FNG needs help w/value

[goodbread]

I've found a FAL at my local gun shop. I'm very new to this firearm. It is marked "Made in Canada" at the lower right edge of the mag well. Just above it reads "Reveiver made by Imbel Brazil". Further back towards the stock on the right side of the receiver it is marked CAI and also L1A1. It has no muzzle brake/flash hider. There is a small notch on the lower edge of the muzzle and I've read that CAI cut off the threads of the muzzle for some reason, why? It has what looks to be original plastic furniture and sights. The rear sight is marked for 200-600 yds. With one mag, sling and 50 rds ammo, the dealer wants $700, bottom line. Is it worth it? How much of a frankenfal is it?

[adam762]

It's a British L1A1 made by Century Arms during the 94-2004 assault weapons ban. You are correct, the muzzle has been 'neautered', and the notch you see was where the flashider retaining washer engaged the barrel.

Century built a lot of L1s (and other rifles) on Imbel receivers, as they were a large importer of Imbels for some time. Some were assembled in Canada, as yours seems to be.

The asking price is fair. Not great, but not a ripoff either. If it is 700 out the door, then what you're looking at is not a bad way to get into a FAL. You can get the muzzle fixed and have a flashider again, there will soon be Brit pattern receivers to be had so you can get it rebuilt on a 'correct' looking reciever, lots can be done with it... The British L1s were nice rifles, in my opinion.

It's a good place to start, and if you like the way it looks, then go for it.

Welcome to the addiction. You will be assimilated.

[Abominog]

Adam, a Century L1A1 would have non-pebble Century buttstock and pistol grip. Unless of course somebody "fixed" it in which case it's not 922r compliant.

To my knowledge (which, as always, is deficient) the "Made in Canada" guns all had thumbhole stocks when they left Century.

But Adam is right about the price. It will not go down, I assure you.

[adam762]

Adam, a Century L1A1 would have non-pebble Century buttstock and pistol grip. Unless of course somebody "fixed" it in which case it's not 922r compliant.

I was reading the 'looks like original furniture' part and thinking maybe the prospective owner didn't know what the original furniture was really 'supposed' to look like. I didn't know Brit L1s had pebble grain plastic until much later in my FAL learning spell.

The 'MADE IN CANADA' thing relating to the thumbhole stocks, I had not heard. I didn't know where the thumbholes were made. Century did make plenty of black plastic inch pattern furniture, though, and with a neautered muzzle all they would have needed is the HTS and it would have been compliant. I betcha if we saw a pic of it, we'd decide it was an original Century configured rifle.

Kinda fun to speculate. I so wish these guns could talk. The world of milsurp firearms has to be fascinating.

[MAINER]

If the stocks are "pebble-grain", they are probably origional L1A1. I'd be veryifing 922 compliant parts count on that rifle. You need to have six US made parts, seven if you restore the Flashhider with an origional style.

Figure about $80 for the extras, you're paying $620 for the rifle, not bad. It may cost a couple hundred to get it compliant if it isn't already. Imbel receivers are excellent and worth $400~$450, even if they are not the right configuration for a L1A1.

[dogngun]

I too have a Century L1A1, made on a British receiver, but mine is a little different, with the standard stock and handguard and the Century muzzle brake. I paid $650 for mine several years ago, and I don't thik $700 is too far off if the rifle is in good condition. Check it as well as you can, dry fire it, handle it and if you like it, buy it. Like the man said, prices will never come down.

FWIW, mine is a great shooter and has been very reliable with any ammo.
They are great rifles.
mark

[AliYahu]

Originally posted by dogngun
I too have a Century L1A1, made on a British receiver, but mine is a little different, with the standard stock and handguard and the Century muzzle brake. I paid $650 for mine several years ago, and I don't thik $700 is too far off if the rifle is in good condition. Check it as well as you can, dry fire it, handle it and if you like it, buy it. Like the man said, prices will never come down.

FWIW, mine is a great shooter and has been very reliable with any ammo.
They are great rifles.
mark

If it's a British receiver it's illegal as hell unless it's a registered post-86 dealer sample machine gun. They are SEAR CUT and NFA items. Many were sold cheaply to LE agencies that later sold them to the public not realizing they're "machine guns".

Eli

[J. Armstrong]

Unless Imbel moved it ain't a Brit receiver

[goodbread]

Thank you, gentlemen for the fascinating discussion. I am leaving to pick it up in a few minutes and will post some photos and numbers very soon. Please check back and review this new info; hope to have it posted by Sunday, 9/21/08

[goodbread]

Being a FNG, a just noticed that I'm not allowed to post photos. So if anyone would like to see the pics, email me and I will send them to you privately.

greatbread@yahoo.com

[MAINER]

Note to goodbread;

Good way to post pics is to use a site like photobucket.com and provide a link in your thread.

[goodbread]

I hope this photobucket link works, I'm new to this stuff.

http://s403.photobucket.com/albums/p...afilter=images

Additionally, I stripped the gun apart and can report these addtional engravings/marks.
1. Inside bolt carrier; S24560, B29, D161, D4 and a diamond with an E or a C in it.
2. Outside bolt carrier; EA41493, D61 960 2107
3. Bolt left side; DG; a symbol of 2 crossed flags with L above and P in the X shaped spaces created by the flag poles.
3. Bolt lower face; 6219888
4. Lower Receiver left side rear; a 7 point star with an I below it and an A inside. Below that star is an icon that resembles an arrowhead pointing up.
5. Front grip strap; 1b

I fired 40 rounds thru it and once I remembered to set the gas regulator to 5 or 6, it functioned well in single shot and rapid fire target practice. Didn't hit any commies though. The white-tails are going to be in a little more danger in November. Thanks again, guys. You've proved to me again that the firearms enthusiast community is the best; makes tennis, golf and any others look like a bunch of spoiled, ego-centric brats.

[goodbread]

Just tested the photbucket link. It does indeed take you to the 9 photos I uploaded. Just scroll to the page bottom.

Mike B