Hey guys, do any of you remember the SMG we used to have in the CF? This was way back in the 90s. I'm trying to figure out what that SMG was and see if I can get one, which is probably not likely. I remember carrying one around and thinking how cool looking it was. I don't remember anything about it at all now, not even what caliber it was. I'd love to get one now, even if it is deactivated. Same with the FNC1A1.
CF SMG nostalgia
- Thread starter Apollyon
- Start date
The SMG C1 was a "Canadianized" version of the British Patchett Stirling SMG, manufactured by Canadian Arsenals Ltd at Long Branch, Ontario, chambered for the 9mm Parabellum round. The standard magazine holds 30 rounds, but a 10 round magazine was provided for use by vehicle crews. The SMG is selective fire and has a 100 and 200 yard aperature rear sight, (pretty well useless beyond 25-50 yards, though I wouldn't want to get hit by one even farther than that) similar to the #4 Lee Enfield. It had a metal folding stock and was fitted for the standard Canadian C1 pattern bayonet. The SMG C1 remained in service until the mid 1980s, when it was withdrawn and placed in war reserve stock. You can't get them, AFAIK, even in semi-auto mode. PITA to carry, hot in the summer, cold in the winter, you couldn't sling it with a magazine in place and not very accurate. Now the FNC1A1; that was a weapon. Nor can you get an FNC1 A1, as they are classified as prohibited, unless you have that class on your PAL.
What a shame... Wouldn't mind getting one of those, and an AK, a Saiga.... Damn prohibs...
You can get a Sterling Police carbine which has most of the same disadvantages, but also comes with a 10rnd mag, semi only, and a 3000+ price tag. They are great if you are dressed like a storm trooper though.
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I liked the Sterling, nice and accurate once you got used to the open bolt aspect of shooting it. Very controllable in fully automatic fire. Nice to carry with the stock folded, much more handy that an FN and more effective than a Hi-power.
The Sterling.
My Dad was trained on them in the late 80's, they must have been nearly phasing them out by then. He said they were a fun bullet hose, but getting old and not exactly what you would call accurate. He also told me the last FN he had to qualify on, in 1991, was so old the barrel was wobbly and the rifle wasn't nearly as accurate as the FN he knew and loved. Both of these nice firearms in CF use were getting pretty damn old by this point.
The Sterling is neat, I fired one in the US. It's horribly outdated now as a C8 does everything it can do and more, but they're a neat piece of kit and they are not prohibited by name, so if you can find or make a semi-auto only version, they'd be restricted with the standard barrel length. I believe there was a "police carbine" semi-auto only variant which was made, I think there's a few in Canada but they won't be cheap.
My Dad was trained on them in the late 80's, they must have been nearly phasing them out by then. He said they were a fun bullet hose, but getting old and not exactly what you would call accurate. He also told me the last FN he had to qualify on, in 1991, was so old the barrel was wobbly and the rifle wasn't nearly as accurate as the FN he knew and loved. Both of these nice firearms in CF use were getting pretty damn old by this point.
The Sterling is neat, I fired one in the US. It's horribly outdated now as a C8 does everything it can do and more, but they're a neat piece of kit and they are not prohibited by name, so if you can find or make a semi-auto only version, they'd be restricted with the standard barrel length. I believe there was a "police carbine" semi-auto only variant which was made, I think there's a few in Canada but they won't be cheap.
Hmmm... for some reason, we never had to qualify on the SMG, just the FN. They just gave us the SMGs to play with, which was admittedly, a lot of fun. I don't really remember any bad things about them, but I never went on any winter warfare exercises. Milcon was a lot of fun though. There might be a picture of me up in Petawawa floating around somewhere.
They were $1350 at one point.
I hate you....Like this one?
It's been re-parked since this pic.
The SMG was the weapon you wanted to carry on exercise because it was lighter than the FN and a lot easier to clean. We'd clean it by stripping it down and holding it under a tap running hot water. Then pull the barrel through a couple of times DND then oil the hell out of it. 15 minutes, 20 tops and you were done. Took a lot longer to clean the FN, especially if you often carried the C2.
I loved shooting the SMG. My favorite position was point shooting. Extend the stock, put the butt directly centered on your chest, and point/hold/aim/keep down the muzzle with your left hand on top. I could fire controlled two and three round bursts all day long. I miss the FN too.
I loved shooting the SMG. My favorite position was point shooting. Extend the stock, put the butt directly centered on your chest, and point/hold/aim/keep down the muzzle with your left hand on top. I could fire controlled two and three round bursts all day long. I miss the FN too.
- Location
- Ontario defense force (ODF HQ)
I would think 3000$ would be a steal! The last one on the EE was 5000$
It was far more accurate than given credit for, the room clearing thing is a myth. part of the problem was the CF didn't know how to teach the proper use of either the SMG or the pistol. It was a pain to carry as it had a protrusion from every angle. The Uzi would have been better from that perspective.
So is a 9 iron and a bucket of balls, at least after watching the majority of people shooting the hi power.
