Dewat FN L1A1

Sgt Striker

Sgt Striker

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
132   0   0
Location
Great White North, Eh!
I saw a poor fellow at the Woodstock Gun Show that was sold a "Canadian FN Rifle" that was very special and had been used by the Black Watch of Canada, or so he was told by the seller, who also had been in the Black Watch..... hmmm. He was hopping to get $800 for it, but I had a look at it. Turned out to be a Brit L1A1 with a Cdn cocking handle, and a welded on Cdn carrying handle. Also had a Cdn body cover for the IR sight. The butt stock was Indian with a check piece, the sights were Brit and I'm pretty sure the pistol grip and forestock were Cdn..... I tried to explain to the guy that this rifle had never been in Cdn service, but he had a hard time realizing he'd been lied too... I was guessing at the best the thing "might" be worth $400 tops.....

So, what would you guys say she was worth. The metal and wood was all in very good shape, that the dewat job looked pretty good. I think it was a #### and click one.

I'm just asking out of curiosity..... as dewats are really not my thing, so to speak.
 
Sgt Striker said:
So, what would you guys say she was worth. The metal and wood was all in very good shape, that the dewat job looked pretty good. I think it was a #### and click one.

I'm just asking out of curiosity..... as dewats are really not my thing, so to speak.
Click to expand...

It's a DWAT... 'Worth it's weight as scrap as far as I'm concerned.
 
cantom said:
In this country, it's the only way people not grandfathered can own these arms...it sucks but there you have it.

BTW, some hate them but there's a market for deactivated firearms...they are in some cases more valuable than live weapons.
Click to expand...

which is odd, because I got my Australian L1A1 from Canada.;)
 
Is the guy he got it from the one that was selling Pancho Villa's personal AK ?
He should be selling used cars in his days away from the gun shows
 
$400 is in the ballpark for a dewat Ishapore like that these days. A brit gun would be 2 or 3 hundred higher. As to an actual Canadian dewat FNC1, they are far and few between. They would start at $1000 and go to about $1500. My dewat C2A1 was a bit higher than that, but was live when I bought it. I'll spend time in hell for having done that to a gun as historic and pretty as a C2A1, but it had been for sale for quite a while and the full auto guys weren't lined up for it.

There are still 300 to 400 privately owned FNC1s in Canada, with no grandfathering privileges. They are all destined to be either dewats or honda bumpers.
 
Unsub said:
Can't they be exported to the US?
I don't know much about dewatts but is it not possible to rewatt them if the laws ever get less onerous?
Click to expand...

I'll assume you are talking about the still shootable C1s.
No they can't go south. The BATF didn't like something about the design of the Canadian receiver, and kind of declared them full auto capable. As parts kits might be another story. I think I saw where a 8L C1A1 parts kit sold for around $1800 in a matter of minutes on FAL files. But I believe there is some kind of limitation on importing barrels into the US these days, so I can't give you an answer on that.

There would have to be a major change in the laws. Once a gun is deactivated, it loses it's grandfathering status. To reactivate it would mean that you have an un-grandfathered gun. There are those that are licensed to do so, but it is not the average Joe.

As to exporting our dewats, the US considers a dewat full auto/selective fire as still being a machine gun, and it won't have been registered there as of the 68 cut off date. Their current dewats have to have solid receivers with no moving internals. Here we call that a replica.
 
doesnt he read the side of the receiver? it will say L1A1 not C1A1 .
Click to expand...

The guy knew "nothing" about FN's. I carried one for 15 years in the Cdn army, so I knew pretty quick it looked a little funny as he was pulling out of the case.... Feel kind of sorry for him, as the seller really screwed him over...
 
the BATF didn't like the safety sear to them it's a full auto sear .I'm not sure what was done to your Aussie L1 John for it to be allowed into the states unless we're talking 15+ years ago .some Aussie and Brit Fn's had a little washer like space filler welded into the spot the safety sear went .I also had to file one down back in the day so I could get one of my C1's out from police storage .
 
Clark??? hey!! I finally finished refurbing my Turkish vickers tripod are you going to Ancaster GS ?? I may be bring it with the Vickers this time it's quite neat with the AA leg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom