Just picked up an L1A1 kit...

[speedypete]

A close friend of mine acquired an L1A1 kit back in th early 90's. He never put it together, and recently offered it to me, along with 5 inch pattern magazines, for $100. I just picked it up. It's a BSA manufactured, 1958 L1A1 with the pebble furniture. It looks really clean. The end of the barrel where the flash hider is was wrapped in something akin to flypaper.

My knowledge of FALs consists of fam-firing only in foreign weapons classes.

I'll be lurking and posting here and at some of the other FAL specific forums in an effort to educate myself on the platform and figure out where I want to go with this project (leaning toward 17" barreled GSR). Once I have that sorted, I'll probably get with ARS or Rifle Dynamics on the build, and post some range reports once it's built.

If there are any owners of L1A1s that went through this journey, I'd appreciate any thoughts and insights you could share as far as the build process. It seems getting the required US parts is a bit tougher on the inch rifles...

Thanks to all of you for your patience and knowledge.

[DC950]

you really don't want to fool with an inch gun. I'll help you out and take the kit and mags off your hands for $250.

Truthfully though, I think the L1A1 is about as close to perfect stock as you can get. Assuming the bore is fine and the numbers match, you really do have a valuable kit. Even though you got it for free - the magazines are worth more than $100 - I wouldn't even think of hacking up since it's unlikely you'll be able to duplicate it in the future. L1A1 is my absolute favorite rifle.

Build it like it is and get yourself a metric Imbel kit to turn into a GSR or a Para. It's what I'm doing - an Imbel based FrankenFAL Para GSR with a scope and some L1A1 bits on it that I'll have Gunplumber build next year.

Barring that, sell it (to me! to me!) on the FAL Files to someone who would love to have it and take the money and build yourself exactly what you want from something that is far more common than an inch rifle.

[speedypete]

Yeah, while not a collector, I get what you're saying. Given the lack of true Brit pattern receivers, is there any real value to collectors? Which components am I looking at for matching parts? Beyond looking at the serial number to determine who manufactured it and when, I haven't really looked at it too closely yet. I'll have time over the weekend...

[speedypete]

Anyone know a source for US made charging handles for the L1A1?

[bdc]

Great price. The last L1A1 kits I saw were approaching $500.Several years ago, I had an Australian kit built on a DSA L1A1 receiver. DSA doesn't seem to make them very often, and I had a long wait. Well worth it though. Everybody needs at least one full-sized FAL My vote would be hunt up another FAL to tinker on and build up that kit on a L1A1 receiver. www.dsarms.com for receivers. Then let ARS build it for you. bdc

[gunplumber]

Great price indeed.

There is currently only one good inch pattern receiver and that is the DSA, which is Australian. Not quite the same as UK. You can also modify a "metric" to an early canadian, but it's a lot of work. Coonan has been toying with coming out with a UK cut inch, and I spoke with Dan about it a few weeks ago. They are hesitating because they don't think there will be enough demand. I told him to MAKE The demand by having the product. I dunno. we're not on the same wavelength I guess. Entre'prise makes one but it is junk.

Unless you're really enamored with the L1A1 pattern (and it is elegant), you may be better off selling it* and building one on the metric pattern.

I have US flashiders for $75, and US folding cocking handles for $75. That's another problem. Inch US parts are twice the cost and much harder to find.



*my lowball offer of $300? Put it this way, your mags are worth more than $100.