FNC1 - Years In Service

[from darkness lite]

I am doing research for a project on the FNC1. Trying to nail down years in service with the CF. PPCLI RHQ has 1955-1988 (makes sense as Reg Force Combat Arms switched to C7 in 87/88 - that's when I first got issued the C7). The Queens Own Rifles website/history indicates the started transitioning to C7 in Jan 1990. I have also "heard" the last Reserve Units switched finally in 1992. So years in Service I have is 1955 to 1992?
Can any of the "old hands" confirm or deny?

 

[dangerboy]

When I did my reserve Infantry QL3 in summer 1989 we used the FNC1, and FNC2. We switched over that fall/spring to the C7 rifle and for the big summer exercise "ON-Guard 90" we all had the C7 Rifle + C9 LMG. That was in what used to be Toronto Militia District.

 

[dapaterson]

In Montreal, did my GMT in fall 1989 with the FN; in spring of 1990 did an abbreviated conversion to the C7.

 

[from darkness lite]

When I did my reserve Infantry QL3 in summer 1989 we used the FNC1, and FNC2. We switched over that fall/spring to the C7 rifle and for the big summer exercise "ON-Guard 90" we all had the C7 Rifle + C9 LMG. That was in what used to be Toronto Militia District.

That jives with the QOR website/history. My guess in service years will be 1955 to 1990, possibly 1955 to 1992 as some units in Western Canada may have been using C1 until then - just have not confirmed that yet

 

[AmmoTech90]

Joined the reserve I. 87, trained with the C1.

Augmented 1CSR for RV89, got a morning's conversion training and a day on the range with a brand new C7 out of the box.

Taught reserve driver wheeled course in summer of 89, used C1.

Went to Germany for FALLEX 89 got issued a C7.

Went to Cornwallis for reg force BMQ, issued C1. We were the last course, 8945. November 89 to Feb 90.

Used a C7 for annual quals, parades etc in Borden, 90 to 91.

May to Jul 91, TD to Dundurn, range quals with C1.

2010, foreign weapons day in Canada. Fired C1.

2015, foreign weapons day in the US, taught C1, FN and SMG.

I've been run over by the bus, never mind getting on and off.

 

[from darkness lite]

May to Jul 91, TD to Dundurn, range quals with C1.

2010, foreign weapons day in Canada. Fired C1.

Jul 1991 - adds to the In Service to 1992 - FNC1 a foreign weapon in 2010 - lol

 

[mariomike]

Kicked like a mule.

 

[Lance Wiebe]

Kicked like a mule.

Not if you set the gas plug correctly. Every one I fired worked great on setting 6, some even on 7. I know, we were taught to set it on 4....

 

[ArmyRick]

That jives with the QOR website/history. My guess in service years will be 1955 to 1990, possibly 1955 to 1992 as some units in Western Canada may have been using C1 until then - just have not confirmed that yet

Dangerboy was 48th Highlanders

 

[RangerRay]

I joined in 92. The only FN I ever saw was one converted to .22 for use in an indoor range.

 

[OldSolduer]

Grew up with the C1 - joined 1974 and converted to the "new family" in 1987 with 1 VP.

 

[from darkness lite]

Seems 1992 was the end of the line....

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Grew up with the C1 - joined 1974 and converted to the "new family" in 1987 with 1 VP.

Same here. In Italy '99-'03. In '03 came back to Winnipeg fired the C7 for my first and only time. Retired in '05.

I actually had a Australian version of the FNC1 in the 1980s-early 1990s. Kicking myself that I later sold it!

 

[Blackadder1916]

Though not pre-dating adoption of the FN, an example that it was several years before it was adopted as the standard service rifle across all branches. This photo was taken on 9 October 1961 at RCAF Torbay (aka St John's Airport) during arrival ceremonies for Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt who had come to Newfoundland for the dedication and official opening of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

 

[KevinB]

C7/C8/C9 fielding started in 1986, but ammunition issues occurred and delayed rollout into 1987 (at least I haven’t ever been able to find a unit that was entirely kitted out in 1996).
US ammunition was issued in the interim, blank (the short pug nose) and ball (both M193 and some limited M855) in Petawawa - one could find it in training areas in the summer of 1987 (no not after US forces had trained there - it was being issued by the CA).
I did my SAC Course in 1988 (with the C1A1), and got to see a bunch of the 5.56mm ammo tests at Connaught where the penetrator was off center and causing mid-flight (or barrel exit) “detonations” as the bullet jacket could not contain the force of the off center projectile.
@AmmoTech90 may know more about it, but from what I have seen is that up until around 1989 some lots of IVI C77 ball still had issues (often getting sold into the US) but nowhere near as severe as the early ammunition, as one could see fragments in modular tenting setup over the weapons stands.

Totally unrelated IVI had also loaded some early “heavy” 69-78gr Match ammunition in the 70’s and early 1980’s (maybe late 60’s even), I got to see some reference lots from the US Government that had gotten it for some project that I have never been able to find out (my boss and mentor later in life was LtCol Dave Lutz USMC ret. - who was the M16A2 Project Officer, and the USMC Small Arms PM. First alerted me to their existence - as he had found (when on active duty) some heavy match bullets the Army had both loaded and unloaded ammo -- it wouldn’t fire accurately in the M16 and M16A1 barrels (1:14 then 1:12) twist, so he determined that somewhere somehow (potentially during the Vietnam War) someone had made faster twist barrels for the M16 series before the 1:7 barrel decision for the M16A2 - but hadn’t been able to find any -- nor did we find any in C. Reed Knight’s extensive collection including a lot of “one of” prototypes from Colt and stuff he had done early on for Special folks.

I actually had a Australian version of the FNC1 in the 1980s-early 1990s. Kicking myself that I later sold it!

I had a very nice Aussie L1A1 that I did up with Cdn Walnut Furniture.
When one actually had the properly fitted stock one didn’t end up with chipmunk cheeks after all - I of course found that out AFTER the C1A1 had sunset with the CAF...