My first kit G1 questions/observations.

[mojo_matic]

I just recieved my first kit for future build :) !!! OH BOY! :tongue:

It is a complete G1 kit. I made a trade for it and wasn't overly optomistic due to horror stories associated with G1 kits (deal would be very fair even if my worried ended up warranted). The person who owned the kit stating that there was some minor pitting ("minor" is a phrase that always makes me cringe). The other party WAS very nice, and gave a thorough description of parts before agreeing to trade.

I recieved the kit yesterday. First thing I do is grab barrel assembly and check bore with light. Just looks dirty. Bust out the cleaning kit, hit with bore brush and a few cleaning pads after removing flash hider. Look again, and bore appears wonderful! I have seen what pitting looks like...nothing "wonderful" about it. This barrel is not chrome lined, nor does it have that nice mirror smooth apperance, but surface "characteristics" uniformly "flow" with the rifling. No frosting...just dark and shiny. In no place is the rifling compromised by pitting or any other damage...it is actually quite sharp....all the way to the muzzle end. Maybe I am missing something...just to make sure, just what should pitting look like?

Barrel "bluing" very dark under handgurds, and isn't bad on the gasblock/sight assembly. Decent wear towards muzzle...but definitely not silver. Doesn't appear to be parkerized...more like bluing. Interior of gas tube assembly amazing. No rust, pitting or anything. Piston almost looks new. Serial number #64XX. Has crown with circle containing letters E L G and a star.

Lower reciever #864XX. Not bad shape...shows decent wear but still black in most areas. Appears to be some remains of a clear coat...expacially on the buttstock tang...assume it may be from varnish applied to buttstock without it's removal. Only thing that I can really say negative about this lower are a few little "dings" at inside rear...like someone fired it with a few grains of sand in it. "Dings"are not pitting, and few. Parking is uniform throughout interior with exception of where upper reciever locks into place. Recoil tube hardly shows any wear.

I would consider the bolt and carrier to be in excellent. No significant wear or signs of abuse...nearly as nice as the bolt that is in my StG...which was built out of a nicer kit (not by me). Serial #866XX (matching). Carrier has a "D" with a star above it and a faint "superman" hexagon stamp with character/numbers inside it (?).

Bipods in very good shape with the exception of finish. No dings or dents. There is some wear to pivots, and screw heads. Handguards O.K.. Some dings and a decent dent...but a hell of a lot better than the few that I have seen. Charging handle and carrying handle pretty much junk.

Person I trade with also included some extra "above decent" furniture...even included a killer wood pistol grip, a brand new Imbel mag, a new HK cover, a new sling (similar to Tapco's current offerings...but this one has heavier leather and doesn't stink) and a mag loader. Also included original wood...which is painted, and obsolutely horrible...beat to hell, and buttstock built like a club!

I and another member believe that this is a real score! I wasn't into Fals when the legendary $99.00 Tapco kits were available...but find it hard to believe that this may be one of them...condition seems as if someone took their time to piece together a solid G1 for future build.
Mybe good luck all around?! Regardless, I am extremely happy. If someone did me a generous favor without addressng the fact...is it uncouth to thank him publicly?

[GT]

Congratulations Mojo, it sounds like you have an above normal quality kit. It should build into a nice rifle. I suggest a Coonan type 1 for an affordable type 1 receiver that will make your rifle look close to original.

Gary

[Jon Frum]

I always get people coming up to me at the range wanting to know what kind of gun is the G-1. If I have the STG-58 too, they really get attention.

[dragunov308]

I got a G1 kit from Tapco that I think was in amazing condition (ask Court). The bore had a tiny bit of pitting at the muzzle end. I think any barrel not chrome lined that is subject to miliary use will get it- even if it is not shot. I live in FL- you get condensation in the barrel. From what I have read and you may correct me if I am wrong on this, pitting in itself is not the big detractor from inherent accuracy as one might think. The condition of the muzzle and the rifling have more to do with it as well as the condition of the chamber. I think the biggest deal with pitting is that the barrel itself will not clean as well or perhaps will get fouled more quickly which will degrade accuracy. The G1 barrels were made by FN and should be of very high quality. I think that the reason alot of people like the G1s is that supposedly FN guns especially during the period that these were made (1950's) had very tight tolerances. The Imbels although FN contract guns, are supposedly a little looser spec than the FNs. I would say though that the Steyr manufactured FALs should be every bit as good as the FNs.

[mojo_matic]

I'm very excited about the build. I have an StG with Moses as we speak getting "the full treatment." I wanted to put wood on it, but now that I have the G1, I will stick with the plastic on the StG. The G1 will be "pur-ty!" Gotta' dig wood on any rifle!

[shootist87122]

"just dark and shiny"

Did you mean bright and shiny? Dark might be ok if no pitting, but sounds kind of spooky. You will know more after you shoot it. Barrels are always a crap shoot till you put some rounds down range.

[mojo_matic]

I meant "dark and shiney" when compared to that of a StG or other chrome lined barrel. The G1 barrel is shiney when light is shined through it, but doesn't have the "mirror like luster" like chrome bores do...am I making any sense? :tongue: I'm on my third Guiness...might not be making much sense...sounds good to me though! :beer:

[mojo_matic]

...yes I'm a lightweight when it comes to alchohol...been out the Army for a while, and don't have as much time to get torn up anymore. But since it doesn't take as much, I can now afford to drink good beer instead of Natural Light and PBR! :)

[P806]

Originally posted by mojo_matic
Gotta' dig wood on any rifle!

I'm partial to my wood too!
:D

[mojo_matic]

..."ACTIVE" duty Army...though it won't be long before we/my unit will be sewing the stars n' stripes on our right shoulders again...just let me finish the next two semesters first! :) !!! Already put off college for a Bosnia rotation. By the time I graduate I'll be freakin' 30 at this rate! :) ...not that I'm complainin'!

Yeah, I'm partial to my wood too! :tongue: Gotta' start sanding and polishing for upcoming build....OUCH!!! Just don't tell Lisa! :rofl:

[Court in Fl]

One thing you may want to look for when judging the condition of a kit
is look at the receiver stub (if it has one) and see if where it's cut it has bare metal.

A friend of mine bought a G1 kit from Inter Ord. and was told it was a
premium kit because of it's finish.

But when we looked at the stub the cut area was blued, so it was refinished AFTER it was cut in half.

Court in FL.

[mojo_matic]

Reciever nub is still attached, and the cut is very silver, and the area that was cut with the torch shows the rainbow coloration....the bluing is definitely worn, just more so at the muzzle end while the area under handguards is very dark.

[nvcdl]

Out of the 6 G1 kits I have bought all had excellant bores with only one showing a bit of slight frosting in the grooves.