[MG Note: This is the fourth 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
(concluded)
Below: A late model Canadian C1A1. Serial numbers were marked on the lower receiver along with a stylized maple leaft proof mark and beneath the ejection port; "C.A.L. 1968" indicates manufacture by Canadian Arsenals, Limited, in 1968. (Photo: Kevin Adams)
Canada built its version of the FAL in two models. The C1A1 was a semi-automatic only infantry rifle with a 20-round magazine. The C2A1 was and automatic rifle (select fire) similar to the Browning Automatic Rifle in the rifle squad or section and had a 30-round magazine. Both magazines interchanged between rifles.
Below: A late model Canadian C1A1 rifle left side nomenclature. Note the selector lobe that prevents rotation to the third (automatic) position. The C2A1 automatic rifle had a selector that allowed full rotation. (Photo: Kevin Adams)
Canadian lower receivers are marked S (safe) and R (repetition or semi-automatic). The C1A1 selector was designed so it could only move between the first two settings; C2A1 selectors could move between all three.
Upper and lower late production receivers were stamped on the right side with matching serial numbers of the form: 8L1234. Upper 8L-series receivers had C.A.L. 1968 stamped on the right side with the rifle nomenclature stamped on the left side in back of the cocking handle.
Below: A late production Canadian C1A1 rifle with replaceable front sight protective "ears" of the last 1,500 C1A1 rifles. This feature was to be standardized on the proposed C1A2 rifle that never entered production. (Photo: Kevin Adams)
Canadian C1A1 rifles do not use the full length top covers of the Australian and British rifles. Canadian rifles use a half top cover that incorporates a guide for stripper clips or chargers. This guide allows the rifle's magazine to be reloaded while it is in the rifle. Canadian rifles also have a small cutout on the rifht side at the end of the ejection port for the shooter's thumb when they load the magazine in the rifle. Unlike the Australian and British L1A1 rifles, the C1A1 rifle's bolt to the rear for reloading the magazine with 5-round chargers (stripper clips) or for magazine changes.
Above: My replica Canadian C1A1 rifle shows slight differences from the actual C1A1 production rifle shown earlier. The "C.A.L. 1968" marking is closer to the ejection port, the shortened top cover and plain bolt carrier are clearly shown, as is the thumb cut at the rear of the ejection port. The special brown plastic carrying handle was a recognition feature for production C1A1 rifles and C1 rifles converted to C1A1 standard. (Photo: Rich SaundersO
Canadian C1A1 rifle bolt carriers and upper receivers differ from Australian and British rifles in they do not have the "sand modifications" of the L1A1's. The Canadian bolt carrier does not have the zig-zag sand cuts or the relief cuts on the bolt, bolt carrier, or upper receiver of the L1A1 rifles.
Canadian rifles have different sights than those used by Australian and British rifles. While all of the ABC rear sights fold, the Aussie and Brit sight apertures fold forward; the Canadian folds backward.
Above: My Canadian C1A1 rifle shows off its erected and distinctive rear sight aperture. The diopter ring adjusts from 2 (200 meters) to 6 (600 meters) and folds to the rear -- opposite to the Australian and British L1A1 sight apertures that fold forward. Canadian specialized parts are often very difficult to find. (Photo: Rich Saunders)
Range adjustments on the Australian and British rifles are made by pushing the sight base foward. Canadian sights use a rotary diopter that changes the range settings. As the sight turns, a numeral representing the range in hundreds appears below the aperture.
Canadian C1A1 rifles were issued the C1 bayonet. The bayonet is all metal, with metal grips riveted on, and has a characteristic "Bowie"-style or "clipped" tip that is different in shape than either the Australian or British versions. Canadian C1 bayonets follow the L1A2 Australian pattern.
Canadian C1 bayonets have different designed fullers (blood grooves) than the Australian, have brush-chrome plated blades, with the rest of the bayonet phosphated. Canadian bayonets are also marked with the model -- C1 -- and the date of manufacture on the left at the rear of the blade and early bayonets have the part number on the right side near the end of the blade.
Above: A Canadian C1 bayonet (upper) and an Australian L1A2 bayonet (lower). Note the manufacturing differences in the shape of the blade, fullers, and markings on the Canadian that are absent from the Australian. (Photo: Bob Stoner)
Acknowledgements
My thanks to Kevin Adams, resident Commonwealth rifle guru from New Zealand, for his many inputs and photos of the actual equipment that allowed me to replicate these four rifles.
My thanks to Steve Sawyer of Tom Sawyer Manufacturing (now Orion Arms) for doing the engraving on the four Commonwealth receivers.
My thanks to Randy Kline of Sledgehammer Arms Works for a great job of refinishing and assembly of the Australian L1A1-F1 and British L1A1 rifles.
My thanks to Rich Saunders of CGW Co. for a great job of refinishing and assembly of the Australian L1A1 (Vietnam-era) and Canadian C1A1 rifles.
My thanks to all the other people who contributed ideas, information, and bits and pieces to this project that brought these replica Commonwealth rifles back to life (in no particular order): Tim Wind, Pat Jones, Asa Sarnow, T. Mark Graham (Arizona Response Systems), TAPCO, Inc., SARCO, Inc., Liviu Gondo, Brad P. Washa (GunThings.com), Joe Dayton, James Harper (Gun Parts Guy), Marstar Canada, DSA, Inc., Lily at Entreprise Arms, Inc., Carl Martens, Jean Palmondon, Matt Shuster (Ironwood Designs), and Stephan Gurgurewicz.
Rev. 3
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 
