
FAL Tutorial: Restoring the CAI L1A1 Thumbhole Sporter
Century Arms imported many of the FAL/L1A1 type rifle from 1989 to 1994. They were assembled in Canada at CAI’s sister company, CIA; utilizing Brazilian (IMBEL) and Argentine (DGFM-FMAP) receivers and mostly British parts. Argentine receivers are differntiated from the Brazilian by a relief cut behind the hinge pin hole. Since both the Brazilian and the Argentine receivers were originally patterned for the FAL rifle, some accommodations had to be made to utilize the L1A1 (inch) parts kits.
The terms “inch” and “metric” create much confusion. They should really be called FAL (European) or L1A1 (Commonwealth) as neither has any metric threading. That’s right . . .. there is no metric threading on a “metric” FAL, everything is standard imperial thread. But the names have stuck. There are some differences between the L1A1 and the FAL that require modification to use L1A1 parts on a FAL receiver. CAI did some of these modifications on some receivers, but not with any consistency – so these receivers are hybrids, being neither FAL (metric) or L1A1 (inch). Modified areas on the receiver may include:
- magazine well
- top cover clearance
- folding cocking handle clearance
Section 922 requires a FAL/L1A1 rifle manufactured from imported parts, if it would be banned from import, to have no more than 10 parts off a list of 20. The end result is that you must replace 7 parts with US made ones to comply with federal law.
This tutorial is to help you understand what needs to be done, not to teach you how to do it yourself. ARS can do the work for you, or a modestly skilled person can do the work himself, using this page as a general outline.
You will need some or all of these parts.
- Phillips screwdriver (for removing thumbhole buttpad screws)
- square drive (for removing thumbhole pistol grip screws)
- flat screwdriver or 7/16 Allen key for grip screw
- FAL/L1A1 stock tool (screwdriver incorporating a spring guide)
- shoulder stock, plastic or
- shoulder stock, wood
- buttplate, plastic stock: short, normal, long or extra long, or
- buttplate, trap door, wood stock
- buttplate screw
- buttpad plug, plastic stock
- rear sling swivel & screw, plastic stock or
- rear sling swivel & screw, wood stock
- buttplate wood screw, wood stock only
- pistol grip plastic or
- pistol grip, wood.
- trigger guard with wood or plastic grip plate
- trigger guard, wood (machine screw) or plastic (wood screw)
- trigger return plunger
- trigger return plunger spring
- trigger spring plate (if yours has the tab cut off)
- trigger spring plate screw
- grip screw (1/4×28 socket head is approved substitute)
- grip screw lock washer (star type)
- fabricated grip stud.
If you pull on the edges of the rubber buttpad, you will see two razor slits. Lubricate a Phillips screwdriver and slide into this slit. You will feel a Phillips head screw underneath, about 3/4″ in from the toe and heel. Remove these to remove the buttpad and expose the recoil spring tube plug. Use the stock tool to unscrew this plug and free the spring. The thumbhole stock should now come off.
L1A1 magazines are more scarce and more expensive than FAL magazines, one should simply choose magazines based on what magazine well you have.
It is possible to convert a FAL magazine well to an L1A1 magazine well, but it is challenging.
Since L1A1 top covers are far less common, particularly with the tabs intact, it may be foolish to “ruin’ a tabbed top cover by removing the tabs. You can trade it for a FAL.
It is possible to machine the clearances for a tabbed top cover.
Open this hole to 5/32″. You may need to replace the spring as they get mangled ramming them into a too-small hole.
Some people have successfully fabricated this stud from a brass pipe fitting, and it is retained by friction. I prefer to match the original and to solder it.
- $125 thread barrel, time customer supplied flash hider
- $35 supply flash hider, key, timing washer
- $25 return ship barreled receiver only
- $40 return ship complete rifle
- $75 fabricate new stud for lower, solder
- $50 supply plastic stock & grip assembly with hardware
- $100 supply wood stock & grip assembly with hardware
- $25 supply locking shoulder
- $50 install locking shoulder
- Above is no function work, no testfire, no zero, just repair.
- PARKERIZED finish, WOOD furniture
- $450 complete rebuild package, refinish Park (Aussie)
- $175 parts (wood furniture set, locking shoulder, flash, etc.)
- $25 return ship barreled receiver only
- $40 return ship complete rifle
- —
- $665
- Above includes function testfire & zero and 1 year warranty on work.
- BLACK finish, WOOD furniture
- $550 complete rebuild package, black over Parkerizing
- $175 parts (wood furniture set, locking shoulder, flash, etc.)
- $25 return ship barreled receiver only
- $40 return ship complete rifle
- —
- $765
- Above includes function testfire & zero and 1 year warranty on work.
- BLACK finish, PLASTIC furniture (your handguards)
- $550 complete rebuild package, black over Parkerizing
- $75 parts – (plastic grip & stock only, locking shoulder, flash etc.)
- $25 return ship barreled receiver only
- $40 return ship complete rifle
- —
- $665
- Above includes function testfire & zero and 1 year warranty on work.
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