Sirs,

Please educate me on the FN49. I recently put one on layaway at a local pawnshop and plan to be shooting it in a couple months. The rifle I am buying is a 30-06 caliber model with a serial number in the 04XX range. I did not immediately notice what its country of origin was. Does anyone know what country this rifle may have come from? I have also heard that these rifles have a two piece firing pin and that I should replace that with a one piece unit. Is that true? And where can I find them?

If someone could take a moment to educate me on these rifles, I'd surely appreciate it.

Thanks!

Were they not all made in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale, and then distributed to countries which ordered them? I had an FN49 8mm from middle east....that was incredibly accurate...never worried about firing pin.

All made by FN, all well made.
I shot them in 8x57, 30-06 and 7.62x51 as well as 270Win and 8x60 ( french civilian versions) they were all reliable and accurate.

i always wanted one in 7x57. a few were imported from venzuela in that caliber i believe.

Nice rifle, but probably obsolete from day one, due to the old fashioned machining techniques involved in the manufacture. Also lots of WW ll surplus to compete with. I think the Belgian army used these in Korea. Possible sold in companionship with the FN Model D. I've seen a couple of these with the Venuzealan crest, as well
Grizz

The FN 49 was a very well made and accurate rifle. As noted by "Grizzly Adams" it was obosolete from it's inception ONLY as it shot a high power cartridge and had a magazine limited to ten rounds.

It was used by the Belgian Army in the Korean War in 30-06 as it was a compatible round and had a good reputation as far as I've heard.

Personally, if it's a good rifle, I'd snap it up and be happy.

Regards,

Eric

The FN49 design was developed prior to WWII and the FN Engineers escaped with the plans to England. They worked on the design during the war and put it into production afterward. It was not obasolete at the time since it was the only other semi-auto battle rifle other than the M1. FN themselves made it obsolete when they introduced the FAL. The FN49 was adopted by Argentina in 7.65x54 (later they converted some to 7.62x51 NATO), Belgium, Columbia and Indonesia in 30.06, Egypt in 7.92 Mauser and Venezuela in 7mm Mauser. The 2 piece firing pin problem was with the FAL.

Tss, Tsss! don't forget the G41, G43, MAS 44 derived from the MAS 38 and MAS 40 evolving into MAS 49.

OOOPS! I forgot these two very good rifles, SVT 38 and SVT 40 that inspired so much german technicians for the G43.

I've had 2 at 2 different times. Both in .30-06. A finely made rifle albeit heavy. On the receiver of both were stamped or engraved the initials "AL". What it stood for, I don't know, although some gun nut who claimed to know everything about everything told me that it stood for Arab Legion. I have doubts about that because the only Arab country that used the FN49 (or SAFN - semi-automatic FN)(or ABL - automatique Belgique Legere) were the Egyptians and they were in 7.92mm Mauser.

I bought my first FN49 in 1975 for $250 and sold it a couple of years later for the same price. I bought my second one about 1981 for $500 and sold it a couple of years later for the same price also. Damn, I'm not much of a wheeler dealer. I don't know how much they are worth these days but if I could find one again for $500 I probably would buy it.

Namibiahunter

ABL means Armée Belge/Belgische Leger "Belgian Army"

Here are the only specific markings and crest you will find on a King Farouk SAFN 49 plus the markings on the gas valve.

I had the two piece firing pin on a fn49 break ,stick in the out position and fire the next round about half closed.My ears rung immediatly and I got several pieces of brass in the face.The bullet stayed in the case and one entire side of the case ,including the head,was gone.The action bulged and split the stock,which I felt as a hard slap in my left hand,so I dropped the gun and broke the stock at the wrist.
I couldnt hear for awhile and bled from a few places,but had no serious injury.I always wear glasses.
I traded a good friend a leupold scope for it and it happened on my third shot with it.I was using a box of factory ammo for 8x57,the first box of factory ammo I had bought in years.He insisted I take my scope back.
If you can,get a one piece firing pin,mine had broke right where the two pieces fit together,jamming it in the fire position inside the bolt.