I need a Century L1A1 education

[stormtrooper]

I am the owner of a thumbhole banned version L1A1 from Century. I need to know what U.S. parts were used in them. Any help would be appreciated as I'm going to attempt to unbanned it.

[1stSSPZ]

I bet you could ask any BATFE agent the same thing and get nothing in return but a blank stare........

http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member1028.png (http://militarysignatures.com)

[K.O.A.M.]

Thumbholes had no US parts. You'll need to start from scratch.

[msnyder]

No U.S. parts other than the thumbhole stock. I also picked up a thumbhole L1A1 that I will probably keep that way for now to save me the $300 it will cost to rethread the barrel and add US parts and pistol grip/buttstock.

[Farmboy]

I could be wrong (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am), but you're going to need 7 US parts if the barrel is threaded or 6 if it isn't to convert it. If you can find the parts (I don't have an L1A1 so I'm not sure where to get them) you can get a US made furniture set for 3 parts, a hammer, trigger, and sear set for 3 more, and maybe a gas piston for the 7th if you need it. Hopefully someone who has one can point you to some sites to get some of the parts you need.

[Abominog]

Your rifle is legal as is.

If you want to put a military stock on it, then Farmie's synopsis is correct. The lower receiver is also buggered, so you'd have to buy a new lower, or a fix-it kit.

If you want a flash hider, you'll also have to re-cut the keyway on the barrel. Still, the barrel is shorter than the original (having the threads cut off).

So if you want to convert it to the "original" look (you'll still have a metric upper reciever, which is incorrect) it will cost you from a bit to a bunch, depending on how original you want it.

[FAL-13]

Some thumbhole stocked L1A1's from the 90's had new US made barrels installed. You can tell them as the barrels are thicker than normal under the handguards and the spiral machine marks are obvious. No threads on the end. Mine had the gas block on crooked.

[MAINER]

This will take care of your Pistol grip stud problem;
http://estore.websitepros.com/832529/Detail.bok?no=488

Some where in the archives is a thread telling about a fix on the PG stud. A threaded bushing from the Hardware store, I believe.

This is not going to be easy. Don't know of any scources for H/T/S sets at present. U.S. made furnature?

You CAN get a "Gas piston" for L1A1s' :biggrin:

I, and probably many others have Century "inch" stock sets laying around. Thinking of putting mine up for sale anyway. They're not great, but they work.

You should put a WTB post in Marketplace for what you need.

G'luck

[johnny.308]

You can get a U.S. made H/T/S from Gun Things

http://www.gunthings.com/

Along with furniture that is 6 U.S. made parts. You can get U.S. made flash hiders if you want, making 7 parts. There are also U.S. made charging handles.

[Skilter]

kinda weird here... Knowing the history of the laws and all... I kinda like them that way. They shoot pretty good and it's kinda like driving a classic Buick. If you hang onto it long enough... people will think it is pretty cool.

I wouldn't change a thing.

If you want to change the config. ... buy another FAL and do with it what you will. (You will eventually buy another one anyway anyway... AMHIK)

agc

[dogngun]

I agree with Skilter_ keep it as is. It's a collector's item, or will be in a few more years, and I'll bet if you take it to the range you will get a few offers on it.

Funny thing-the political BS supposed to stop these rifles made them very collectable and drove up the price.

mark

[Cybrludite]

Any suggestions on what to look for on a Century FAL that would indicate whether or not it's a good one? (Outside of the CAI logo, of course... :p )

[Rivitman]

A decent one will at least have a widow's peak feed ramp ,and no gap between the bolt carrier and reciever when the bolt is in battery. Mine seems to be an early one with a four digit serial, built on an Argentine reciever. Everything is good with it, and I'm told I'm fortunate.

I went HTS, gas piston, (gunthings) charging handle (gunpartsguy) mag floorplates (falcon arms), and flash hider to make mine compliant:

http://thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/BuildFalVerifyCompliance

[msnyder]

"Any suggestions on what to look for on a Century FAL that would indicate whether or not it's a good one? (Outside of the CAI logo, of course... "

Assuming we're still talking about CAI thumbhole rifles:

1. Early L1A1 receivers were marked made in Canada or Imbel, made in Brazil. Both are good receivers. Some are cut for metric mags and some are cut for inch mags. Personal preference on which is better. Imbel marked will probably command a better price but I believe they Made In Canada ones may have been Imbels or Argentine.

2. Check the bore condition.

3. Check to see if it's Aussie or Brit parts or a mix of both. Personal preference applies here as well.

4. Furniture may be cheap CAI black plastic, Aussie/Brit Wood or Brit pebble-grain Maranyl or a mix.

[CS#143 aka Serbu 50]

I still don't get the US made parts requirement since the Assualt Weapons bill sunset.

From reading the above article it states that you need the American made parts if you ARE CONSTRUCTING/BUILDING A WEAPON from a parts kit?
So technically you are not building a weapon you are modifying a weapon.
I might need to actualy read the regs and not someones interpretation of them.

Since we are on the Topic of CA1/ Century Arms Fals my FAL is having some serious problems
1. Will not cycle fully,
A. I have ensured that the weapon is not set to grenade launch.
B. I have checked to ensure that the gas ports are clear of any obstructions.
C. I have checked the gas piston/rod
D. I have cleaned everything (many times, tried firing dry, lubed)
E. I have tried various munitions, Federal, Remington, Surplus
F. I have tried various gas port settings.

2. Brass will not eject,
A. Bolt looks to move about half way and/or the brass just doesn't eject (moves to fast for me to really figure out what is going on).


Any suggestions on who would be good to send it to??


Thanks!

[msnyder]

I'm not sure of the answer to that either. Especially since the ATF ruled that a thumbhole stock and a pistol grip + stock are the same thing.

[msnyder]

Did you check to make sure the gas tube is not loose and the gas tube pin is intact? Did check the piston for binding in the tube or receiver? If all else checks out o.k. you could have a worn gas block and need to either replace it or enlarge the port or send it off to a smith.

[newfalguy101]

I still don't get the US made parts requirement since the Assualt Weapons bill sunset.

They are NOT the same ban

The US parts is the "evil foreign parts ban" of '89 (?), which basically says any "assualt style" weapon imported can have no MORE than 10 Evil Foreign parts.........The FAL has 16 listed parts, thus to build into a new rifle, OR RE-configure into a new rifle you must use 6 with nekkid barrel or 7 if using a muzzle device.


By the way

not ALL the thumbholes came sans US parts, my L1A1 sporter on an Imbel has hammer, trigger, cocking lever ( the proper name escapes me at the moment ), buttstock/pistol grip and foreend, as per the Century helpdesk


If you want to know what if anything Century used, e-mail them the serial number on the upper and ask em!!

[msnyder]

So.............

1. If the CAI FAL was built originally without US parts.

2. The ATF says a thumbhole stock is the same as pistol grip and stock.

And 3. the assault weapon ban is no more........

Can we add pistol grip and threaded barrel and not add US parts?

[newfalguy101]

NO,

not legally anyway

By changing the configuration, you are ( by atf definition) building a NEW rifle that is subject to compliance with all applicable laws at the time of the build


If I am wrong, and I could be, dont hesitate to correct me

[Ron Walker]

There is a lot of confusion about the sunsetted ban, and some thought all bets were off as far as us requirements or not. The ban that expired was the Clinton Crime Bill ban that negated bayonet lugs, flash suppressors, and limited mag capacity on post ban mags. The 922r requirements are still in effect ie the 7 (or 6) us part requirement for previously banned foreign rifles (the ATF has a list, and you can find it in the 922r code), but us mfg of a similiar rifle is ok, hence the requirement for a certain percentage of us parts. If the ATF catches you with a rifle with out the required parts, the very least that will happen is you will lose your rifle, and if intent is shown, your wallet will probably be lightened too.
The preClinton, postBush(the elder) rifles are legal as is, but if you change them, you must conform to 922r. Hope this helps, Ron

[wandering_ronin]

Don't bother emailing Century. I had a similar rifle, and every single part they had replied about was covered with foriegn proof marks.

[CS#143 aka Serbu 50]

This helps alleviate some of my confusion on this topic.

[sld]

I know logic is a foreign concept to the ATF.

If he ATF says a thumbhole stock is the same as pistol grip and stock then adding a pistol grip and stock doesn't change the configuration. they are both a pistol grip and stock.

But somebody else is going to have to get arrested and try this in court.

[msnyder]

Exactly. If A=B then B=A.
I should be able to add a pistol grip and stock to my thumbhole rifle as long as I don't thread the barrel.

[Farmboy]

You would think, however this is the ATF we're dealing with so if it's intelligent or seems like common sense, it probably isn't allowed.

[msnyder]

If it manages to further restrict the right to bear arms it makes sense to the ATF.

Therefore a thumbhole stock is only the equivalent of a pistol grip and stock if it impedes on our ability to build an FAL for less.

[newfalguy101]

Originally posted by msnyder
Exactly. If A=B then B=A.
I should be able to add a pistol grip and stock to my thumbhole rifle as long as I don't thread the barrel.

I think I have a better answer than the one I gave earlier

The thumbholes were used to build "sporting rifles" to get around the sporting use clause, once the 89(?) ban was put in place, suddenly its not about configuration, its all about evil foreign parts!! ( 922 R )

So, a rifle built prior to the evil foreign parts ban, using a thumbhole stock, is a "sporting" rifle, and LEGAL without any US parts, but if you change it to a stand alone pistol grip/buttstock, then you are changing it into a NON-sporting configuration thus, subject to the 922R law

[onikidaki]

Originally posted by CS#143 aka Serbu 50
I still don't get the US made parts requirement since the Assualt Weapons bill sunset.

From reading the above article it states that you need the American made parts if you ARE CONSTRUCTING/BUILDING A WEAPON from a parts kit?
So technically you are not building a weapon you are modifying a weapon.
I might need to actualy read the regs and not someones interpretation of them.

Since we are on the Topic of CA1/ Century Arms Fals my FAL is having some serious problems
1. Will not cycle fully,
A. I have ensured that the weapon is not set to grenade launch.
B. I have checked to ensure that the gas ports are clear of any obstructions.
C. I have checked the gas piston/rod
D. I have cleaned everything (many times, tried firing dry, lubed)
E. I have tried various munitions, Federal, Remington, Surplus
F. I have tried various gas port settings.

2. Brass will not eject,
A. Bolt looks to move about half way and/or the brass just doesn't eject (moves to fast for me to really figure out what is going on).


Any suggestions on who would be good to send it to??


Thanks! I had the same feeding problem with my CAI fal/l1a1 hybrid. I replaced the gas piston, but was still gaetting alot of resistance as the bolt carrier reached the cocked hammer. I fixed it by replacing the trigger, sear, and hammer. I had previously replaced the the gas tube and piston(all DSA). Try pulling the charging handle all the way back several times and letting it back into battery slowly. The bolt and carrier should not "hang up" at all. It should meet alittle resistance as the bolt hits the hammer, that's all. hope this helps.
Oh yeah gas piston, hammer, trigger, sear= four of the required replacement parts. I then replaced crappy stock, grip and hand gaurd (3more required=7).
Got those from DSA and Guns N things.