Hello Sexy!! The FN FAL's Older Brother

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Hello Sexy!! The FN FAL's Older Brother (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:13:01 AM EST

The FAL came right on the heels of the FN49, which made the FN49 obsolete within a couple of years of its introduction. The FN49 gas system and bolt locking design is very similar to the FAL in many regards. The FN49 has a fixed 10 round magazine that can be loaded by stripper clip or one cartridge at a time. Like the FAL, the gas system is fitted with a gas regulator behind the front sight base, allowing adjustment of the gas system in response to changing conditions or ammo variation, and can be closed completely to allow for the firing of rifle grenades. Unlike the FAL, the top hand-guard must be removed to adjust the gas settings.

The FN49 was used by the militaries of Argentina, Belgium, the Belgian Congo, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Luxembourg, and Venezuela.The first contract production of the FN 49 rifle was delivered to Venezuela by May, 1949 composed of 2000 rifles in caliber 7x57mm Mauser.The entire Venezuelan contract of 8012 rifles were sold as surplus in the United States during the 60's.

As with most FN manufactured rifles from this time period, the quality and workmanship is superb.

My rifle is a Venezuelan variant, serial number 308X of 8012 rifles produced for Venezuela. I have fired this rifle several times and it is a very pleasant rifle to shoot. The 7x57mm recoil is significantly less than a .30-06 Garand IMO. So It makes a great rifle to spend the day with at the range. 7x57mm surplus ammo is almost totally dried up. SAMCO had some the last time I looked but it is corrosive. That is the only surplus 7x57mm ammo I have seen for sale in 5 years.

Here is my FN49. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:13:59 AM EST

[#1]

Beautiful.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:15:46 AM EST

[#2]

Cool

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:16:39 AM EST

[#3]

That is real nice, great tone and color to the wood.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:16:45 AM EST

[#4]

Quoted:
Beautiful.

+1

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:17:02 AM EST

[#5]

That is a neat piece. Don't see too many of those running around.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:17:44 AM EST

[#6]

Holy Shit

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:18:11 AM EST

[#7]

That there is a nice piece.

I had one my father bought me that I ended up selling to help fund my college (along with several other guns).

I've replaced most of them, but haven't found a good FN49 at a decent price.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:19:11 AM EST

[#8]

That is one sexy rifle.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:20:36 AM EST

[#9]

wow, just wow.

that's super sweet.

i want...

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:20:40 AM EST

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Beautiful.

+1

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:20:45 AM EST

[#11]

That's a really nice and clean one.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:21:33 AM EST

[#12]

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:21:39 AM EST

[#13]

Agonizingly beautiful rifle right there!

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:22:09 AM EST

[#14]

Thanks....I bought one of those a few years ago and forgot it was in the safe and haven't gotten around to shooting yet....now I am going to have to go home and do that...

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:24:01 AM EST

[#15]

NICE! That is a beauty. I wish mine was in that good of shape.

And... yes they are a doll to shoot. Mine is a 7X57 Venezuelan too. Sn in the 260x range

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:25:42 AM EST

[#16]

Very nice!

I thought that this would be a SVT thread though...

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:28:02 AM EST

[#17]

Very nice. I have always wanted one in 30-06 or 7X57 Mauser

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:29:39 AM EST

[#18]

Beautiful rifle!

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:30:40 AM EST

[#19]

If the M1 Garand had a SO, it would be that rifle.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:31:43 AM EST

[#20]

Just, wow...

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:35:16 AM EST

[#21]

I hate you guys....

I've always wanted a FN49. I'd like one in 7.92x57, 7x57, and .30-06.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:37:50 AM EST

[#22]

Most people probably wouldn't understand why I just stop and stare so long at pictures like these. That really is a beautiful rifle.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:38:10 AM EST

[#23]

Quoted:
Beautiful.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:42:39 AM EST

[#24]

Quoted:
That there is a nice piece.

I had one my father bought me that I ended up selling to help fund my college (along with several other guns).

I've replaced most of them, but haven't found a good FN49 at a decent price.

And you won't unless like in my case the guy selling it doesn't care. I traded mine for a 32 inch lcd tv.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:43:55 AM EST

[#25]

That's a damn fine looking rifle!

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:45:28 AM EST

[#26]

Very nice. That rifle looks unissued!

A little background on how you came on this sample?

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:45:54 AM EST

[#27]

I can't tell if that's hideous or gorgeous. I'm leaning toward gorgeous.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:46:03 AM EST

[#28]

retains some similar features of an SKS too, interesting.

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:47:51 AM EST

[#29]

I really love mine. It sucks that I need to sell it tho

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:50:12 AM EST

[#30]

Very very sweet...

Posted: 10/26/2010 6:53:23 AM EST

[#31]

I'm always fascinated by these rifles that bridged the gap when battle rifles were changed over to assault rifles. The Russians had the SKS and SVT, we had the M14, the Belgians had the FN 49, and the Germans had the G43.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:00:16 AM EST

[#32]

Quoted:
Very nice. That rifle looks unissued!

A little background on how you came on this sample?

Thank you. About 6 or 7 years ago I met an older retired guy at a gun show here in Austin. He always had a table setup at the show with nice older military and commercial guns. Every time I'd go to the gun show I'd stop by to chat with him. His taste in guns was very similar to mine (high quality, excellent condition, older collector grade guns). Eventually he decided he wanted to sell off some of his personal collection so he called me and asked if I'd be interested in taking a look. Over the course of 3 or 4 months, I bought about 15 guns from him. This FN49 was one of them. He had some real treasures.

As an interesting side note, the guns I bought from him are the only used guns I've ever bought in my life that were spotlessly cleaned, oiled and greased when I got them from him. Every other used gun I've ever bought in my life was dirty when I bought it.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:01:08 AM EST

[#33]

Quoted:

I'm always fascinated by these rifles that bridged the gap when battle rifles were changed over to assault rifles. The Russians had the SKS and SVT, we had the M14, the Belgians had the FN 49, and the Germans had the G43.

Me too.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:14:53 AM EST

[#34]

I have one of the Egyptian contract FN-49's in 8mm. Century re"arsenaled" a bunch including a bunch built up on U.A.R. marked recivers that were never issued by the Egyptians.

Century actually did a very good job on them as well.

Pics L8R when I get home.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:16:28 AM EST

[#35]

I can remember an entire rack of the 30.06 model at a surplus store for $59.95 each.
Thought it was ugly at the time so I bought a nice K98 for $29.95 instead.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:18:42 AM EST

[#36]

This is, IMO, THE sexiest rifle of all time. I will have one someday.

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:32:26 AM EST

[#37]

To you guys that own an FN49 or plan to buy one one day. The earlier guns had a one-piece firing pin, which was prone to breaking. When the firing pin broke, it would jam up in the bolt and protrude from the bolt face. This would cause the gun to empty the mag in full-auto, and/or also cause an out of battery ignition - possibly blowing up the gun. So if you plan on shooting the gun, you should locate one of the newer 2-piece firing pins with spring. I have no idea where you can buy these today. I bought my firing pin about 6 years ago after I posted about it on the FAL Forums. They have a forum for FN49s and the guy that wrote an incredible book about the FN49 used to hang out there.

Update: I searched back through my emails and found the email exchange with the guy I bought the firing pin from. He sells military parts. His name is Reine Smith. Here's his webpage (email located at bottom of webpage):

http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/

This additional info comes from the author of the FN49 book (info was posted in 2005 on FAL Forums):

All FN-49s except the Egyptian contract rifles used a firing pin safety stop. The FPSS requires the use of a firing pin with a slot on the rear that is engaged by the FPSS to lock the pin in position until the bolt is in battery.

A problem is that most of the FN-49 parts vendors, including Numrich (unless they have found some new stock), no longer have rear firing pin sections having the FPSS slot. Springfield Sporters MAY have slotted rears sections - I don’t know one way or the other.

Actually, the best, and cheapest place to get a slotted 2-piece firing pin is from a seller on eBay (and occasionally on the gun auction sites) that goes by “Tulskii.” He has been selling the complete set (front & rear sections plus spring) for $18 plus shipping. Check eBay to see if he has a current auction. He can be reached direct at [email protected]

All firing pins should be original FN manufacture – these have never been reproduced to my knowledge.

Goose

Posted: 10/26/2010 7:56:20 AM EST

[#38]

Looks like the offspring of an M1 and an SKS.

Very good looking rifle, thanks for sharing it with us, and for the mini-lesson.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:03:32 AM EST

[#39]

Nice rifle. I haven't seen one with wood that nice in a long, long time. But you're probably better off not having any ammo for it; everyone I know who had one had something break on theirs if they used it very much. I don't know if that constitutes a trend, but as far as I'm concerned it does.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:05:49 AM EST

[#40]

Quoted:
Looks like the offspring of an M1 and an SKS.

Very good looking rifle, thanks for sharing it with us, and for the mini-lesson.

Thanks man.

Here's some interesting background on the rifle (from Wiki)

Development
Dieudonne Saive, Fabrique Nationale's then-chief firearm designer, experimented with a number of recoil-operated rifle designs in the early 1930s. While little came of these experiments, they would become the basis for a gas-operated self-loading rifle, which he patterned in 1936 and prototyped in 1937. (Photographs of these prototypes still exist, and they show a number of characteristics that would later appear in the FN-49.)

FN's new rifle was ready to begin series production in late 1938 - early 1939, and a version with a 5-round magazine was about to be marketed. But when German armies invaded Poland, these plans were delayed to increase production of bolt action rifles and machine guns.

The German invasion of Belgium in May 1940 interrupted any plans for the production of the new model, as Liège, home of FN's factory, was occupied by the German military. Despite this setback, Saive was able to escape to England via Portugal in 1941, where he continued work on what would become the FN-49.

By 1943, Saive was back to working on his experimental rifle, now in 7x57mm Mauser. Late that year, the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield ordered 50 prototypes (designated "EXP-1" and sometimes referred to as "SLEM-1" or "Self-Loading Experimental Model"). Based on tests with these prototypes, Enfield placed an order for 2,000 rifles for troop trials, but a last-minute problem with the moderation of the gas pressure (as well as the impending end of World War II) led to the cancellation of this order. Despite this, Saive (who had returned to Liège shortly after its liberation in September 1944) continued work on the rifle, and finalized the design for the FN-49 in 1947.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:16:06 AM EST

[#41]

Quoted:
The German invasion of Belgium in May 1940 interrupted any plans for the production of the new model, as Liège, home of FN's factory, was occupied by the German military. Despite this setback, Saive was able to escape to England via Portugal in 1941, where he continued work on what would become the FN-49.

By 1943, Saive was back to working on his experimental rifle, now in 7x57mm Mauser.

It's amazing Saive made it out alive and wasn't enslaved by the Nazis.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:22:35 AM EST

[#42]

Quoted:

Beautiful.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:28:07 AM EST

[#43]

You have a really sweet gun collection.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:33:10 AM EST

[#44]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks like the offspring of an M1 and an SKS.

Very good looking rifle, thanks for sharing it with us, and for the mini-lesson.

Thanks man.

Here's some interesting background on the rifle (from Wiki)

Development
Dieudonne Saive, Fabrique Nationale's then-chief firearm designer, experimented with a number of recoil-operated rifle designs in the early 1930s. While little came of these experiments, they would become the basis for a gas-operated self-loading rifle, which he patterned in 1936 and prototyped in 1937. (Photographs of these prototypes still exist, and they show a number of characteristics that would later appear in the FN-49.)

FN's new rifle was ready to begin series production in late 1938 - early 1939, and a version with a 5-round magazine was about to be marketed. But when German armies invaded Poland, these plans were delayed to increase production of bolt action rifles and machine guns.

The German invasion of Belgium in May 1940 interrupted any plans for the production of the new model, as Liège, home of FN's factory, was occupied by the German military. Despite this setback, Saive was able to escape to England via Portugal in 1941, where he continued work on what would become the FN-49.

By 1943, Saive was back to working on his experimental rifle, now in 7x57mm Mauser. Late that year, the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield ordered 50 prototypes (designated "EXP-1" and sometimes referred to as "SLEM-1" or "Self-Loading Experimental Model"). Based on tests with these prototypes, Enfield placed an order for 2,000 rifles for troop trials, but a last-minute problem with the moderation of the gas pressure (as well as the impending end of World War II) led to the cancellation of this order. Despite this, Saive (who had returned to Liège shortly after its liberation in September 1944) continued work on the rifle, and finalized the design for the FN-49 in 1947.

It is also quite likely that some Winter War capture SVT 38s (perhaps a few 40s made it in time) were sent by the Finns to FN and other makers for examination purposes.

I'm not saying that it was a copy, as work was clearly under way on FNs own projects. However, no designer or engineer would reject the opportunity to look over an in-production competitive sample of what he was trying to attain.

Whether any design changes were made based on testing the SVT or not is lost to history...

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:33:34 AM EST

[#45]

Very nice.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:47:16 AM EST

[#46]

I kick myself for not picking one of those up when I had the chance. There were two on the rack, one was in 8mm, and the other was 30-06.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:57:46 AM EST

[#47]

Sweet!!

However, this is what I (i.e. my wallet) hate about being here. My wish list just keeps growing, unless I win the lotto I'll never be able to get them all.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:59:10 AM EST

[#48]

Nice looking boom stick you got there.

Posted: 10/26/2010 8:59:51 AM EST

[#49]

that is a gorgeous rifle

Posted: 10/26/2010 9:03:13 AM EST

[#50]

Quoted:
I'm always fascinated by these rifles that bridged the gap when battle rifles were changed over to assault rifles. The Russians had the SKS and SVT, we had the M14, the Belgians had the FN 49, and the Germans had the G43.

Don't forget the Swedish AG-42 (which would later be developed into the Hakim and Rasheed rifles in Egypt).

OP, that is a simply beautiful FN-49 - another rifle I want.

-Mark

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Hello Sexy!! The FN FAL's Older Brother (Page 1 of 2)

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