L1a1

[SKSgunnut101]

I have the chance to buy a British inch pattern (Could be Canadian but I don't know) L1A1 put-togther (Made by Century) for $750? I get 2 mags with a gun. My question is would this gun be worth the price or is it worth less or more?

 

[JWarren]

I had one that I paid $450 for a couple years ago. Lately, I think that $750 is on par.

I had trouble with mine that needed to be worked on. I'd REALLY want to get a look at a Century one before buying.

Also, the Century FAL (R1A1) is a combination of metric and inch parts. Metric magazines will not feed reliably in the gun. Inch magazines will, but are more expensive and harder to find. If it were me, I'd just spring for a all metric rifle. Believe me, you will thank yourself in the long run.



-- John

 

[dstorm1911]

it depends on what reciever was used, and who did the putting together

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=50


for every detail ya need to know, the L1A1 is onea my favorites for a FAL but as with any built gun there are variations ya just gotta do the research $750 is a pretty base price for any FAL

 

[nwilliams]

I bought one at a gun show earlier this year. It was a Century build from a British Parts kit and had an ugly thumbhole stock and no flash hider. It was in great condition and shot very nice, I paid $400 out the door.

However I found something I wanted even more so that L1A1 is now on consignment at one of my local shops.

Honestly I see these guns selling in worse condition than the one I bought for between $650 and $750 and I don't think they are worth that much. The only reason I bought the one I did was because it was $400 and at that price I think its reasonable. For $750 or a little more you can get something better.

Also mine came with a thumbhold stock and in order to put a pistol grip on it required me to buy a bunch of 922r compliant parts along with the new furniture. After all was said and done I paid $400 for the rifle and probably another $100 in parts to make it look respectable. If the one you're looking at comes with a pistol grip and flash hider then that's definitely a plus.

In the end its up to you, many people will agree that its hit or miss with these guns and with any Century built rifle. Before jumping into buying it I would see what else is out there for the same price or maybe a little more.

 

[SKSgunnut101]

The one I looked at had a pistol grip and synthetic stock and the flash hider so it must have been Pre-ban

 

[Ash]

No, post ban sunsetting. A more recent manufacture.

Ash

 

[dstorm1911]

Ash, why would ya say that? I have several L1A1s that were made in 1985 right on up to 1994 MOST Of your L1A1s were actually imported well before the 94 ban. As a matter of fact the Preban guns if it can be verified bring a healthy premium still even after than Sunset of the 94 ban.

Again SKSNUT I will refer ya to the site DEDICATED to nothing but fal and L1A1 rifles linked above ya will get far more accurate info than ya are going to get here... They have many stickies and articals as well as a few thousand members who can easily walk ya through the basics of an accurate appraisle and will show ya how to tell the difference between a pre ban and a post ban L1A1 etc... the pebbled synthetic furniture was very consisytant with all of your later model L1A1s that came outa Britain and as we imported close to 2,000 mint parts sets (unissued all matching) back in 1983-1984 as did many importers there were a whole lot of em built on Onyx and Enterprise recievers ALOT of dealers were selling ready built L1A1s about the way AKs are being sold today if ya've inadvertantly stumbled upon one of these early guns it can easily be worth a couple grand depending on exactly what it actually is and who built it there were also quite a few imported as complete guns prior to 1994 these are the real gold mines but ya gotta know what your looking at. The L1A1 was built as a semi auto from the start so was not restricted as heavily as the full auto cousin the FN-FAL....... go hang out on the FAL Files and pick some brains ya will see a ton of pics of variouse proof marks as well as reciever identification etc.... my personal Favorite L1A1 was one of 14 imported intact in 1984 that had the earlier wood furniture instead of the peddle texture plastic, its valued at around $2700 so ya see as I said before it all depends on exactly what ya are looking at as for price range a Century frankenfal is the equivalent of a WASR 10 in the AK world and they go up from there.......

 

[Ash]

You may have several, but the vast majority of rifles in the current primary and secondary markets are post-ban assemblies or rifles assembled during the ban and then upgraded. In any case, the truth is we haven't a clue at all when this rifle was made without a description of markings on the receiver.

Ash