Originally Posted by Onetap

I don't think they're FNs, they look more like the Brazilian 5.56mm FN-lite version, mentioned by Grumblegrunt on P3 here;


IMBEL MD - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I may be wrong.

They ARE FNs - first pattern ones without the flash hider, made in the 1950s and early 60s. If you look carefully, you can see the bayonet lug on the underside of the barrel - that's a giveaway. They've clearly been refurbished, new furniture, etc, but they are definitely FN FALs. I've got one of this type.

Originally Posted by Onetap

The yanks have some strange laws regarding imported military surplus firearms, something like a maximum of 10 major parts can be kept from the donor and the remainder have to be made in the USA, or something like that. He said the receiver was made by Imbel. If it started life as an SLR, most will have been replaced before being sold in the US.

The holding open device was one of the optional extras that weren't used on the SLR; similarly full auto and charger loading weren't available to HM's finest. Quite right, too.

the hold open magazine lug was in there but they put a short one in to stop us from cutting our own and sticking it in, also the catch could be spun around or pulled out without it.

we did some great improvements to the FN and also some daft things. I think the cutting the mag hold open lug down was to do with ireland and not having a live magazine on the weapon. cocking and empty weapon doesnt have the same effect when you are battling with working parts stuck to the rear. they should have kept the lug but took out the lip on the magazine instead so you had live and dummy mags.

Never even realised about the holding-open catch. 20 years between last using an SLR and getting my FN... And a pic of the early FN bayonet lug to show what I mean - the flash-hider is a later update. Excuse the lack of shininess - it generally sits in the corner collecting dust!

How did you get the brown colouring in the magazine housing? Never seen that before...

I learnt to shoot the fn before the slr, never liked that mag catch and we improved the basics no end, which is why the sa80 was such a fcuk up

Originally Posted by putteesinmyhands

How did you get the brown colouring in the magazine housing? Never seen that before...

Must be something to do with its being Belgian-made... Actually, it's mainly storage grease. It wasn't in very good nick when I got it, which is how I managed to get it in the first place! When an SLR can cost some £700 or more.

One of the good things about the FN is the big cocking handle - I remember once on exercise in Germany we weren't issued with BFAs, and by the end, we all had bloody great blisters on our hands and miles of black nasty wrapped round the cocking handles. You wouldn't get that with an FN.

Originally Posted by ndicki

One of the good things about the FN is the big cocking handle - I remember once on exercise in Germany we weren't issued with BFAs, and by the end, we all had bloody great blisters on our hands and miles of black nasty wrapped round the cocking handles. You wouldn't get that with an FN.

Once? We were forever not issued BFAs. Or blank, for that matter.

It had it's advantages, though. Never needing to change mags, never having a stoppage, no carbon to clean off. On the other hand, shouting "Bang! Bang! Bang!" tended to make you a little hoarse.
(Don't tell Sluggy or she'll try it)

Originally Posted by putteesinmyhands

Once? We were forever not issued BFAs. Or blank, for that matter.

It had it's advantages, though. Never needing to change mags, never having a stoppage, no carbon to clean off. On the other hand, shouting "Bang! Bang! Bang!" tended to make you a little hoarse.
(Don't tell Sluggy or she'll try it)

Ah Yes. the joy of running around the Yorkshire Moors shouting "Bang fucking Bang"

Originally Posted by higgythesiggy

Ah Yes. the joy of running around the Yorkshire Moors shouting "Bang fucking Bang"

To which the reply was, "Rumble, rumble, I'm a tank!"

GMOB