LITMIR.BIZ

       FABRIQUE NATIONALE

       C1/C1A1 (FN FAL)

      Canada was one of the first countries to adopt the FN-FAL rifle. This is a semi-automatic version with 21" barrel. Twenty-round box magazine. The rear sight on the C1 is a revolving disk with five different sized openings. Ranges calibrated from 200 to 600 yards; numbered 2 to 6 on the sight. The sight may be folded when not in use. Weight is about 9.5 lbs. About 1959 the C1 was modified to use a 2-piece firing pin and a plastic carry handle replaced the wooden type. Both types of rifles utilize the long prong flash hider on the muzzle. The author could find no indication that any of these were ever legally imported to the U.S. as a semi automatic. It would have to be in the same class as the FN FAL “G” series as the receiver is capable of accepting select fire parts.

      For C1/C1A1 registered as NFA firearms:

       Pre-1986

       C2/C2A1

      This is Canada’s version of the FN heavy barrel Squad Light Automatic Rifle. Select fire with a rate of fire of about 700 rounds per minute. Barrel length is 21". Magazine capacity is 30 rounds. Weight is approximately 15 lbs. Built by Long Branch Arsenal, Ontario.

       Pre-1986

       C7/C8 (M16A2)

      In 1985 the Canadian firm of Diemaco began producing a Canadian version of the Colt M16A2 rifle. There are differences between the Colt-built M16 and the Diemaco version. However, due to import restrictions on Class 3 weapons, no Diemaco M16s were imported into the U.S. for transferable civilian sale. Therefore, no Diemaco lowers are available to the civilian collector. There are Diemaco uppers in the U.S. that will fit on Colt lowers. The 20" rifle version is designated the C7 while the 16" carbine version is called the C8. There are a number of other Diemaco Canadian uppers that may be seen in the U.S., such as the LMG and 24" barreled versions. Values should be comparable with those of Colt uppers.

MACHINE GUNS

      NOTE: Canada used the Lewis and Vickers machine guns during World War II. The Toronto firm of John Inglis produced Mark I and Mark II Bren guns in .303 caliber in large quantities for British and Canadian troops. Beginning in 1943 Canada produced almost 60 percent of the total Bren gun production for World War II. This amounted to about 186,000 guns produced during the war. Canada also uses the Browning Model 1919A4, called the C1 machine gun in 7.62mm (.308) as its primary light machine gun.

      See Great Britain Machine Guns, Bren.