Pre-89 Fals?

[nordland]

Question?
Now that the 94-AWB is gone...and you can now have all the once banned features on your Fals.....Would You still pay the Mega-bucks...for a pre-89 Fal?
Shooters vs Collectors.....what say Ye....Faler's?

[ratas calientes]

I won't, at least not at this time. Currently all of my guns are shooters. Maybe someday if I get interested in collectables, but not now.

[FALshot]

Yes the sun has set on the AWB, but NO ONE can import anymore of the fine Belgians, Canadians, Israeli, or other fine original complete rifles. They are like land as far as we're concerned,..."They don't make em anymore," and what we already have in the country is what we will all have to make due with.


Knowing what I already have in my stable I can't justify purchasing anymore, but you can bet I won't be parting with my beautiful, as new Israeli Lite barrel FAL. (or if I do it will be for a pretty penny!)


My two centavos worth,

Bill Woodward
Portland, OR.

[vmtz]

If you are a shooter, then I would not recomend it. I just a collector, well that is up to you.

I would not.

Vince

[skemler]

I was thinking obout this over the weekend...can someone help me understand the 89 ban?

If I understand it correctly, the '89 ban made it illegal to import machine guns, correct? A complete, un-cut, FAL would fall into this category.

Machine guns were already restricted by the 1934 law. So what did the '89 ban do differently?

The other part I don't understand is, the 1994 ban specifically named the FAL. What did the 1994 ban accomplish that the 1934 and 1989 ban did not?

Also, we are able to buy FAL "kits" because the receiver is destoyed and is technically no longer a firearm. This gets around the '34 and '89 ban, correct?

SK

[D P Six]

As I understand it; National Firearms Act of 1934 placed the first federal control's on ownership and transfer of machineguns, the Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibited further inportation of machineguns for civilian use, an amendment to the McClure-Volkmer bill in 1986 outlawed the further manufacturing and sale to civilians of machineguns made after May 19,1986, an inport ban in 1989 put an end to factory original FN FAL's, H&K 91/93/94's, AK's etc. coming into the US. The now expired assault weapons ban of 1994 outlawed manufacture for civilians of fireams with more that two of the famous evil features [bayonet lug, collapsable stock threaded barrel etc]. The end result of these laws is a machinegun such as a Browning 1919 which should cost about $300 instead costs between $10,000 & $20,000. Like a FAL? Forget about an original, be happy with a parts gun of questionable quality.

[Abominog]

1989 and the "ban" years saw a marked increase in the prices of pre-ban FALs for two reasons: first, they became collectible, and second, because the FAL craze was taking off (look at the growth of FAL Files).

Since the ban expired (at the federal level) the pre-ban guns lost some market value because a close copy can now be made in USA. However, a 100% correct item, be it an FAL or a Camaro, will always be worth a premium over a copy. Case in point, a perfect Poyer may be valued at some $5000 while a near identical firearm can be had for a grand.

Prior to '89 a NIB Imbel (Springfield) was about $1000. In 1990 same firearm was somewhere about twice that, sometimes even over $2000 during frenzy periods. Today, that gun would sell immediately for $800, move quickly at $1100, but probably sit for a while at $1400. I would expect that even the original Springfields will creep slowly up in price.

Now, some states have bans which did not expire. So effectively, residents can have pre-ban or post ban. Will that drive the prices higher for pre-ban guns in those states, or will the plethora of post-post-ban copies make the pre-bans less of a shooter's choice in free states, making them more generally available for sale in ban states? This is particularly going to be interesting with hi-cap mags- the guy in Florida can buy all the new ones he wants for $20 each, while the guy in New York still can only buy pre-ban hi caps. Hmmm....

[jt325i]

Just about everything I own is a shooter..... even pre-89 stuff. Just remember...... when you're dead you can't take it with you.

[maddawg308]

I have a semi FN made FAL that was imported into the US back in the 1960s, very few got imported back then since collecting military type arms wasn't all that big until the 1980s. Perfect condition, almost unfired. Deep blueing on all parts, which is uncommon since most had the black parkerizing finish. I think I paid $400 or so back in 1992 for it, it was around that price. I'm not sure what it's worth, I'm not really a FAL collector, I just keep it as another gun for future use etc.

[RogerN]

Maddawg, if you paid 400 bucks for a '60s (Browning imported?)FN in '92 you got a steal, as Volmer's was selling the later, standard FN 50.00 for around 1500.00 plus during that period. As of late, the FN 50.00s have been 2000.00 or more. I have watched the last few years and even the SAR48s have averaged around 1500.00 for the standard model.
You got one of those once in a decade type buys. Outstanding!

[nordland]

OT.....something I was just thinking about.....
FN....sold upper receivers to the American market...I have seen a few in my time....say for instance..somebody buys a Belgium parts kit....and has one of these FN uppers and builds himself a FAL......and it looks like a brand new gun......whats the difference between that FAL....and one made in Belgium?
Geography....?

[jt325i]

Originally posted by nordland
OT.....something I was just thinking about.....
FN....sold upper receivers to the American market...I have seen a few in my time....say for instance..somebody buys a Belgium parts kit....and has one of these FN uppers and builds himself a FAL......and it looks like a brand new gun......whats the difference between that FAL....and one made in Belgium?
Geography....?

Never seen a stripped FN receiver but if the correct parts kit were used & it was properly assembled, location of assembly would be about it.