$3000 Enterprise L1A1 on GB - justified price?

[MalcS]

There is no doubt that this is a very nice rifle, but is there anyway to justify the $3000 price, which is up there with the Belgian rifles? Built on an Entreprise Brit cut receiver and is 'pre-ban'.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/armasinc/L1A1/L1A1011.jpg

I'm not seeing where the money is, unless I'm missing something?

British L1A1 auction (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=129395859)

[BUFF]

It is a very nice rifle, but it may not be pre-ban. Most of the pre-ban Entreprise receivers were made in Buena Park, not Irwindale. You should call Entreprise with the serial number (in one of the photos) and find out if they built it, or if they sold it as a receiver only, and when.

Even if pre-ban, I think it's overpriced by about $1,200=$1,500 or so. You can buy a genuine, excellent condition Belgian F.N. Type III 50.00 for that much or less, or probably an authentic ex-British Army Century import L1A1.

[Thorack]

Hey,

Not worth 3,000 maybe 1800 depending on the kits condition.

Thorack

[MalcS]

Thanks for the info.

I was asking on behalf of my brother, who is looking to get an L1A1 one way or another and has been trolling GB. Now he is thinking more along the lines of acquiring a kit and a new Brit cut Entreprise receiver and having that built for half the money and pretty much the same result.

Meantime, I'm starting with a Century sporter and proceeding from there.


Originally posted by BUFF
It is a very nice rifle, but it may not be pre-ban. Most of the pre-ban Entreprise receivers were made in Buena Park, not Irwindale. You should call Entreprise with the serial number (in one of the photos) and find out if they built it, or if they sold it as a receiver only, and when.

Even if pre-ban, I think it's overpriced by about $1,200=$1,500 or so. You can buy a genuine, excellent condition Belgian F.N. Type III 50.00 for that much or less, or probably an authentic ex-British Army Century import L1A1.

[Pluribus]

As BUFF noted, very few of the Irwindale receivers are pre-ban so, maybe, maybe not. Also, it's not a Brit cut receiver. I don't see the money either, even if it is pre-ban and IMHO, off by about whats been mentioned already by about $1400-$1800.

It is a nice rifle though.

[pim123]

Gonna export mine to the US...must be worth 10,000.00 at least ! :rofl:

[chrsdwns]

Very nice . Worth about 1500

[sld]

" L1A1 imported by Enterprise Arms of California"
"Now, there are many cheap variants of L1A1s on gunbroker slapped together with parts from all over the world. The only way to have the real L1A1 is to have the Enterprise Arms receiver and 100% british parts. This one has 100% British Made parts, not bs here. This is not a knock off somebody put together in a warehouse, this is the real deal and was built by by an L1A1/FAL specialist"

No one has mentioned this, Did Enterprise ever import any rifles?

[Prototype Services]

It is an Australian pattern EAI receiver, so it is not imported.

That kit IS nice, plus the SUIT is excellent.

I don't see $3K though. Maybe $2K.

One of the ejector block pins looks odd, on the right next to the locking shoulder.

[AGG]

I would just like the FN (sear cut) owner's manual!!! :D

Tony

[gunplumber]

it is not worth $3000 at this time, to anyone using that auction site, which is evidenced by the absence of bidders.

If someone did bid $3k, then that is what it is worth to the bidder, at that time, regardless of what others might think its value to be. Thats the great thing about auctions. It absolutely establishes the value to one person at one point in time.

BTW, I have an L1A1 I'd sell on an IMBEL. Type III with Brit cuts on outside and re-engraved, metric mag well, for $2000, but I still need a US h/t/s and either a cocking handle or pistol grip. Right now all I can come up with is flashhider, mag floorplate, and piston.

I talked to Hines last weekend about his Ergo US grips and he has no short term plans.

And yes, EAI imported some IMBEL Type IIIs.

[L1A1 59]

Looks like an Izzy Suit scope to me, and this reciever was sold without an ejector block installed, that is why the pins look funny....

[woodie]

Hell for 3K I'll sell ya Aussie L2 and put a SUIT on it for ya..OK maybe 3,5.

[garandguy10]

I have a pre 1994 ban Entreprise L1A1 almost exactly like it, right down the the suit scope. The serial number on that rifle is very slightly lower than mine. Mine was assembled by Entreprise on a parts kit that I supplied them. Entreprise L1A1 receivers were sold at that time without ejector blocks installed, My pins look much cleaner than that, but not perfect. several years ago I turned down $2000.00 in cash for mine without the scope. and I am glad that I did. Those early Entreprise bar stock receivers are nice. That rifle is missing the "butt stock plug" retainer screw, not really a big deal. next to DSA those early Entreprise bar stock receivers are way nice.

I do not think that at that time Entreprise sold complete LIA1 rifles, they just assembled customer kits on there receivers. I suspect that the rifle is a kit build. It may be worth what he is asking for it to someone.

[grullohorse]

I have a pre-94 Entreprise L1A1 with 03xxx numbered receiver. It was unfired when I bought it last November for $1000. I recently found a Brit SUIT in VG condition for $250 with top cover. The early Entreprise receivers are marked Buena Park or Irwindale and are all 4 digit serials. This is my favorite FAL, hands down. Be patient, the deals are out there.

[NZ L1A1 Collector]

I don't know about the rest of the rifle but the barrel is poked, the gas port has been drilled out to stage 1 (note the "1" stamped on the left side of the gas block, just below the foresight ears).

This is was only done when absolutely necessary to extend the life of the barrel/gas block, after "1" the next and final stage was "2" after that the barrel was scrapped. In military service the Gas block was not removed from the barrel, barrels came as 'assemblies' complete with gas blocks factory fitted.

Hence the reasons the Canadian's developed the removable ears on a C1A1 rifle.

[MalcS]

Wow! Who knew that?

Are you saying that essentially the barrel is worn and too much gas is leaking past the bullet to meet specs, and that the fix was to increase the gas port hole size to compensate and get enough gas?

Originally posted by NZ L1A1 Collector
I don't know about the rest of the rifle but the barrel is poked, the gas port has been drilled out to stage 1 (note the "1" stamped on the left side of the gas block, just below the foresight ears).

This is was only done when absolutely necessary to extend the life of the barrel/gas block, after "1" the next and final stage was "2" after that the barrel was scrapped. In military service the Gas block was not removed from the barrel, barrels came as 'assemblies' complete with gas blocks factory fitted.

Hence the reasons the Canadian's developed the removable ears on a C1A1 rifle.

[gunplumber]

The spec is for the gun to reliably function at a gas setting of 3. If it doesn't then the port is incrementally reamed.

I understand why it would have anything to do with the removeable wings - those clamp the front sight since the heavy barrel model doesn't have the front screw.

And "pre-ban" would be the defunct 94-2004 AW ban, the gun still has to be 922 compliant for the 89 import ban.

[garandguy10]

Originally posted by gunplumber
The spec is for the gun to reliably function at a gas setting of 3. If it doesn't then the port is incrementally reamed.

I understand why it would have anything to do with the removeable wings - those clamp the front sight since the heavy barrel model doesn't have the front screw.

And "pre-ban" would be the defunct 94-2004 AW ban, the gun still has to be 922 compliant for the 89 import ban.
"The gun still has to be 922r compliant for the 89 import ban."

That is why, at the time Entreprise would only assemble the upper receiver and would not accept a complete kit with lower receiver or ship the rifle completely assembled. Of course mine is completely 922r compliant.

They did the same thing for my Israeli HB FAL. also helps them to skip on the federal excise tax, I do believe.

[Cliff M]

I have an Arizona Response Systems Stg58 with Metacol III finish. It has an Imbel 2000 gear logo receiver and DSA h,t,s, gas piston, pistol grip.
Tapco brake, floorplate and furniture. Should I hold on to it and see what the market does or see what I can get now? What would be a good asking price?
Good luck on selling your L1A1.

[gunplumber]

My opinion . . . and if I knew for sure what the market would do, I'd be a wealthy man . . . is that there are two groups of people with FALs right now.

Group #1 - can't afford to pay $0.65/rd to shoot it, and lost job and need money for rent, so will dump it - $800-$1000

Group #2 - thinks the gun will be banned and if they don't get one right now they never will. Pay $1600 + and put on credit card.

Ideally, I'd buy from group 1 and sell to group 2.

[MtnWulf]

Astute observation.

Wonder what I can get for my IMBEL L1A1?

[thedave88]

nice rifle....isnt that an aussie rear site on it?

[Cliff M]

Thanks Mark this is indeed an astute observation. I would not take $1K for the rifle so that only leaves hold on to it an see what happens to the market.

[Blue Monster]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

[gunplumber]

I understand what he's saying - that's why I'd rather have a 6 month supply of food in the closet than enough money in the bank to buy 6 months of food.

Or why I bought ammo by the pallet. My 401K is in "stuff" because I am more comfortable with a tangible asset than a piece of paper from vanguard showing the current "value" of my mutual funds.

[Matt(formerly@)EntrepriseArms]

We never imported complete rifles, or bought L1A1 kits and assembled them into complete rifles for sale by us.

Either someone bought our receiver and assembled it themself, or they sent their kit to us and we assembled it. I'm leaning towards the former.

I'd only pay $3000 for it if it had a RIS handguard and a surefire light and laser on it :D

[jt59]

Two or three months ago a shop near Nashville had a very nice Buena Park L1A1 for $799. I had almost no money left in my gun fund and the owner was not interested what I offered to trade. $3000 sounds a bit high.