Century Arms FN/FAL L1A1 ?

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GreenPhantom

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I need advice ASAP, been wanting a FN/FAL for a long time but i know nothing about them, and im going to pick one up in the morning!!! Can anyone tell me what i should look for or check. This is the gun.

FNFAL.jpg
 
Century Arms is more in the "inexpensive" area of FAL's. In other words this particular FAL was not made by FN, Steyr Mannlicher, nor DSA.

I am not saying it isn't an excellent rifle. Just understand this is a cheaper one, if you decide to sell it later. If it is the only FAL you are likely to own, they are excellent rifles.

I think they (Century Arms) may have been building those from demilitarized STG-58 parts kits which were common at one time. Look for a makers emblem on the upper receiver. If it is an "Imbel" receiver that is good. I am not familiar with off brand receivers. It is not anyone's military issue; whoever built it did not bother to refinish it, I think.

Look for more advice from others on cash value, but, I would say buy at $750; sell it for $1,000. It seems to show wear and the muzzle has no flash hider or muzzle break (nor bayonet lug), possibly for legal assembly reasons. That handguard is not Austrian. I am pretty sure it isn't Imbel either. Otherwise it looks stock.

A nice, new DSA custom could cost 2-3 times as much.

Edit: The L1A1 means it is an inch pattern, UK/Commonwealth production. Almost all English speaking countries made these, except US.
 
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FN FAL for $400 smells fishy

I would make sure it has a serial number and makers mark, that do not look like garage work. Don't go alone, and leave your destination address with a family member. Mail your life insurance premium, etc.
At that price it may be stolen or you could be getting set-up.:(

Another thing: definitely look for a Century Arms imprint on the receiver. [Reason: Not that CA is stellar, they are not. But presumably CA would have test fired it. If not so identified, then it is probably somebody's homemade parts gun, which has safety and legal implications.] It is, or was, possible to purchase all the parts and put one together. You test fire, or better yet, make the seller test-fire it, to prove the headspace is set up right. Home assembly does not involve precision and specs.

++ An inch parts gun will not be upgradeable with metric parts. But inch parts are available.
 
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I'm not worried about that, as i am meeting him at a local community college, and my dad and cousin will be with me, both are ex marines and my dad and myself are always armed. Im worried about the gun.
 
Please reduce the size of your pictures.
"...may have been building those..." Century is well known for assembling rifles out of parts bins with zero QC. They're also known for assembling FAL's with a mixture of inch and metric parts. Those may or may not function. That may be why the guy only wants $400.
Wouldn't touch any rifle Century had anything to do with myself.
 
Have him guarantee that it functions before you hand over the cash. Also ask for a copy of his drivers license if that will ease your mind. $400 is a great price, but it does smell fishy since:

1.) Century FALs may have problems; and
2.) It may be a 'hot' item.

Good luck, and keep us updated :).
 
Yes, I would run the numbers before the transaction. "No match found" would indicate a parts gun. BATF are the people you should talk to now, not after.

I liked the big picture, and tried to enhance it but could not read anything on the side of the receiver.
 
I always run numbers unless i buy at a gun shop or show. Thanks for all the input guys, i guess i will check it out and go with my gut on this one.
 
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones

GreenPhantom:
I have heard alot of bad things about century arms, but it seems to me like most posts are 50/50, some run fine, others dont.
Click to expand...

I have one with a Century Arms receiver that I bought a few years back, for $400, from my local gunsmith, who built it. It's a lot funkier looking than yours, but it runs fine and I like it.

Good luck!
 
I have read that you might want to check for excessive wobble or play with the magazine installed in the reciever. The magazine will feel very loose fitting in the reciever if it is one of the problem recievers. If I remember right this was only on some of the recievers being used in the builds on the century arms FALs. I'm sure youre aware of centurys spotty reputation so just be cautios. The gamble might not be worth it. It might cost you hundreds of dollars to get it working properly if there is a problem. For $1000 you can buy a DSA Imbel FAL that is refinished and in good working order. On the other hand you might be getting a screaming deal. Just be cautios.
 
I owned a Century L1A1 some years ago. It cost $475 brand new (dealer) and it functioned perfectly. I later built an L1A1 with an Entreprise upper and a Century Aussie kit, and traded the origional Century L1A1 and a P95 for an M1D.

The L1A1 mags are inch pattern, and differ slightly with the metric STG style mags. The proper inch pattern mags will lock up tight, and the metrics will lock up, but because of the size of the lip on the fromt, will rock a little when empty.

Unless the barrel is over or under timed (that was the big issue with the rifles Century built, L1A1 or CETME, but fixable), you are probably good to go. I still have and love my "build" L1A1, and recently traded a midlength AR15 for a SWEET Entreprise early L1A1 and 1000 rounds of Radway Green and FNM .308. I KNOW I got the better part of that deal! $400 is a good deal if the rifle shoots at all.

BTW, it looks like an Aussie kit was used on that rifle.
 
Well...I bought it. It says Made In Canada on the upper and lower, it has the widows peak, the guy claims he has had the gun over ten years, and he tried to get me to follow him to his house so i could shoot it. But i assume only range time will tell if i got a good deal.
 
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20 is a tad long it should be about 15:D
You can adjust this with the gas regulator BTW. go UP one click for less flinging, DOWN for more.
 
Its set at 4 now, i will try and set it tomorrow i guess. Anyone have any free .308 ammo i can have...;) .....On a side note, everything on this rifle seems to be inch pattern, but the mag catch in the rifle seems to be metric ?
 
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Re that last question, the typical Century-assembled FAL consists of inch-pattern parts from military rifles, usually British or Canadian, sometimes Australian, built onto new metric-pattern upper receivers. Functionally it works out okay, no problem, and the guns use metric-pattern mags rather than the more expensive, less commonly available inch-pattern mags.
 
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Sounds like there is a lot of FAL savvy here. Can anyone tell me what makes an original FN FAL worth almost 4 times as much as a new DSA STG58? I paid $1300 for mine and realize I paid slightly too much, but what possible advantage would make an FN worth $4200?
Sorry if I'm hijacking here, the question peculated into my mind tonight as I looked at FAL's for sale.
Another question, since I'm hijacking, is it true that the shorter barreled Para should be as accurate as the full length rifle?

I really like my FAL! Maybe will start a collection even, the next one will be a paratrooper folding stocked gun if there is no downside.
 
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