[MG Note: This is the second of four installments on the C1A1 and L1A1 series rifles. I want to thank all of those individuals and businesses that brought this project from a concept stage to actual shooting hardware.]
Commonwealth C1A1 and L1A1 Rifle Characteristics
(continued)
Australian L1A1 rifles were issued the L1A2 bayonet. The bayonet was all metal, with metal grips riveted on, and has a characteristic "Bowie"-style or "clipped" tip. The bayonet may be partly or completely phosphated.
Above (from top): Australian, British, Canadian, and Indian bayonets showing manufacturing differences in finish and manufacture. The ABC bayonets are all metal with riveted grips; Indian bayonets have screws that hold on wooden grips. Early Australian bayonets had phosphated grips and about 1-inch of the blade. Later bayonets were completely phosphated. British bayonets were phosphate and paint finished. Canadian bayonets were phosphate with brushed-chrome blades. Indian bayonets are blued or black oxide finished. Although not a Commonwealth country, India produced its own unlicensed version of the L1A1 that combined features of both inch and metric-pattern FAL rifles. The Indian rifle was built by Rifle Factory Ishapore, West Bengal, and was called the 1A1. The Indian 1A bayonet follows the Commonwealth pattern and fits all of the ABC flash eliminators. The Indian 1A1 rifle is described separately. (Photo: Bob Stoner)
Australian L1A1-F1 (Papua New Guinea Defence Force)
Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia, built approximately 5,586 F1-type variants of the L1A1 for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and selected customers. Some F1 rifles were of new manufacture and others were converted during FTR (factory through repair). Unfortunately, the serial number ranges are no longer available, but they followed the Australian pattern; that is, AD6512345.
Above: My replica Australian L1A1-F1 rifle as built for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. Note the specialized, short flash eliminator (suppressor), laminated handguards, green plastic carrying handle, Short butt stock [Commonwealth rifles were issued four different length butt stocks -- Short, Normal, Long, and Extra Long], and phosphate/paint finish. The combination of short flash elinator and Short butt stock reduced the overall length of the rifle by 2-3/4 inches for jungle fighting. (Photo: Randy Kline)
Above: A production F1 rifle made by SAF Lithgow. A new, old-style solid handguard is attached to this rifle, as is the new green plastic carrying handle. The Short butt stock and pistol grip appear to be recycled parts and the finish is phosphate/paint. (Photo: Kevin Adams, part of the SAF Lithgow collection)
The F1 rifle finish was phosphate covered by black, high-temperature stove paint for extreme corrosion protection in the hot, humid New Guinea climate.
Above: The L1A1-F1 variant used a new flash eliminator. The F1 flash eliminator slipped over the standard L1A1 barrel and reduced the overall length of the barrel assembly when the eliminator was attached. The only modification to the barrel was the addition of a new cut out for the indexing washer that locked the unit in place on the barrel. The F1 flash eliminator was designed to use the standard Australian L1A2 bayonet. (Photo: Kevin Adams/Bob Stoner)
Like the L1A1, the F1 was issued in semi-automatic only, but could use Commonwealth 20-round or 30-round magazines.
Above: The distinctive Australian F1 receiver marking found on PNGDF rifles. (Photo: Kevin Adams/Bob Stoner)
Lithgow-produced L1A1-F1 rifles were issued the standard Australian L1A2 bayonet.
British L1A1 (Late 1970's and 1980's-era)
Above: My replica British L1A1 (with black plastic furniture) compared to my Australian L1A1-F1 (wood furniture) with Short butt stock, green plastic carrying handle, and F1 flash eliminator. Note the difference in the overall length of the rifles. At the time this photo was taken, the L2A2 SUIT had not been fitted to the British L1A1. (Photo: Randy Kline)
British L1A1 rifles went through many different variations in furniture; two different types of wood and one set of plastic. The British replica rifle has the black plstic butt stock, grip, carrying handle, and handguards. The handguards were all plastic with metal ends and reverted to the two horizontal cooling slots of the original wooden L1A1 handguards. In keeping with the era, my replica L1A1 is fitted with the three slot flash eliminator, fitted at FTR, rather than the original five slot.
Above: My replica British L1A1 uses the later pattern three shot flash eliminator. Note the profile differences between the two flash eliminators. (Photo: Kevin Adams/Bob Stoner)
The replica also has the L2A2 SUIT (Sight Unit, Infantry, Trilux). The SUIT was a quick-reaction sight that employed an invertd tapered post reticle. The reticle was powered by a radioactive tritium element that glowed in low light conditions. The sight allowed rapid, multiple target engagement. [Due to U.S. law, the tritium element was removed prior to importation. Entreprise Arms has replacement battery-powered LED's that replace the tritium source and allow the SUIT to function as it was designed.]
(Continued in installment 3 of 4)
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