Goose52
January 25, 2002, 18:33
First, my thanks to all respondents who took the time to capture and provide the requested data
The purpose of this survey was to determine the approximate number of FN49 rifles that were purchased by each of the six countries that selected FN49s in the 30-06 (7.62x63) chambering. The survey only asked for the identity of the rifle by contract (country) and by serial number.
I received reports on a total of 93 rifles of which 49 were chambered in 30-06. Many respondents included information on FN49s in the other chamberings and also included additional information concerning receiver scope mount dovetails and other distinguishing features. With hindsight, I wish that I had originally asked for this information in the original survey request. I have captured all information that was provided and have seen enough interesting data that I will be soon start another survey for rifles in the Egyptian, Venezuelan, and Argentine contracts.
An important note is that I only capture serial numbers down to a block of 100 numbers (i.e., 99XX) and I DO NOT retain any actual names or Board names/nicknames with the data. This limits the fidelity of my data, but protects everyone’s privacy.
Here is what I have:
Luxembourg (“AL” crest) – 31 rifles – Ser. No. range from 10XX to 71XX.
Notes: Scope cut present on most / all rifles above 57XX. Also scope cut present on no. 35XX, 42XX, 50XX.
Belgium (“ABL” crest) – 1 rifle – Ser. No. 389XX.
Notes: No scope cut data on this rifle. Received reports of 5 stocks, purchased from Northridge International, that are purported to be Belgian/ABL ‘take-offs’ – high serial number was 872XX. Of the 30-06 contracts, it could be assumed that only Belgium would have bought as many as 87,000+ rifles.
Colombia – 4 rifles – 00XX, 02XX, 05XX, 09XX.
Note: Scope cut on 02XX.
Belgian Congo – 1 rifle – 13XX.
Note: This rifle has a mismatched receiver cover with Ser. No. 25XX. If the receiver cover was indeed part of the Congo contract then this could mean as many as 2600 rifles in this contract.
Dutch East Indies & Brazil – no data.
Unknown Contract – 7 rifles – high serial number of 857XX.
Note: These rifles were identified by one respondent as a result of reviewing many years worth of auction data (thanks!). These particular rifles were listed in the auction data by chambering and serial number, but not by contract.
NO CREST PRESENT: 5 rifles – Ser. No. range from 54XX to 56XXX.
Notes: Some owners felt that their rifle had never had a crest, some had the feeling that the crest had been ground and the receiver refinished. Upon inquiry, none of these owners indicated that the rifle had a muzzle brake which was mentioned in the Poyer book as being one of the features on the “commercial” model sold by FN/Browning in 1961.
Assumptions (not proven by fact):
Serial numbers started at 0000 for all contracts
Serial numbers ran consecutively.
No reserved blocks of numbers.
Only Belgium would have bought as many as 87,000+ rifles.
Results:
Of the 125,072 FN49s said to have been produced in 30-06, we can account for approximately 97,000 of them (rounding UP to nearest hundred) as follows:
Luxembourg: 7200
Belgium: 87300 (including Ser. Nos. from stocks)
Colombia: 1000
Congo: 1400 (perhaps 2600)
Indonesia & Brazil = unknown
****************************************
I had promised to post the results of the survey on the Boards and I have not received any new data in the past week so I felt it was time to post this data.
If anyone has more data that they would care to contribute regarding 30-06 chambered FN49s, or if you have already responded but would like to report your scope cut or any other distinctive features on your rifle, send that along to me at fn49fan@earthlink.net or post on this thread. Remember that I have not saved your name in my data, only your rifle serial number (with 2XXs) so if you are contributing more data, reference your rifle number.
I will be starting another survey on the other FN49 series soon and, with your cooperation, will be drilling down a bit deeper on the data.
Thanks again,
Goose
[ January 25, 2002: Message edited by: Goose52 ]
[ February 05, 2002: Message edited by: EMDII ]
The purpose of this survey was to determine the approximate number of FN49 rifles that were purchased by each of the six countries that selected FN49s in the 30-06 (7.62x63) chambering. The survey only asked for the identity of the rifle by contract (country) and by serial number.
I received reports on a total of 93 rifles of which 49 were chambered in 30-06. Many respondents included information on FN49s in the other chamberings and also included additional information concerning receiver scope mount dovetails and other distinguishing features. With hindsight, I wish that I had originally asked for this information in the original survey request. I have captured all information that was provided and have seen enough interesting data that I will be soon start another survey for rifles in the Egyptian, Venezuelan, and Argentine contracts.
An important note is that I only capture serial numbers down to a block of 100 numbers (i.e., 99XX) and I DO NOT retain any actual names or Board names/nicknames with the data. This limits the fidelity of my data, but protects everyone’s privacy.
Here is what I have:
Luxembourg (“AL” crest) – 31 rifles – Ser. No. range from 10XX to 71XX.
Notes: Scope cut present on most / all rifles above 57XX. Also scope cut present on no. 35XX, 42XX, 50XX.
Belgium (“ABL” crest) – 1 rifle – Ser. No. 389XX.
Notes: No scope cut data on this rifle. Received reports of 5 stocks, purchased from Northridge International, that are purported to be Belgian/ABL ‘take-offs’ – high serial number was 872XX. Of the 30-06 contracts, it could be assumed that only Belgium would have bought as many as 87,000+ rifles.
Colombia – 4 rifles – 00XX, 02XX, 05XX, 09XX.
Note: Scope cut on 02XX.
Belgian Congo – 1 rifle – 13XX.
Note: This rifle has a mismatched receiver cover with Ser. No. 25XX. If the receiver cover was indeed part of the Congo contract then this could mean as many as 2600 rifles in this contract.
Dutch East Indies & Brazil – no data.
Unknown Contract – 7 rifles – high serial number of 857XX.
Note: These rifles were identified by one respondent as a result of reviewing many years worth of auction data (thanks!). These particular rifles were listed in the auction data by chambering and serial number, but not by contract.
NO CREST PRESENT: 5 rifles – Ser. No. range from 54XX to 56XXX.
Notes: Some owners felt that their rifle had never had a crest, some had the feeling that the crest had been ground and the receiver refinished. Upon inquiry, none of these owners indicated that the rifle had a muzzle brake which was mentioned in the Poyer book as being one of the features on the “commercial” model sold by FN/Browning in 1961.
Assumptions (not proven by fact):
Serial numbers started at 0000 for all contracts
Serial numbers ran consecutively.
No reserved blocks of numbers.
Only Belgium would have bought as many as 87,000+ rifles.
Results:
Of the 125,072 FN49s said to have been produced in 30-06, we can account for approximately 97,000 of them (rounding UP to nearest hundred) as follows:
Luxembourg: 7200
Belgium: 87300 (including Ser. Nos. from stocks)
Colombia: 1000
Congo: 1400 (perhaps 2600)
Indonesia & Brazil = unknown
****************************************
I had promised to post the results of the survey on the Boards and I have not received any new data in the past week so I felt it was time to post this data.
If anyone has more data that they would care to contribute regarding 30-06 chambered FN49s, or if you have already responded but would like to report your scope cut or any other distinctive features on your rifle, send that along to me at fn49fan@earthlink.net or post on this thread. Remember that I have not saved your name in my data, only your rifle serial number (with 2XXs) so if you are contributing more data, reference your rifle number.
I will be starting another survey on the other FN49 series soon and, with your cooperation, will be drilling down a bit deeper on the data.
Thanks again,
Goose
[ January 25, 2002: Message edited by: Goose52 ]
[ February 05, 2002: Message edited by: EMDII ]