Argentine FSL Value

[GDavis]

My bother is in some legal trouble and may be forced to get rid of his firearms. One I would like to buy from him is a original factory built Argentine FSL (looks like FN-FAL).

He bought it new in 1980s from Southern Ohio Gun for $525 (I know that because I remember him telling me about the "special" they were having and I have been kicking myself in the rear ever since).

I want to give him a fair price, but can find little on these. I stress, it is a complete factory built gun with documentation, not a "part kit" or upper purchased spearately from the lower.

Any idea what a fair prive may be?

[J. Armstrong]

Ah, another Argy --- love 'em !!

Presuming it DOES NOT have any stamp in the magwell ( no matter how faint ! ) saying SAC Latta, this sounds like a preban, and if so, is in my estimation a fairly prime piece.

The Argies are very well made rifles and generally great shooters. The FMAPs retain the forged receiver. They are, IMHO, nicer than the equivalent Imbels, and are very often better finished than many of the type 3 Belgian rifles.

You will always hear of those outrageous deals someone always seems to find, but primo preban FMAP FSLs can bring $1800 pretty easily if one is not in a hurry to sell. They are most commonly seen with high, open ear sights and 1 piece extractors. There are rare exceptions, although these do not seem to command any premium.

[GDavis]

Thanks for the reply.

I believe he bought it in 1987. I had just bought my Beligum FN-LSR Model 50.0 in 1986, so I didn't feel I needed anothe FAL. The sights are different, the rear is higher and the front sight ears are open. I do not know the importer marking, but I know it was before any of the bans and was a complete rifle. I have always been impressed with the fit and finish mainly because even my Beligium FAL has some tooling marks.

Last year I was at his place (he has a shooting range on his property) and I am not stretching this; He fired standing offhand using Hirtenberger 308 and shot three times. All three we inside of a quarter with two holes touching. Even he says it was a fluke, but that rifle can shoot. It is in basically new condition and if it has to be sold then I'll have to make room in the safe!

(Rule on gun safes, ALWAYS buy a lot larger than you'll ever think you'll ever need. Somehow, I feel you already know that).

[J. Armstrong]

Originally posted by GDavis

(Rule on gun safes, ALWAYS buy a lot larger than you'll ever think you'll ever need. Somehow, I feel you already know that).

Roger that :biggrin: :biggrin:

The Argies seem to have cut less corners than either the later Imbels or FN. FNs tooling was showing its age and I think Herstal was milking the last of the revenue without upgrading or replacing tooling as the 5.56 handwriting was on the wall, so there are quite a few type 3 Herstals out there that show a lower standard of finish than earlier production. FMAP seems to have done pretty well in this regard. It has always been my impression that towards the end Imbel was probably playing a little loose with some of the licensing specs ( and you can't really blame them from a business standpoint )or else QC had a few blips, where again FMAP seems to have stayed pretty much in the x ring. Of course, Imbel kept making 'em longer for us, so who's to complain !! At any rate, the Argies are a particular favorite of mine for exactly the reasons you note. I even miss my postban SACs, but sometimes something just has to give :(

If I could find a preban FMAP 50.63 para or 50.41 heavy barrel I'd grab 'em in a NY minute !!!!!!

[K.O.A.M.]

I would love to get ahold of a preban, full on Argie. One of these days, I may get serious about it.

If you end up getting it and have any interest in a trade, let me know. I have a bunch of stuff I'd gladly swap for an Argie.

[Abominog]

Originally posted by K.O.A.M.
I would love to get ahold of a preban, full on Argie. One of these days, I may get serious about it.

If you end up getting it and have any interest in a trade, let me know. I have a bunch of stuff I'd gladly swap for an Argie.



For a bit less you can get a post-ban Argie. No difference in operation, just two different S/N.

[moses]

What'd your brother do?