Indian Kits...Any good or leave it alone???

Zulu5Oscar · January 22, 2001, 14:02

Someone posted about Indian Kits by Keystone Arms.

Here is the 64.000 Dollars question...

Are they any good?

If they are in any way as good LOL as the pakistani knives then they are crap.

Please let me know if you have had any experience with this.

Thanks

Zulu

**kfranz** · January 22, 2001, 14:27

Where'd you see that?

Buk · January 22, 2001, 15:27

I posted it sometime back. I had emailed them about kits and they responded "I do have FAL kits (no Receiver) to my knowledge, mfg.in India...at $119.95. I also have British L1A1 kits (no receiver) at 199.95. All without Bipods. Plus Shipping." This was on 12/31.
HTH

fresca · January 22, 2001, 16:51

Zulu,
Someone recently posted that they are a hybrid inch/metric that was reverse engineered. I have never actually seen one, but I would expect them to be poorer quality than other Commonwealth countries. Their Enfield rifles tend to run that way. Still, the price makes it very tempting!
Mike

**Abominog** · January 22, 2001, 16:54

India's FAL was indeed made from designs taken from both metric and inch pattern rifles. The buttstock will fit a metric lower, and has the metal ferrule; however, it requires an L1 type buttplate. The rest of the gun is the same.

To my mind there's only two reasons for having an Indian FAL: 1) they're unique, 2) the wood is mahogany and looks great.

I'm sure one of our competent gunsmiths could build one, but expect to pay a bit more for "fitting".

Zulu5Oscar · January 22, 2001, 17:49

So will it be a possible to home assemble one of these beasts?

On a metric imbel?

I wonder what sort of condition they will be.

Like Buk said ther is no reference to the condition of the as per Keystone.

India is a poor country so these must be looking like the proverbial bag od $hit.

I will have to order one even if just fort the uniqueness of the item

firewalker · January 22, 2001, 19:06

How to get in touch with Keystone? Any one else gotten one of these kits? I don't have an Indian FAL but I have seen one kit built a while back on video and it looked pretty good. Also need another Brit. or Aussie kit if anyone has one around.

Rule .308 · January 22, 2001, 19:21

One other thing I have heard on the Indian kits is that they are extremely long in the chamber resulting in needing and excessively thick locking shoulder. I was watching my local smith put one together and he was swapping from an Indian barrel to a commonwealth barrel and had to go from one end clear to the other to headspace it. He's been doing FALs for many many years and has/will work on anything FAL related and he says the Indian kits are definitely mutts and cost the most to put together.
Rule .308

Rayman · January 22, 2001, 19:21

I have one on an Inch cut Imbel and it works GREAT!! The stock is cut kind of "round" or "full" instead of having flat sides this would be good if you wanted to do a lot of sanding to make the lines of the stock cleaner. I just left it as is after cleaning an a couple of coats of linseed oil. The timing was a bit off on the barrel and I supposed that it may have had a breeching washer like the inch guns originally. The trigger group seemed hand fitted (like it had to be

) and is the best pull of all my Fals. I put the original group in the lower and use it on my 48 on occasion for just that reason. Rick in Fl

Brian in MN · January 22, 2001, 19:46

Ishapore SLR's are absolute garbage. They are the worst FAL's ever made.

Ahem, where do I find Keystone. I need an Indian parts kit.

**kev** · January 22, 2001, 20:13

I just got a flyer from them today. Just dug it out of the trash for you guys.

Keystone Arms
(570)491-4867 www.keystonearms.com

They mention FAL kits, Belgian of South African, but no L1A1's or Ishy's.

**stimpsonjcat** · January 23, 2001, 08:56

What do they want for the SA kits?

peace!

moshaholic2 · January 23, 2001, 09:04

stimpson,
just check out their site, I believe it's $119 (the usual SA kit price)

Aswayze · January 23, 2001, 09:43

Ishapore SLR kits? Blah! Ick! Phooey! Yuck! I just ordered one. I am a sucker for dirty Indian guns.

Brian in MN · January 23, 2001, 20:31

Please let us know what you receive. I called them today and the fellow I spoke with said the Indain guns came with plastic furniture and that he was not certain that they were in fact Indian.

BigOne · January 24, 2001, 13:34

I have a couple of Indians, great shooters.

There is actually quite a lot of interchangeability of parts between them and metric and inch. Just a matter of some fitting.

I have never seen one with plastic furniture, but it is possible that when the Brits go rid of their FN's that the Indians picked up a bunch of surplus furniture to upgrade their rifles. If you get a chance to see the original reciever you will be able to tell by the markings.

**stimpsonjcat** · January 24, 2001, 15:19

As of 4pm EST 1-24-01...Keystone has no SA R1's left, No STGs (belgians), and an unknown (but very small) number of Indian kits with plastic furniture.

Also, they do have inch kits at $199...these are reported to have wood furniture.

just FYI.

peace!

ecll · January 24, 2001, 20:10

I asked Keystone about their L1A1 kits and they emailed:
"The parts and bore are in good condition, BUT they not look good. The finish is worn, hanguards are very rough."

Brian in MN · January 24, 2001, 20:31

At least the guy is honest about it. Dealer's Warehouse would call that furniture in excellent condition with only a few dings from shipping.

Zulu5Oscar · January 24, 2001, 20:34

I think I'll pass on the Punjabi rifle.

For a little more I might just buy a real inch, just to have one, not a "Dalek" sp?

Why go thru all the trouble when there are nice Imbels coming home soon

January 22, 2001, 14:02	#1
Zulu5Oscar Registered FALaholic #: 2182 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 14	Indian Kits...Any good or leave it alone??? Someone posted about Indian Kits by Keystone Arms. Here is the 64.000 Dollars question... Are they any good? If they are in any way as good LOL as the pakistani knives then they are crap. Please let me know if you have had any experience with this. Thanks Zulu

January 22, 2001, 16:51	#4
fresca Registered FALaholic #: 1621 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: ohio usa Posts: 429	Zulu, Someone recently posted that they are a hybrid inch/metric that was reverse engineered. I have never actually seen one, but I would expect them to be poorer quality than other Commonwealth countries. Their Enfield rifles tend to run that way. Still, the price makes it very tempting! Mike __________________ http://www.defensivecreations.com

January 22, 2001, 16:54	#5
Abominog Old Fart Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 372 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Finger Lakes, NY Posts: 6,545	India's FAL was indeed made from designs taken from both metric and inch pattern rifles. The buttstock will fit a metric lower, and has the metal ferrule; however, it requires an L1 type buttplate. The rest of the gun is the same. To my mind there's only two reasons for having an Indian FAL: 1) they're unique, 2) the wood is mahogany and looks great. I'm sure one of our competent gunsmiths could build one, but expect to pay a bit more for "fitting". __________________ They will live a long time, these men of the South Pacific. They, like their victories, will be remembered as long as our generation lives. Longer and longer shadows will obscure them, until their Guadalcanal sounds distant on the ear like Shiloh and Valley Forge. --- Michener, Tales of the South Pacific Tempus Edax Rerum

January 22, 2001, 19:21	#8
Rule .308 Registered FALaholic #: 51 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: fountain valley, ca Posts: 450	One other thing I have heard on the Indian kits is that they are extremely long in the chamber resulting in needing and excessively thick locking shoulder. I was watching my local smith put one together and he was swapping from an Indian barrel to a commonwealth barrel and had to go from one end clear to the other to headspace it. He's been doing FALs for many many years and has/will work on anything FAL related and he says the Indian kits are definitely mutts and cost the most to put together. Rule .308 __________________ Rule .308

January 22, 2001, 19:46	#10
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	Ishapore SLR's are absolute garbage. They are the worst FAL's ever made. Ahem, where do I find Keystone. I need an Indian parts kit. __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

January 22, 2001, 14:27	#2
kfranz Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 101 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 3,627	Where'd you see that?

January 22, 2001, 15:27	#3
Buk Registered FALaholic #: 1720 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Seminary, MS USA Posts: 61	I posted it sometime back. I had emailed them about kits and they responded "I do have FAL kits (no Receiver) to my knowledge, mfg.in India...at $119.95. I also have British L1A1 kits (no receiver) at 199.95. All without Bipods. Plus Shipping." This was on 12/31. HTH

January 22, 2001, 17:49	#6
Zulu5Oscar Registered FALaholic #: 2182 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 14	So will it be a possible to home assemble one of these beasts? On a metric imbel? I wonder what sort of condition they will be. Like Buk said ther is no reference to the condition of the as per Keystone. India is a poor country so these must be looking like the proverbial bag od $hit. I will have to order one even if just fort the uniqueness of the item

January 22, 2001, 19:06	#7
firewalker Registered FALaholic #: 1016 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: USA Posts: 402	How to get in touch with Keystone? Any one else gotten one of these kits? I don't have an Indian FAL but I have seen one kit built a while back on video and it looked pretty good. Also need another Brit. or Aussie kit if anyone has one around.

January 22, 2001, 19:21	#9
Rayman Registered FALaholic #: 293 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 137	I have one on an Inch cut Imbel and it works GREAT!! The stock is cut kind of "round" or "full" instead of having flat sides this would be good if you wanted to do a lot of sanding to make the lines of the stock cleaner. I just left it as is after cleaning an a couple of coats of linseed oil. The timing was a bit off on the barrel and I supposed that it may have had a breeching washer like the inch guns originally. The trigger group seemed hand fitted (like it had to be ) and is the best pull of all my Fals. I put the original group in the lower and use it on my 48 on occasion for just that reason. Rick in Fl

January 22, 2001, 20:13	#11
kev Curio & Relic Contributor FALaholic #: 71 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Indiana and various others Posts: 3,775	I just got a flyer from them today. Just dug it out of the trash for you guys. Keystone Arms (570)491-4867 www.keystonearms.com They mention FAL kits, Belgian of South African, but no L1A1's or Ishy's. __________________ Gun control is not about guns; it's about control. RUE?

January 23, 2001, 08:56	#12
stimpsonjcat Windoze free since 1-2010 Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 470 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Dawsonville, GA Posts: 4,199	What do they want for the SA kits? peace! __________________ peace! Happiness=UPS+ORMD "Your 8mm FAL is like a deuce coup with a Ferrari pancake 12 under the hood and a Jaguar rear end. It just kinda transcends cool into fantasy."- USMC 0341 "The stimpgewehr is the reason Waldo is hiding."- Kotengu Cause I can still hear his voice when I put it to my shoulder, "A guns like a woman son, it's all how you hold her."

January 23, 2001, 09:04	#13
moshaholic2 Registered FALaholic #: 1936 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: UTAH Posts: 201	stimpson, just check out their site, I believe it's $119 (the usual SA kit price)

January 23, 2001, 09:43	#14
Aswayze Registered FALaholic #: 575 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 46	Ishapore SLR kits? Blah! Ick! Phooey! Yuck! I just ordered one. I am a sucker for dirty Indian guns.

January 23, 2001, 20:31	#15
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	Please let us know what you receive. I called them today and the fellow I spoke with said the Indain guns came with plastic furniture and that he was not certain that they were in fact Indian. __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

January 24, 2001, 13:34	#16
BigOne Registered FALaholic #: 90 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 35	I have a couple of Indians, great shooters. There is actually quite a lot of interchangeability of parts between them and metric and inch. Just a matter of some fitting. I have never seen one with plastic furniture, but it is possible that when the Brits go rid of their FN's that the Indians picked up a bunch of surplus furniture to upgrade their rifles. If you get a chance to see the original reciever you will be able to tell by the markings.

January 24, 2001, 15:19	#17
stimpsonjcat Windoze free since 1-2010 Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 470 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Dawsonville, GA Posts: 4,199	As of 4pm EST 1-24-01...Keystone has no SA R1's left, No STGs (belgians), and an unknown (but very small) number of Indian kits with plastic furniture. Also, they do have inch kits at $199...these are reported to have wood furniture. just FYI. peace! __________________ peace! Happiness=UPS+ORMD "Your 8mm FAL is like a deuce coup with a Ferrari pancake 12 under the hood and a Jaguar rear end. It just kinda transcends cool into fantasy."- USMC 0341 "The stimpgewehr is the reason Waldo is hiding."- Kotengu Cause I can still hear his voice when I put it to my shoulder, "A guns like a woman son, it's all how you hold her."

January 24, 2001, 20:10	#18
ecll Registered FALaholic #: 1951 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Kansas Posts: 72	I asked Keystone about their L1A1 kits and they emailed: "The parts and bore are in good condition, BUT they not look good. The finish is worn, hanguards are very rough."

January 24, 2001, 20:31	#19
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	At least the guy is honest about it. Dealer's Warehouse would call that furniture in excellent condition with only a few dings from shipping. __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

January 24, 2001, 20:34	#20
Zulu5Oscar Registered FALaholic #: 2182 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 14	I think I'll pass on the Punjabi rifle. For a little more I might just buy a real inch, just to have one, not a "Dalek" sp? Why go thru all the trouble when there are nice Imbels coming home soon

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