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Posted: 1/13/2011 11:20:32 AM EDT
| Can't tell you much about this rifle. It is marked CAI on reciever, Barrel is cut off, and has thumb hole stock. Hang tag says Imbel L1A1 $899.00 I can find nothing on rifle that says Imbel. It is in my brothers pawn shop. I can trade him 1 chinese SKS, 500 rds. of wolf 7.62x39, and $100.00. I know nothing about L1a1 Rifles. I did go to a gun shop and found 2 just like this one marked $799.00 But they were in an area where they put the rifles that don't sell well. Is this trade ok or should I stay away from it ?? Anything you can tell me would be great. If I was to trade I would be out cash wise $350.00 |
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ok...we really need pics to see what you have because century used all kinds of parts in these thumbhole rifles....it is PROBABLY a british or australian parts kit on either a Century, Imbel or Argentine receiver...
as far as converting it from a t-hole to normal configuration....not too hard to do...but inch rifles have specific parts that dont fit in metric rifles... head over to falfiles.com for more info.... i personally would stay away from a century receiver but the other two would be very good....try to get pics.... |
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hard telling not seeing it. (and I'm no expert)
The word Imbel can mean a few things.....the sn'd reciever is made by Imbel for CAI. It would say Imbel on it and made in Itajab Brazil, OK I probably fouled up the spelling but it's something like that. Alternatively it could be a rifle made on a century reciever with a lot of imbel parts like the barrel and trigger housing/stock. Like the above poster said, most likely due to having a Thumbhole it's mostly british or aussie parts on what could be Imbel, Argentine, or Century's in house reciever depending on when it was made. Wander over to FAL files and review some of their reciever info stickies. ETA- a thumbhole century is worth about 450-750, with the bulk of the difference depending on which receiver you have. |
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My $.02 Definately sounds like a Century "L1a1 Sporter". There are some variations in these–– some have Canadian receivers; some have Imbel receivers. Some were cut for inch mags; others metric. Mine has an Imbel receiver, cut for metric mags and an inch charging handle. Like the OP mentioned, thumbhole stock and a cut-off barrel. Purchased around '98 for $495 at a department store (guns at department stores... a relic of the past mostly). I wouldn't pay $900 for one. For starters, Century breaks the inch lower receiver grip stud so it can cram it in that fugly thumbhole stock. You would have to have mad welding skills or replace it entirely if you want to put a normal stock on it. Also, they cut the darn threads off the muzzle, which not only adds additional expense to rethread, but it also messes with the gas system. They are often under-gassed afterwards. Not to mention that Century sold these rifles in this dorky configuration so that they wouldn't have to install the requisite 922 parts ($$$). Putting these rifles back into their proper configuration will cost you additional bucks. These problems are not insurmountable, but they sure aren't worth much beyond $495 to me. |
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I'd keep the SKS...
Some of those Century sporters were good rifles, but many of them had problems that ranged from simple fixes to replacing lots of parts. For $800/900 there are complete rifles being sold here and of Fal Files that would be a much better buy than a Century mutt. |
| I traded my century sporter on an unmarked imbel reciever earlier this year for rifle worth about $600 because I purchased a DSA STG 58 off of gunbroker for a little less than $700 total cost. There are good deals out there but you must have patience and keep watching. Even during the crazy prices a couple of years ago I only paid $750 for the century I traded. I would say keep looking and you will find a better deal. |
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Quoted:
It's not entirely true that you have to replace the lower to use a pistol grip. I simply put a nut in the lower, and bolted a grip to it. Not a big deal at all. I did that with my CAI sporter and you can not tell it. There is a guy on falfiles.com that has a nut that you hammer or press fit and it works just the same. I think he is selling them for like 3-5 bucks if memory serves me right. If the sporter has a widows peek (looks like a W) feed ramp and a sands cut bolt it should be a good rifle. The one I have I bought from a member here and I cant wait to get it to the range. I woud pass on one with the unibrow (looks like a U) feed ramp I hear feeding problems. |
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