Australian SLR L1A1 "Full Auto"?

RememberTheSomme

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I owned an FN in the 1980s. I sold it around 1989.

It said on the receiver Lithgow L1A1. 7.62mm .... ,can't remember exact details.

If my mind serves me correct, and I have recollected the story to others, my "Green Paper" said, *Converted Full Auto*.

I am 99.97% sure my Safety read Safe S,R Repeat and A Auto or something like this but being a 3 position safety nonetheless.

Over the last year or so doing a little internet research on the Australian built FN, I read that it was Semi -auto only, like the Brit L1A1, and like the Canadian C1A1.
It talks about the L2A1 which was full auto "Section Weapon", like the C2.

My question from all this is..... ,how the hell was my Lithgow L1A1 a select fire rifle?

-Like the C1A1D maybe? Naval boarding parties or similar.

- Built for another country in region, Malaysia, New Zealand, etc, as a select fire?
- L2A1 lower???

For awhile, I considered my old mind to be fooling me and I have never mentioned my FN as being a "converted" auto for a long time,........but last night!!.......


......While looking on US gun sites, I see an un- issued, new, Austalian L1A1 parts gun(upper/lower complete), and the lower up close shows; Safe, Repeat, and AUTO!

Then I see what another site calls a, Century Arms parts FN L1A1 assembled from lightgow parts, and the black plastic furniture looks identical to what came on mine, but my flash hider was similar to the C1 slotted tube type.

I'm thinking now, maybe this FN was a mimatched upper/ lower parts gun????


Can anyone share some light onto how this FN was a converted auto and for who or why was it was built as such, by Lithgow. And is there info on any number of these being imported by anyone back in early to mid eighties?

Thanks.

:canadaFlag:
 
Select Fire L1A1

Chances are you had a modified L1A1. It was not unknown for Aussie armourers to modify L1A1s to select fire. This was especially true in Vietnam where some Aussie troops felt "outgunned" by NVA and VC AK-47s-much like how many US units in Operation Desert Storm disabled the 3 round burst on their M16A2s in favour of full auto. I got the info on the L1A1 from a retired member of the Australian Army who worked with my late father and was a guest in our home on many occassions.

Cheers:cheers:

Allan
 
There were a lot of Aussy L1s here in Canada that had the A on the last position. They still only had the long semi auto trigger pin, and semi selector. But for some reason having the A engraved on the receiver made them somehow take on a life of their own. The bunch that I have seen all had the SPF### on the side as well. I was told they were from the Singapore Police Force? Who knows for sure.
 
The Australian L1 A1 lowers are like the Canadian C1s they have the third notch for the selector switch, but they weren't full autos. The third position could be used for full auto for the C2s.
My Australian L1 A1s have the A marked on the third position but they aren't full auto.
I have a new just out of the wrap C1 A1 lower and it has the third position. Check out the FN book by Blake stevens I think he mentions the lower receivers.
The SPF stands for Singapore Police Force.
 
Probably a screwup at the CFC or by the local "firearms officer" back in the day. My Lithgow L1A1 is one of the SPF (Singapore Police) rifles. It has the "A" engraved and it is registered 12-5 (ie: regular semi, not 12-3 CA).

There are likely all kinds of FNs registered incorrectly. The firearms beaurocracy was just as inefficient post '78 as it is today, perhaps even more so. I have heard stories related to re-classification post '78 and post C-17/C-68 of ignorant cops and officials saying things that were not true (You are not allowed to have that it is a machinegun" etc etc).
 
Back in "the day", it was rumored that if you knew a CF weapons tech and could scrounge a new bolt carrier, a C2 trigger pin and a C2 change lever your Australian L1A1 could surprise you.....................
 
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