Unissued Vietnam Era Australian L1A1A SLR, Pics

[TSMGguy]

Eden Import Australian L1A1A SLR in my collection. All of the accessories shown are original Australian. The cleaning pull through and oiler fit into the butt trap. Original Vietnam era items are still pretty easy to find.

This is an unissued, all matching 1964 New Zealand contract parts kit on a Lithgow made, finished and crossed pennants proofed L1A1A receiver. The receiver is one of about 600 or so made for the domestic Australian market, but banned before the rifles could be sold. They were exported to the US instead, where they were offered by themselves or as built-up rifles. L1A1A receivers lack the full auto sear cut.  

This is one minty rifle. I was fortunate to be able to purchase it when it came onto the market recently.

FN/FAL & L1A1 FAQ (rawles.to)

 

 

 

Edited November 15, 2024 by TSMGguy

[dalbert]

Very nice rifle. I'm a life long FAL fan, and it's not often that you see an L1A1 like this.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[Rekraps]

Those rifles are so cool looking. Great find, and great addition.

[APEXgunparts]

Back in the early nineties I had a couple of EDEN arms import L1A1A receivers that I purchased direct from them.
They had the Australian proofs on the receiver under the barrel mount.
EDEN also had a small catalog of parts, etc they also sold.
I had Pro-Arms in SLC build the guns for me.
One receiver had to be exchanged because it was out of spec (some machining wasn't done)
According to what they told me these arrived in the USA as unfinished parts, and they did the last of the machining work.
Apparently some needed more work than others.
Kits with barrels were available at the time from Century Arms, and I kept the one rifle built on a 1962 dated Enfield parts set.
I tried buying more later but apparently the partners had some sort of falling out and the business was over (at least that is what they said when I called)
I sold my L1A1A some years back as they have gotten quite expensive.
It was a really nice rifle.

Richard

 

[pitfighter]

Very nice rifle.

That is some interesting info, about Eden arms receivers. I will keep an eye for one of those.

My Aussie and NZ kits were built of Argentine receivers, I love 'em.

[TSMGguy]

I've noticed two grades of Eden L1A1A receivers. The first, pictured above, was completely made, marked, finished and proofed in Australia. The original finish is undisturbed, and the proof mark is bright, having been applied through it. There are no additional machining operations. The second bears only a serial number, L1A1A nomenclature, and the steel batch mark, invariably ABN. There's no proof mark, and not all machining operations have been completed. General fit and finish are not as good, though function is perfect. Original Australian mags don't fit as well. I've been fortunate to have owned both but have kept only the proofed rifle.

A little more about these guns:

http://rawles.to/FAL_FAQ.html 

Edited November 13, 2024 by TSMGguy

[Rekraps]

Really good information. I have quite a "semi" collection of military type guns and rue the day I sold my HK51. I bought it from Vollmer years ago and let it go for some reason. That gun you have is quite a keeper.