The Commonwealth inch pattern L1 family

[huntervixen]

Morning all,

Some gun porn for all you fal fanciers!

I took delivery yesterday of an old spec deactivated L2A1 and it occurred to me that I had an opportunity to take a unique inch pattern fal family portrait. (Ok the Canadian C1 is missing, but try finding one)

Top: My Straight pull 1962 Enfield made L1A1 fitted with the now rare L2A1 SUIT sight

Middle: Old spec deac 1963 Lithgow made L1A1, New Zealand issue and fitted with L2A2 SUIT, rare NZ pattern 8 slot forend and NZ pattern rear sling attachment. (NZ adopted a mix of British and domestic plastic furniture on their L1's in the latter years of service) This example was one of 3,000 that New Zealand bought in 1963 (15,000 total) and was issued to the Army.

Bottom: old spec deac 1970 Lithgow made L2A1, this is the heavy barreled Light support weapon, fitted with a selective fire trigger group and integrated bi-pod/for-end.

Not made in quantity because Australian Vietnam war involvement meant M60's were more or less given to Australia in large numbers by the Yanks. This example was one of 500 ordered by the Singapore Defence Force and is fitted with the rare (and very odd looking) recoil reducer.....the ugly duckling of the family!

[Sandgroper]

Not made in quantity because Australian Vietnam war involvement meant M60's were more or less given to Australia in large numbers by the Yanks. This example was one of 500 ordered by the Singapore Defence Force and is fitted with the rare (and very odd looking) recoil reducer.....the ugly duckling of the family!

The L2 was supposed to replace the bren/L4 but was crap in that role - so the Army palmed them off to all and sundry, with the RAAF being thankful for anything they could get!

M60's weren't 'given' to Australia we had to buy them same as we had to pay for every round of ordnance expended by the US in support.

The M60 was the GSMG (General Service Machine gun) and the MAG 58 (L7 to you Brits) was the GPMG. We adopted the M60 to ensure interoperability with the US or as the SNCO's who served in Vietnam said, "So we could 'acquire' spares when needed!"

Of the two, I'd rather carry the MAG - the M60 was dire!

The L2 I carried had a bog standard SLR flash suppressor on it, as did all the others in the armoury. I liked mine and got it running well - but still an awkward bitch of a weapon!

BTW the standard mag for a L2 was a straight 30 rd one - not the curved one you have on yours.

[Blackstuff]

Phowar! tongueout

Bottom: old spec deac 1970 Lithgow made L2A1, this is the heavy barreled Light support weapon, fitted with a selective fire trigger group and integrated bi-pod/for-end.

And tactical trumpet? :lol:

I must admit i love a FAL. There was rumblings at Sabre Defence for a .22mag version which would've been very tempting but then prices started to go daft for the straightpull and .22lr and i never followed it up

[huntervixen]

Not made in quantity because Australian Vietnam war involvement meant M60's were more or less given to Australia in large numbers by the Yanks. This example was one of 500 ordered by the Singapore Defence Force and is fitted with the rare (and very odd looking) recoil reducer.....the ugly duckling of the family!

The L2 was supposed to replace the bren/L4 but was crap in that role - so the Army palmed them off to all and sundry, with the RAAF being thankful for anything they could get!

M60's weren't 'given' to Australia we had to buy them same as we had to pay for every round of ordnance expended by the US in support.

The M60 was the GSMG (General Service Machine gun) and the MAG 58 (L7 to you Brits) was the GPMG. We adopted the M60 to ensure interoperability with the US or as the SNCO's who served in Vietnam said, "So we could 'acquire' spares when needed!"

Of the two, I'd rather carry the MAG - the M60 was dire!

The L2 I carried had a bog standard SLR flash suppressor on it, as did all the others in the armoury. I liked mine and got it running well - but still an awkward bitch of a weapon!

BTW the standard mag for a L2 was a straight 30 rd one - not the curved one you have on yours.

Thanks for the info, I stand corrected re: the M60 (duff info), just checked the L2 mag out, it's an L4 Bren mag

[Sandgroper]

BTW the standard mag for a L2 was a straight 30 rd one - not the curved one you have on yours.

Thanks for the info, I stand corrected re: the M60 (duff info), just checked the L2 mag out, it's an L4 Bren mag

No problems. The L2 was designed the accept the L4 mag but had problems with feeding - even more so than the straight mag!

I still have one of my 30 rd mags and no it's not for sale!

[waterford103]

I have several packs of the 20rd mags brand harry spankers in wraps.
Waiting until I can afford an SP L1a1.

[huntervixen]

I have several packs of the 20rd mags brand harry spankers in wraps.
Waiting until I can afford an SP L1a1.

Don't wait too long mate, they are starting to disappear, as with most "Supply and demand" situations, then they come up for sale second hand (ignoring the previous MOD ownership) in a year or two from now the price will begin to rise up and away from the £2,000 original asking price.

Of course I might be completely wrong and they may drop in price, but this doesn't seem to be the case with these things in general.

I can say with some certainty there won't be anymore rebuilt though, parts kits have simply dried up. Interestingly, Neal from Suffolk Rifle told me a while ago he SP rebuild a Lithgow example as part of the last batch...and a former Israeli Fal!!

Now thats a rifle that could tell some stories!

[Charlotte the flyer]

For mine £2K was the starting price for the Anglo one in plastic, +Wood + Suit stuck a fair bit on top. They may go up, they may drop because everyone who wants one has got one.

Btw, do you want to swap the SUIT spring on your Deac? If it's still good I'll start the bidding at one spring with not enough tension to live fire and one Kidney.

[huntervixen]

Morning Charlotte,

Ah the worn out SUIT latch spring.....always an issue on what is now a very old scope, afterall they are all over 40 years old now!!!

Unfortunately, tempting as your offer for spare body parts is, I no longer have the rifle and scope combo, they have gone to a new very happy ex army owner...I don't have any space in the freezer anyway!

The last deac L1 SUIT combo I sold (Interestingly this Lithgow 1960 dated example had it's original barrel with chromed chamber and was one of the very first examples bought by New Zealand) had the Israeli Army latch screw mod (see pics) I test fired this combo on my L1 and it tightened the groups up a treat by simply eliminating the spring tension.... recommended mod me thinks!

I have looked into getting a new batch of springs made, but its a no go...just too expensive.

Cheers, john.

[PaulR]

The last deac L1 SUIT combo I sold (Interestingly this Lithgow 1960 dated example had it's original barrel with chromed chamber and was one of the very first examples bought by New Zealand) had the Israeli Army latch screw mod (see pics) I test fired this combo on my L1 and it tightened the groups up a treat by simply eliminating the spring tension.... recommended mod me thinks!

I have looked into getting a new batch of springs made, but its a no go...just too expensive.

Cheers, john.

Hi John,

I've not seen or heard of the latch screw mod before. Does it lock the latch down onto the casting below it? If so, as much as like to keep things original, as you say it may be worth retro fitting without affecting the warranty . Shouldn't be too difficult an engineering task. Can you work out the screw specs from the one you have/had or did that go with the Lithgow?

Cheers

PaulR