Another FN C1A1: But this one is kind of unique

stencollector

stencollector

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shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
I bought this rifle from the Switzer's auction back in June, and finally got it this week. I had to have the auction house send it for deactivation, and it took a long long time for the RCMP letter to arrive so they could send me the rifle.
Anyway, I already have several examples of the C1 in my collection, along with the other related examples. But this one had me hooked as soon as I read the description. Can anyone guess what is (or might be) special about this particular firearm?

On a side note, the deactivation wasn't terrible, but the rifle's action is solid. There is maybe one weld which stands out as poor and unnecessary, but I'll dress that up when I have time.

Note the rifle is not one of the ex-OPP rifles, and was most likely one of those purchased by DCRA shooters directly from Cdn Arsenals. I purchased another one in the August auction, which still awaits the RCMP deactivation letter. I think that these two, along with those that I already have, will be enough to display the various accessories on. I also have one more still live, registered to a friend who has the 12.5 endorsement. It will likely get deactivated one day as well.
 

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nice score R.

i see the front sight block has been replaced to the older fixed ears. all 8L came with C2 front sight ears.
 
Looks like the # match, hard to see, but it has had C2 switch in it , wonder about the pin?
Something about the rear sight looks strange to me?, but it has been awhile, I did have all those pits at one time.
 
Not true on the sight ears. Perhaps all the military issued and the OPP ones did, but the late ones being sold to the DCRA shooter had the older sight blocks. If you look in Blake Steven's book on the NorthAmerican FALs, there is an invoice shown with 5 or 6 rifles which were sold to DCRA shooters. Someone on Milsurps forum who has seen several of these rifles says they all came with the solid front sight blocks from the factory.
 
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marshall said:
Looks like the # match, hard to see, but it has had C2 switch in it , wonder about the pin?
Something about the rear sight looks strange to me?, but it has been awhile, I did have all those pits at one time.
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The switch may be of a slightly later pattern, but it does (or did) not go past R with the trigger housing closed to the receiver. Here is a shot from the auction listing. The pistol grip showed a lot of scarring where they change lever had gone past the R, but that would most likely be during stripping down of the rifle with the trigger housing swung down.

Numbers do match, although the Military inspectors mark is missing from below the rear serial. It is possible the late DCRA shooters purchases were not inspected by the military inspectors? I have another close to this one in serial number, I'll have a look at it.
 

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stencollector said:
Not true on the sight ears. Perhaps all the military issued and the OPP ones did, but the late ones being sold to the DCRA shooter had the older sight blocks. If you look in Blake Steven's book on the NorthAmerican FALs, there is an invoice shown with 5 or 6 rifles which were sold to DCRA shooters. Someone who has seen several of these rifles says they all came with the solid front sight blocks from the factory.
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i stand corrected. i didnt read that part from the book but on page 134. did you noticed a pic of 8L5011, just 4 rifles before?
 
can14 said:
I have a consecutive number set of the OPP
C1A1's
Great workmanship compared to the L1A1's
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Are they 8L series? Are they ex-OPP rifles?
Collectors source had the OPP rifles available back in the day. I have heard interesting stories about how they came to market, but I don't want to talk out of turn. I do remember that at one point they were down to $650 each if I recall correctly. I got my first one from them back around Y2K.
 
Ok, I'll go out on a limb here. 8L series for a civvie gun club. But it just might have been RCMP or, less likely OPP (which I understand were 7L).

8L incorporated internal change which actually made it a C1A2 but were not marked so. Hard to tell in your pic but as an 8L it should have separate sight protector ears, not integral with the gas block.

Your hinge pin is reversed.

Late to the rodeo I see.
 
yonderin said:
Ok, I'll go out on a limb here. 8L series for a civvie gun club. But it just might have been RCMP or, less likely OPP (which I understand were 7L).

8L incorporated internal change which actually made it a C1A2 but were not marked so. Hard to tell in your pic but as an 8L it should have separate sight protector ears, not integral with the gas block.

Your hinge pin is reversed.

Late to the rodeo I see.
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All the OPP rifles I ever saw were in the 8L range, but I don't believe this was one of them. The book "Arms and Accoutrements of the Mounted Police lists all the RCMP C1A1s as between serials 7L0172 to 7L1507.
But that is not the thing that stands out about this particular rifle. The lack of the C2 type of ears is discussed earlier in this thread...apparently normal on the late DCRA rifles.
Yes, it most likely was a DCRA shooter's rifle.
To this point nobody has come up with what makes this rifle possibly historical.
 
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enefgee said:
Apart from it being the last one made?
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Bingo.
According to Blake Stevens in his book, it is the highest number observed. As soon as I saw the listing on Switzers, I recognized the number. I can't remember my own phone number some days, but I can remember an obscure number like that. There were FNs assembled later from the parts from the closeout auctions of SAL, but those were not factory assembled.
The registry might shed light on if there are any higher serial numbers. Shame the data in the registry can not be used for research purposes. If anybody does know of one higher, how about posting a photo.
 
Apologies to those that don't like to see them deactivated, but the eventual alternative will be the smelter. As it is now, I can have it on public display with no special security requirements. I often have the proper guns in their various mounts when I display my military vehicles, and it leads to a lot of conversations with other veterans. Trust me, if I coudl own (and display them) live, I would.
 
stencollector said:
Apologies to those that don't like to see them deactivated, but the eventual alternative will be the smelter. As it is now, I can have it on public display with no special security requirements. I often have the proper guns in their various mounts when I display my military vehicles, and it leads to a lot of conversations with other veterans. Trust me, if I coudl own (and display them) live, I would.
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Some of us can own and display them live. Just realize that next time you are fighting someone at the auction you are on the side that destroys them and the other guy may very well be saving it. No hard feelings though.
 
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