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FN-FAL
Caliber:
7,62mm NATO (7.62x51) The
FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Leger - Light Automatic Rifle) is one of the
most famous and widespread military rifle designs of the twentieth
century. Developed by the Belgian Fabrique Nationale company, it was used
by some 70 or more countries, and was manufactured in at least 10
countries. At the present time the service days of the most FAL rifles are
gone, but it is still used in some parts of the world. The history of the
FAL began circa 1946, when FN began to develop a new assault rifle,
chambered for German 7.92x33mm Kurz intermediate cartridge. The design
team was lead by Dieudonne Saive, who at the same time worked at the
battle rifle, chambered for "old time" full-power rifle
cartridges, which latter became the SAFN-49. It is not thus surprising
that both rifles are mechanically quite similar. In the late 1940s
Belgians joined the Britain and selected a British .280 (7x43mm)
intermediate cartridge for further development. In 1950 both Belgian FAL
prototype and British EM-2 bullpup assault rifles were tested by US Army.
The FAL prototype greatly impressed the Americans, but the idea of the
intermediate cartridge was at that moment incomprehensible for them, and
USA insisted on adoption of their full-power T65 cartridge as a NATO
standard in 1953-1954. Preparing for this adoption, FN redesigned their
rifle for the newest T65 / 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition, and the first 7.62mm
FALs were ready in 1953. Belgium was not the the first country to adopt
their own rifle in 1956. Probably the first one was Canada, adopting their
slightly modified version of FAL as C1 in 1955. Canadians set to produce
the C1 and the heavy barreled C2 squad automatic rifles at their own
Canadian Arsenal factory. Britain followed the suit and adopted the FAL in
1957 as an L1A1 SLR (Self-loading rifle), often issued with 4X SUIT
optical scopes. Britain also produced their own rifles at the RSAF Enfield
and BSA factories. Austria adopted the FAL in 1958 as a Stg.58 and
manufactured their rifles at Steyr arms factory. Various versions of the
FAL were also adopted by the Brazil, Turkey, Australia, Israel, South
Africa, West Germany and many other countries. The success of the FAL
could be even greater if Belgians would sell the license to W.Germany,
which really liked to produce the FAL as a G1 rifle, but Belgians rejected
the request. Germany purchased the license for Spanish CETME rifle and as
a result of this H&K G3 rifle became probably the most notable rival
to FAL Experience one TODAY at Midwest Gun and Range! Check back often as we frequently add new Machine Guns! |
