Editing Colt Canada C7 and C8 (section)

===C7A1===
The C7A1 (Diemaco C7FT) replaces the [[iron sight]]/carrying handle assembly used on the C7 with a modified [[Weaver rail]] for mounting optics. Canadian development of rails preceded U.S. standardization of the MIL-STD-1913 "[[Picatinny rail]]", so the "Canadian Rail" or "Diemaco Rail" differs slightly. There are 14 slots instead of 13, and each slot is narrower. The height of the rail is also higher, allowing the use of a normal-height front sight base whereas a Picatinny rail requires the use of a higher F-marked front sight base to raise the post. During development, the original rails were vacuum-bonded to the top of a bare receiver. For production, the rail and receiver were made out of a single forging.

The mount can use traditional iron sights or the [[ELCAN Optical Technologies|ELCAN]] [[C79 Optical Sight]] 3.4×28 optical sight, both of which can be adjusted for individual eye relief. The optical sight was designed for the [[FN MINIMI|C9]] [[machine gun|light machine gun]] and includes horizontal and vertical mil-bars used for range determination and deflection, and a tritium glow-in-the-dark aiming post rather than the traditional [[crosshair]]s. The 3.4× is powerful enough to properly see targets at the maximum accurate range of {{convert|550|m|yd|abbr=on}}, though like most magnified [[optical sight]]s it is prone to criticism for creating tunnel vision in close quarters situations.

[[File:Copenhagen, Denmark (9294449487).jpg|thumb|Danish [[Royal Life Guards (Denmark)|Royal Life Guards]] with C7 assault rifles]]

While the wide aperture helps to speed target acquisition, Canadian soldiers generally forgo the [[C79 Optical Sight|C79]] sight in favour of non-magnified optical sights or a rear back up iron sight (BUIS) when engaged or training in [[Close Quarters Battle|close quarters battle]]. A detachable carrying handle and rear sight assembly can also be installed on top of the receiver. The BUIS and detachable carrying handle and rear sight assembly feature L-type rear sight apertures that are the same as used in the preceding fixed carrying handle and rear sight assembly. In the later years, upon request, Diemaco/Colt Canada would manufacture MIL-STD-1913 "Picatinny rail" upper receivers.