Another New FAL

[handgunner59]

Well new to me anyways. To be honest I am mainly an AR guy, but recently I stumbled across an L1A1 sporter with the dreaded thumbhole stock for $200 bucks. Now I do not know alot about FALs but I considered this a pretty low price. It is in very good shape, and looks to have been shot very little. After digging around here for a couple of days I have come to the following conclusions, and now I am looking for someone to verify this and perhaps provide some suggestions for my next course of action.

- I have a receiver marked L1A1 Sporter CAL .308 CAI- St Alb Vt. The serial number is in the 109 range, and the only other marking is JC stamped on the bottom rear of the receiver. Also it accepts metric mags. From what I have read here, I think that I have an unmarked Imbel receiver.

-The bolt carrier has is sand cut, but has some sort of serial number that has been etched by hand into the side, as does the bottom of the bolt.

-The bore is in excellent shape, and the barrel does not look to have been cut, there is a slot cut in the bottom of the barrel and there is a ring about three inches back. I am assuming this is where the original flash hider was pressed on and pinned.

-As far as the lower receiver goes it seems to be pretty much standard fare, I plan to replace it soon. Any suggestions as to what I should be shopping for as a replacement?

Also from what I understand some receivers are cut for a carrying handle and some are not. Am I stuck with it, or do I have another option. On a seperate note, are there any references available for what is required to convert a standard FAL to a Para, if it is possible.

Thanks ahead of time for any help, this really is an amazing resource, and I hope that I can contribute.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd167/handgunner59/FAL2.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd167/handgunner59/FAL4.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd167/handgunner59/FAL1.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd167/handgunner59/FAL3.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd167/handgunner59/FAL5.jpg

[2 clicks low]

That is a good buy.

[K.O.A.M.]

You could turn that for $500 in about half an hour. Outstanding deal.

[ronnieb]

First in on the "You have a terrible model and since i'm a nice guy i'll give you $300.00 and take that monstrocity off your hands"

Welcome to the FILES!:D :D

[handgunner59]

Yeah I was pretty happy with the price I paid, like I said I really stumbled upon it. I was out with my wife looking for some yard equipment when we stopped at a second hand store and I found it literally leaning in the corner. I asked the guy if it was for sale and he said yes. Thats when the wife told me no new guns, after we decided to buy a brush hog from the guy, we were talking and he said "if you like that rifle I'll let it go for $200" of course I jumped at it, the wife just has to deal with it! He said he had bought it years ago to hunt with, and he said his hunting buddies gave him such a hard time for using an "assault rifle" to hunt with that he never ended up using it. I kind of felt bad at first, but he named his price and seemed to be very happy to get that. Now I just have to decide what to do now with it. Ive been pretty inspired by all the ones that have been restored on the FAL Files.

[W.E.G.]

The slot on the barrel is from where the indexing washer was located on the original configuration. Actually, you are fortunate that nobody drilled into the barrel to secure a "blind-pin" for a 94-04 ban-era muzzle device. You can just leave it that way, and the gun will be a good shooter.

You have the thumbhole (aka "butthole") stock. This usually indicates that the rifle was built with zero US parts - except maybe the receiver. So, if you want to install a proper stock, you will have to make sure you use the correct number of US parts to make the gun compliant with 18 USC 922(r).

You can easily ditch the carry handle if you don't like it. Just unscrew the collar on the gas tube (just ahead of the receiver) until the collar clears the carry-handle slot. The carry handle can then be lifted right out.

That will be a new one on me if there is such thing as an "unmarked" IMBEL receiver. I'm pretty sure all the IMBEL receivers say "IMBEL" on them somewhere, and also have an "import mark" as well. So, I'm guessing you have a CENTURY receiver - which is one US part.

I note from the picture of your mag well, the receiver appears to be cut for METRIC magazines, irrespective of the "inch" reference on the rollmark that says "L1A1." Inch magazines probably won't fit just right without modification in that receiver.

Enjoy, and welcome to the FAL Files.

[AndyC]

Originally posted by handgunner59
On a seperate note, are there any references available for what is required to convert a standard FAL to a Para, if it is possible.
Oustanding deal you got - as for the para, here's a link (http://www.falconarms.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16318&cat=20&page=2) to a kit with all the para parts:

[johnny.308]

Now I may be wrong and if I am I will certainly hear about it, but.... I had a thumb hole "L1A1 Sporter" similar to yours. It had a serial #101xxxxx and identical CAI markings. It was built with a pristine British kit and all parts were marked with the Enfield "ED" mark. In very tiny lettering, the words "Made in Canada C1AL" were stamped into the barrel and the right side of the lower just under the lower edge of the receiver and just forward of the butt stock. If so, I believe the rifle was imported from Canada as an assembled rifle, thus only the CAI import stamp and no "Imbel" on the receiver because Canada didn't require it when the receiver was imported there. My receiver is an Imbel even if it isn't so marked. I suspect yours is too.

[handgunner59]

Thanks for the link for the PARAs. Seems like a pretty simple conversion, other than the significantly higher price of the para parts.

As far as my receiver. Is their a concrete way to tell who manufactured the receiver? I have read all of the post that I could find on the FAL Files, and from what I have learned, the markings stamped into the side, and the JC stamped on the bottom of the receiver indicated Imbel. Is this correct or did I misinterpret the markings? Honestly it really makes no difference to me, the machining looks very nice, and I am just excited to get started on building a cool looking rifle.

[denny]

That's an unmarked Imbel receiver. Your kit it British .
Gun parts guy sells a bushing you will need if you want to put a pistol grip on that lower.
Adam 762 on the Fal Files is doing a para conversion. Moses will thread your barrel and can install an original comp. I would suggest you get the comp from dealer Warehouse as they are Canadian ( The front hole is oversized like a National match jub on an m14.) I think about 20 bucks plus shipping. Moses quoted me 50 barrel off or 100 barrel on for threading.
Be happy that your receiver is cut for metric mags - they are a whole lot cheaper than inch mags.
You've got a nice rifle either way and with the Imbel rec. it's way better than a Century rec.
Oh' If you want - Hope - wait and look like some of us are - we are all waiting for someone to do Brit cuts on the rec. to copy the British style.
Thanks D.

[handgunner59]

Thanks for all of the responses, I think that I have a good grasp on what I have here now and I am pretty sure of the direction that I am going to take. The only other question that I have is, to build a relatively correct rifle should I purchase an inch or metric lower receiver. This is probably a stupid question but I am still confused as to what the differences between the two are, and what originally came on an L1A1.

[MAINER]

Think you're confusing your receivers. You already have an inch LOWER receiver. The assembly with the trigger, selector and rear sights. Your UPPER receiver with the bolt, carrier and chargeing handle is the metric part, but it is only metric because it is cut for metric type magazines.

Inch is a term we use to describe Fals from Commonwealth countries. Britian, Australia and Canada. Their Fals were manufactured with right- hand threaded parts whereas other countries use left- hand threaded parts.

Many parts can be used on either metric or inch rifles, some cannot. For instance, HTS set are not interchangable.

I really do not understand why you would want to change what you have other than converting the buttstock and pistol grip.
As denny said, you're lucky that it uses cheap metric mags. Inch mags are hard to find and twice as expensive.
Your upper receiver is an IMBEL, one of the best and already converted to inch, folding charge handle, for instance.

About the only option for "Inch" receivers is Entreprise. To me, changing from Imbel to Entreprise would definately lower the value and border on insanity. :D

Your Imbel can be modified to Inch configuration. I don't know who or what that would cost.

Check this site. Good guys to deal with and pics of inch vs metric parts.
www.gunthings.com

[lew]

Originally posted by MAINER

Inch is a term we use to describe Fals from Commonwealth countries. Britian, Australia and Canada. Their Fals were manufactured with right- hand threaded parts whereas other countries use left- hand threaded parts.

The only difference in thread direction are the threads for the flash hider.

Inch vs. Metric is actually a misnomer, as "metric" guns use only standard thread pitches and sizes, with the exception of the Israeli FALs. "Commonwealth" and "Belgian" patterns would be a better title for each, respectively.

[MAINER]

I agree with you Lew, but around here they are most commonly referred to as "inch" and "metric".

We use lots of misnomers around here, helps to keep the arguements from getting boring! :uhoh:

[handgunner59]

That definately clears things up. I have ordered the parts needed to put regular furniture back on the lower receiver, and I am looking around for a flash hider and some new furniture. Once I get it all I am going to send it of to Moses and have the barrel threaded and maybe re-parked.