SLR - “Right Arm of the Free World” ?

[longtimeout]

Contrary to the belief that the SLR was forged by the war god Woden it was in fact designed and built by a bunch of Belgians who looked like Hercule Poirot.

Pulls pin, dives in trench

But I believe the chef Hercule lookalike had previously learnt at the feet of Saint John Browning.

That may explain why it is is held in such reverence by the USians.

 

[Septic sid]

Contrary to the belief that the SLR was forged by the war god Woden it was in fact designed and built by a bunch of Belgians who looked like Hercule Poirot.

Pulls pin, dives in trench

'Tis true.

But it took God's to use it.

 

[soutie]

'Tis true.

But it took God's to use it.

God's what?

 

[ste14w]

'Tis true.

But it took God's to use it.

Class. Sheer class

 

[ste14w]

Contrary to the belief that the SLR was forged by the war god Woden it was in fact designed and built by a bunch of Belgians who looked like Hercule Poirot.

Pulls pin, dives in trench

Wrong.
It was brought to Earth on a golden chariot ridden and escorted by Valhallas finest.

 

[4(T)]

'Tis true.

But it took God's to use it.

"Not Gods, but Englishmen - the next best thing."

 

[theoriginalphantom]

"Not Gods, but Englishmen- with some guts behind it

 

[Bodenplatte]

The chief designer's name translates as God given

 

[BetwixtandBetween]

"Not Gods, but Englishmen - the next best thing."

"But he can break wind at both ends simultaneous — which is more, I reckon, than any god can do".

 

[ExAuxBalloonCorps]

"But he can break wind at both ends simultaneous — which is more, I reckon, than any god can do".

Takes a real renaissance man/women to do that.

 

[QRK2]

Apologies in advance for reopening the floodgates of misty eyed memories of “that rifle”.

I’ve repeatedly heard the SLR/FAL referred to on American media channels as “The Right Arm of the Free World”.

I’ve always assumed this was one of those “universal” namings out of the US, as it doesn’t really seem to fit the attitude of British (or Commonwealth in my case) militaries. In my experience most things that refer to Freedom have their origins in the US, but I stand to be corrected.

Is it a “title” bestowed by a Soldier of Fortune or similar writer, or was it genuinely known by that moniker by anyone who used it?

LTO

Internet age thing

 

[TheSockPuppet]

No direct knowledge of successive weapons, but is the FN SCAR a related descendant of the SLR in any way? (ie, the original FN)

They look similar in layout, notwithstanding the modern furniture of the SCAR, but the FAL has a tilting bolt action, wheras the SCAR has a more modern rotating bolt.

The only similarity is that the SCAR-H and FAL are both 7.62 and made by FN. Beyond that, there isn't much in common.

 

[ste14w]

No direct knowledge of successive weapons, but is the FN SCAR a related descendant of the SLR in any way? (ie, the original FN)

It's made by FN, and has slight similarities lookswise, but it's far from the SLR.
The fact that the US are looking to buy it means it must be a very good weapon.

 

[slick]

Shame Eugene Stoner wasnt on the design team ,it wouldn't be so expensive to make and may still be in service today in a lighter and more precise form.

The Brazilians did it without Stoner, they took the FN FAL and converted it to 5.56 using stanag mags. Their Imbel MD1 used the SLR type tilting bolt but it wasn`t too successful, so they went to the rotating type bolt on the MD2. The gas system remained unchanged. Still going strong as the MD97 system.

 

[Buttmaster General]

Who designs a rifle where the foresight and rearsight are on two parts, joined by a shitty little hinge thingy?

Break the rifle to clean it, and, unless it is a new weapon, your zero is dodgy to say the least.

It was good in that it kept going bang, the baddies at the other end went down and didn't get up, but it had some fundamental flaws - and yes - I still loved the thing.

 

[A signaller]

God's what?

Right hand!

 

[Taffwob]

It can also be the left hand of the free world, unlike some rifles.

 

[par avion]

It's made by FN, and has slight similarities lookswise, but it's far from the SLR.
The fact that the US are looking to buy it means it must be a very good weapon.

I think US Special Operations Forces have been using the SCAR for some time and don't like it much.

 

[Runnybabbit]

The look similar in layout, notwithstanding the modern furniture of the SCAR, but the FAL has a tilting bolt action, wheras the SCAR has a more modern rotating bolt.

The only similarity is that the SCAR-H and FAL are both 7.62 and made by FN. Beyond that, there isn't much in common.

Ta for that, much appreciated...

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

A thing of beauty (the rifle that is):