FAL in the North: The Canadian C1A1

This is from quite a while back, when the shop I was working at did an enemy weapons familiarisation range ex with a reserve regiment. It belonged to the unit and was supposed to be deactivated shortly after that ex. I don't know its condition now.

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Memories. All I have now is an Indian dewat in my display case. I first used the C1 in cadets in about 65. Then the militia and then regular force as a RCEME gun plumber. Had thousands pass through my hands in my career. To this day, just handling one brings a warm glow to my heart.
 
When I was in Pet in 1985, I'm pretty sure 0L0000 was in the Airborne Museum at the time. It was in a display case next to a mannequin that was dressed in a full Airborne uniform of the day. (era 1985)
The Weapons Techs where dusting it off at the time. I was on my BAOT course that was run by the RCR with mixture of Airborne instructors. (ask me if that was fun!)

The values that I learned on that course, I still carry to this very day!

One name that stands out from Pet, Captain Orange - aka "Agent Orange"


If I recall things right, a friend of mine who worked at the EME school in Borden as a ("Weapons Tech Instructor" - when the FN's where demobilized as he called it) was instrumental in getting that C1 to the Museum in Ottawa.



I am proud of my time in the forces and the men and women who serve today and the past.

I always considered my time in, as a concrete cowboy, as there was nothing going on anywhere except peacetime postings.



This is also a sore subject with me;

Of all the firearms that I own, there has alway's been one major piss off to me with laws and regulations,,, that I can't shoot my FN's.

We used to shoot them all the time at our gun club and the Winona Range.

Then the regulations changed, once again.

Now they hide in the back of my safe, barley seeing the light of day any more.

It really makes me shake my head at times!!!!!

WTF?????

Faded Memories!!!!

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Hate to intrude while you guys are all stroking your wands looking at the pictures, but the FN was a big, ugly, heavy piece of junk; it's only redeeming feature was that it was in a real caliber.

I hated it more every time I put it over my shoulder.

I'd take the G3 or the real AR-10 over it any day.
 
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CGS said:
Hate to intrude while you guys are all stroking your wands looking at the pictures, but the FN was a big, ugly, heavy piece of junk; it's only redeeming feature was in was in a real caliber.

I hated it more every time I put it over my shoulder.

I'd take the G3 or the real AR-10 over it any day.
Click to expand...

Not a veteran, but my opinion. big, awkward, heavy and clumsy. flash hider alone makes one do a head shake . The full auto capability is beyond belief. :confused: Maybe the advocates had nothing to compare it to ?

Grizz
 
FA capability in a 10-11 lb rifle firing a full-size battle cartridge was never a good idea in the first place - as even the German paratroops found with their FG42.

Even the BAR (up to 20 lbs) was often thought to be too light.

Semi-auto fire, the FAL, M14, and G3/CETME were fine rifles. IMHO the only real issue (aside from the weight) was the concept of a full power cartridge in a lightweight (relatively speaking) FA capable rifle. Even the Soviets went with the intermediate M43 (7.62x39) for the SKS and AK after WWII.
 
CGS said:
Hate to intrude while you guys are all stroking your wands looking at the pictures, but the FN was a big, ugly, heavy piece of junk; it's only redeeming feature was in was in a real caliber.

I hated it more every time I put it over my shoulder.

I'd take the G3 or the real AR-10 over it any day.
Click to expand...

The FN was pretty awkward, due to its length getting in and out of the M 113 apc , with 10 men crammed in
 
The FN was pretty awkward, due to its length getting in and out of the M 113 apc , with 10 men crammed in
Click to expand...

Been there, done that.
Try carrying a C2 and a 25 Set on your back at the same time getting into a APC, some fool I know did that, me.

Wow, a few C1 haters, ooooh well, I luved it.

I have seen and handled all variations of the FN. To me, the C1 was the best.

I have owned, used and shot plenty of G3's and original AR-10's, ok nice, but I will still take the FN.

A lot of guys had troubles shooting the C1 at the ranges for qualifications, long story short, they almost always had too short of a butt stock and the C1 slapped them like a new born baby.

I always scrounged up a "L"

Hell, I even managed to get my way through all the "Shoot to Live" level's using one.

They issued you a gold FN pinned badge to wear on your uniform and as usual when it came to me, they ran out, never did get that!


I guess I'm OLD SCHOOL, because I'm also a M-14 fanboy!

Thats what happens when you cut your teeth carrying a C1, luv em or hate em.

There are always guys here on Gunnutz who don't like this or that, but they are far, far away from being junk.

I'm 6'1" and I had no problems at all.

Only the Navy boyz and girlz had a full auto version of the C1, it was used for boarding parties.

A fellow I worked with from Australia carried the L1A1 in Vietnam.
He said, unlike my buddies who carry the M-16, they stay down when hit with the FN.
He was one tough fellow in his day.
 
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