or 4 of the kits in the past when I didn't give a hoot. Now that I want one,the only one I found the goober wanted $1000 and he's keeping it for a while. I ain't going to pay more for: a barrel liner, 2 mags and a bolt, than I paid for the rifle.

We could use a sticky, either here in battle rifles or photos, of the C1 and accessories.
 
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NavyShooter said:
An enterprising individual apparently brokered the deal, and managed to re-import over 300 of the rifles back into Canada through England. (Any firearm passing through the UK must pass through a "proof house", which results in the "ENGLAND" stamp on it.)

Commonwealth Militaria (many moons ago) had a number of these for sale, and even had sequentially serially numbered C1A1's for sale, I think at around $1200 a rifle. Ish.

Those are the C1A1's most often seen in the civilian market.

NS
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Collectors Source had a pile of them too. Started out $800 and the last I heard they had them listed at $1200.

It would be neat to have a beer with whoever did the OPP deal and listen to the story how the deal made it back and forth.

Same for the C1 SMGs.
 
"...That's a nice rifle too with bi-pod integrated in the front grip..." The C2 LMG had the bipod, not the C1.
"...cannot have a military rifle that was..." Part of the Socialist F**k's plan to eventually have no privately owned firearms in Canada.
 
belongs to my bro-inlaw.

OPP
fnc1a1.jpg


fnc18L.jpg
 
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