Rifle, 7.62mm, C1A1
Canadian Arsenals Limited · Battle Rifle · Out Of Production · 1955
Also known as: C1, FN C1, Rifle, 7.62mm, C1
Overview
The Rifle, 7.62mm, C1A1 is the Canadian license-built version of the FN FAL battle rifle, produced by Canadian Arsenals Limited at the Long Branch plant near Toronto. Canada was the first nation in the world to adopt and mass-produce the FAL. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and fed from a 20-round detachable box magazine, the C1/C1A1 is semi-automatic only, using the FAL's gas-operated short-stroke piston and tilting-breechblock action. It featured a fully-adjustable aperture rear sight and a two-position gas regulator.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4220 g (148.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1137 mm (44.76") |
| Barrel Length | 533 mm (20.98") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 838 m/s (2749 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3340 J (2463 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 7.62x51mm NATO · primary · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as .308 Winchester, 7.62 NATO
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Tilting Breechblock, Two Position Gas Regulator, Prong Flash Hider, Adjustable Aperture Rear Sight, Arctic Trigger
Variants
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Canadian Forces · adopted 1955 · as Rifle, 7.62mm, C1 / C1A1
Conflicts
- Cold War (1955-1984)
- Cyprus peacekeeping (UNFICYP) (1964-1984)
Production
Estimated total produced: 85,000 · Production years: 1955-1974
Estimated C1/C1A1 production by Canadian Arsenals Limited; C2A1 added roughly 2,700 units
Origin
Country of origin: Canada
Designer: Dieudonné Saive
Discontinued: 1984
Notes
The C1A1 (adopted 1959) added a two-piece firing pin and a plastic carrying handle over the original C1. The select-fire, heavy-barrel C2/C2A1 served as the squad automatic. The rifle was retired in the mid-1980s in favour of the C7 (Diemaco/Colt Canada AR-15 family).
Background
The C1's distinctive Canadian feature was the 'Arctic trigger', an oversized, foldaway trigger guard that let a soldier fire the rifle while wearing bulky Arctic mittens.