The FN C1A1 mystique - from "if you could have just one prohib"

Last time I was in a battle team, the C9 was meant to deal out suppressive fire. But, hey, we're all on the same team!

Plink said:
Well, to be honest, at 500m, I wouldn't be expecting troops to lay down lethal fire. It would be pray and spray. 7.62, OR 5.56. Especially in low light conditions.

I'd be on the horn calling for some counter battery fire if there were enemy mortars at that range, or something with wings or a rotor on it. Last ditch effort (not including movement) would be to put accurate rifle fire on a mortar position at 500m unless I was in a prepared position where I had ranges all figured out and such..
Designated marksman would be handy in this scenario.


But I hear what you're saying as to the lethality of a .22 at 500m ;)
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I still have an L1A1 laying around the gunroom. I first learned on the Lee Enfield No 4, then graduated to the FN in '69. I like them both. I find the FN fairly easy to shoot well, and would consider myself well armed with one. Hopefully they will reverse the current regulatory stupidity and let us enjoy our firearms properly. - dan
 
Seems a lot of guys got "bit by the bug" as impressionable young cadets. I was the same. 13 years old, first centre fire rifle I ever fired. Had to have one after that!
 
Lee Enfield said:
I've been privileged to play with samples of all of the above.

The C1/L1 family is a poor interpretation of the Ex/X8 trials rifles. CAL, Springfield, Enfield et al turned a beautifully balanced, handy rifle into an overly long abomination.

The Ex1 "FAL Canada" (which survived in south America & Israel) makes the C1/M14/Garand/HK all into also rans. It's too bad that the "need" for a permanent flash suppressor & bayonet mount turned the C1/L1 family into such a unhandy item.
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Interesting point of view. I own an Israeli as well and I get where you are coming from. I have always wondered how the FN would have turned out if the Brits had won the NATO standardization arguement.

Keeping in mind that the FN was originally built in 7.92 kurz and then for the 7mm/.280. Imagine a .280 FN FAL, probably around two pounds lighter, and useable full auto. I am sure it would have been more like the trials rifles. I also imagine that the C2 would have been way better in the smaller calibre.

I suspect that if NATO had chosen the smaller calibre, we would still be using the FN taday (or the EM-2).
 
I own several 12.5 status firearms. My favourite (other than my Hungarian AK) is my C1A1. Why? Because it is part of Canadian military history. The FN FAL's should never of been banned in the first place. Every Canadian gun owner should be able to own part of their own history.

I am surprised that a writing campaign has not started over the years to get the government to reverse the ban. Of course I am living in a fantasy and my own little world of gum drop trees, and ginger cake houses.

I think I will start writing letters again to the government. Make the FNFAL legal for all PAL owners!!!!!!!!
 
I have never fired one, I have never held one, hell, the only one I have ever seen was behind glass. But the way old soldiers eyes light up, and how they smile, as if talking about an old friend. How most speak of it as if it were the best rifle ever issued, how they speak of it, as if it were a legend. I don't think anyone will talk about the C7 like that, and for me, that is what makes the C1A1 so special to me. It is a legend.
 
msarazin said:
Last time I was in a battle team, the C9 was meant to deal out suppressive fire. But, hey, we're all on the same team!
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Suppressive fire is not meant as "accurate" fire.. yep, keeps their heads down for sure.

But what the other post was suggesting was lethal accuracy at 500m with well placed rounds..
At least I think that's what he meant. :confused:

Maybe like a DM??


Yeah, we are on the same team.... :)
 
In the mo in 1971: Battledress tunics, trousers, putties and weights, 1951 pattern webbing, WW2 helmets, FN C1 and FN C2. My first FN C1 qualification shoot.

1973: Fire FN C1 at the CMA/ORA shoot in Borden. My C1: 3L8424.
1974: CABC Edmonton Basic Para 7402. We jump with 7.62mm EX 1 (Cdn). Those rifles were beat up! Imagine their collector value today?
1974: Buy my first Lithgow L1A1 (formerly of the Singapore Police Force) From Lever Arms. $200.
1975: In Germany with an FN C2: 3LA510
1980: Go halfers on three cases of Lithgow L1A1s from Allan Lever.
1986 (?): Buy two ex-OPP 8L series FN C1A1. Sell one a few years ago to an old friend.

Anyone re-barrel a junker IA1 or L1A1 to .260 Remington? Or .243? Or .358? Or 7mm 08? How about .308 X 1.5 inch? (in truth, a cartridge case size it was built for). You would then get permission to take it to the range with a gunsmith to test-fire. Liability issues: have to prove the firearm does not blow up in case you want to sell it to a USA full auto collector.
 
TCBF said:
1974: CABC Edmonton Basic Para 7402. We jump with 7.62mm EX 1 (Cdn). Those rifles were beat up! Imagine their collector value today?
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Here are some photos of my EX1 I bought at Bud Haynes a couple years ago. It had to be deactivated, so maybe the price was better than it should have been, but it didn't cost any more (and maybe even a little less) than the going rate for a C1A1.

2008_0319enfield0009.jpg

2008_0321enfield0013.jpg

2008_0321enfield0001.jpg

Overall it was not in bad condition, although the butt had been swapped out at some point with a repaired one. The upper portion behind the sight has all been replaced. The rifle is DP marked, and you can see the coppercoating on the breech block which indicates a drill purpose gun. I have been hunting for a whle for an original EX magazine, and one of the guys back home tells me he has one for me.
 
Here are some shots of my other Cdn FNs.
I got this one on the EE last summer. Turns out it is right at the end of production and happenned to be listed on a sales receipt shown in Blake Steven's early book on the North American FNs.
2007_1015C1A1FN0001.jpg

IMGinvoice.jpg

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Here are two more that I have. The C2A1 I bought off the EE (nobody else seemed to want it). The C1A1 came from collectors source.
C1A1C2.jpg

C1C2.jpg

All of these are deactivated, but I do have one live that is under a friends name who is licensed for the FNs (and stored there). I still have to make a decision whether to deactivate it or let it live on with someone else.
 
Robert777 said:
I own several 12.5 status firearms. My favourite (other than my Hungarian AK) is my C1A1. Why? Because it is part of Canadian military history. The FN FAL's should never of been banned in the first place. Every Canadian gun owner should be able to own part of their own history.

I am surprised that a writing campaign has not started over the years to get the government to reverse the ban. Of course I am living in a fantasy and my own little world of gum drop trees, and ginger cake houses.

I think I will start writing letters again to the government. Make the FNFAL legal for all PAL owners!!!!!!!!
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You find the lawyer who will do it, and I will donate some money. Dead serious.
 
If you could find one, and if you were allowed to buy one, they are going for about $500 these days.

Not very popular, as you are not allowed to shoot them anymore.

Bastards.
 
nelly said:
If you could find one, and if you were allowed to buy one, they are going for about $500 these days.

.
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I would gladly take a half dozen C1A1s at that price.

From the few I have bought in recent years, about $1100 to $1600 or so would be in the ballpark. They are harder to find than they are to pay for. A correct C2A1 would start slightly above the high end of a C1A1 IMHO.
 
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