!!!!!7/13/12 UPDATE!!!! Coonan group buy R1 receiver progress!!!

[enbloc8]

Originally Posted by msnyder

The kit came with a purse handle so I'm leaving it that way

Think of it this way...it's an as-issued-in-1968 rifle!

One of the guys on NRF has posted a couple of references to the changeover from SLRs to R1s. He said he was on duty at a base in Llewelyn in late February 1968 when a long freight train, full of arms and ammo from South Africa, pulled in during the night. He said they spent three days unloading it, then not long after everybody lined up and exchanged their SLRs for brand-new FN rifles.

From what I've read, the carry handles didn't start to disappear until 1972.

[msnyder]

Originally Posted by enbloc8

Think of it this way...it's an as-issued-in-1968 rifle!

One of the guys on NRF has posted a couple of references to the changeover from SLRs to R1s. He said he was on duty at a base in Llewelyn in late February 1968 when a long freight train, full of arms and ammo from South Africa, pulled in during the night. He said they spent three days unloading it, then not long after everybody lined up and exchanged their SLRs for brand-new FN rifles.

From what I've read, the carry handles didn't start to disappear until 1972.

Exactly! My kit didn't have a trace of baby poop either so no need to poop it up now. I refinished the stock and gunkoted the lower years ago. Parked the Apex barrel forward of the gas block. I just sanded it down since I don't have a blasting cabinet. One day I might send the whole rifle off to be refinished but for now I'm happy to shoot it with it's mix and match finish.