For some years, I have been helping a friend with events, displays, and parades featuring his incredible collection of old military vehicles and items, including rare deactivated small arms.
One big attention getter is the rifle below. Many remember when the FN C1 A1 was used in the Canadian military and have fond memories of the weapon, whether they were in the regular forces, Militia (Reserves), or from Cadets. The “FN” —as Canadians refer to it —was technically phased out in 1985, to be replaced over the following years by the AR platforms C7 and C8.
But wait! Is it really a Canadian FN C1? Look again. There are a few giveaways; some easy to spot, others not so easy. Look at the carrying handle. It doesn’t look like a C1 carrying handle. See the rear folding disc site of the aperture type, it’s sitting on a base that doesn’t look like a C1’s platform. Also, look at the breach block carrier; it has grooves to help prevent sand and dirt from getting stuck in there and causing jamming. The Canadian C1 breach block was smooth, with no grooves. Much harder to notice is that the flash eliminator of the slotted tube type has three holes, while the Canadian rifle has four.
This rifle is a deactivated Indian FN FAL, a 1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), made to look like an FN C1.
The furniture is C1, replacing the original Indian furniture.
The half-body cover with a stripper clip guide is Canadian (only recently added to this Indian rifle). The original had a body cover that went the length of the receiver. As far as I know, all FN FALs in the world have full-length body covers, which is good. Having an open and exposed breach like the C1 had is not good, and I always thought so. (I believe the Canadians involved in the selection of the FAL back in the 50s, who applied the Canadian alterations, were still thinking Lee Enfield stripper clips for loading instead of using box magazines. Yet, the Brits and Aussies stayed with the full body cover for the SLRs.)
Other than the Canadian FN FAL version, the American prototype FN FAL, called the T48, which was tested in the mid-50s to replace the M1 Garand, also had a half-body cover with a stripper clip guide. DS Arms has a reproduction of the T48 for sale. Last January at the SHOT Show, I suddenly noticed that on a T48 reproduction rifle, it too has the half-body cover and stripper guide, like the Canadian FN. I pointed this out to a DSA friend, and he said the Canadians had consulted the Americans during testing and prototype development. That explains it.
The T48 lost out to the M14 due to politics.
Interesting tidbit: apparently, Canada was the first country to adopt the FN FAL after joint trials of the rifle system with the British and Australians.
Nonetheless, my friend’s FN C1, the Indian pretender, fools many until I point out the differences. It makes for good conversation.
–RdM
