FN-49 Survey Has Been Discontinued

[Goose52]

Thanks for participating in the survey!

A brass buttplate with trap door, similar, but not identical to the Enfield plate, was installed by FN on all Egyptian contract rifles. You should also have a brass unit disc in the right side of the stock.

Thanks again,

Goose

 

[Fray Bentos]

Goose,
What is the lowest Egyptian serial number you have come across? I have been reading through all the posts and wondered if mine is the earliest Egyptian.

Some good info scattered between the info postings, I was not aware how much history there is behind all these guns.

BTW I could not get into the 'condensed' data thread you posted. Got another thread or maybe a link to the info on another board?

 

[Goose52]

I have nearly 450 Egyptian contract rifles in the data base - the lowest rifle is # 5X, the highest is # 3748X.

I posted a 3,500 word survey summary quite a while back. I pulled that summary as the data became obsolete. Where did you see a reference to the summary ... someplace in this thread? If so, I need to find it and delete the link.

My intention was to write-up another summary of the data when I reached my goal of 1,760 rifles in the data base. However, inputs have slowed down considerably and as of today I only have data on about 1,200 rifles. I project that I won't reach the 1760 goal until sometime in 2006 ! So, I will probably write-up another report with whatever data that I have at the end of this year.

Goose

 

[Bearwhositshere]

Here is a somewhat curious FN49 in 8mm I picked up (no Arabic anywhere except under crest, no disk, no scope cut). I think it is an Egyptian contract rifle, but am not sure. It has different serial numbers on the receiver, the top cover (also a light park colour instead of the paint over park light the rest of the rifle), and the stock.

Right side receiver: FABRIQUE NATIONALE D`ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL BELGIQUE #D11346

TOP COVER RIGHT SIDE #48330

STOCK RIGHT SIDE #55985

importers mark on barrel FN49 792
C.A.I. ST ALB. VT.

CREST ON RECEIVER; Stylized Eagle with a crecent moon pointing up and three stars inside the crecent and what appears to be Arabic writing under the eagle.

I am assuming this is a gun put together from parts, but I only paid $250 for it and it headspaced fine and shoots nice, so I really don't care about matching numbers.

 

[Goose52]

(deleted)

 

[Greensborobob]

Argentine S/N 544x
No Scope Cut
No Cartouche but the S/N is stamped in the stock.
Not machined for Firing Pin Safety Stop.

I'm not sure you wanted this for the Argentines but all no's match.

 

[Goose52]

greensborobob - Thanks for participating in the survey. All-matching is the norm on these Argentine contract rifles...Argentina went to great lengths to keep the rifles all-matching - even through the 7.62/20-round mag conversion process.

Thanks again,

Goose

 

[Goose52]

mojo_matic - Thanks for participating in the survey. Two come-backs:

All FN-49s except the Egyptian contract had bolts milled for the firing pin safety stop. Your bolt should look like the top one in this pic. If your bolt definately does NOT have the FPSS milling, then someone stuck an Egyptian bolt (the bottom one in the pic) in your rifle. Is the bolt serialized and does it match the rifle?

Also, did you happen to check your headspace with a Field gage?

Thanks,

Goose

 

[wildwilly]

another FN 49

Hey Goose
New Girl in the fleet. An Egyptian with the Crest, no scope cut, has recoil lug and no sling swivel 2" in front of magazine.
Serial number is 2241x. Has I believe a dark bore and the original buttplate and stock. That stock and the price made me do it. Bolt matches gun in arabic but on the top cover only the last two numbers of the arabic serial number and a floating period followed by a upside down v and O. Is the top cover the correct one? Bolt has firing pin cut but no lock out parts.:wink:

 

[Goose52]

wildwilly - Thanks for the additional data. When you say is the reciever cover the right one .... do you mean is it an Egyptian contract? If the serial number is in Arabic - then it's an Egyptian contract. On the numbers, the "floating period" is Arabic for "0", the upside down V is Arabic for "7", the O is Arabic for "5".

You can always use your rear sight leaf as a "cheat sheet" - the sight has the Arabic numerals for 1 to 10 so you can use it to translate serial numbers.

Goose

 

[wildwilly]

Top cover number match

I must have stated something wrong Goose. The top cover is Egyptain but the serial number only matches the last two arabic numbers then has the period and two other arabic characters. The inside of the reciever also does not state 7.92 like my Century rebuild and most other fn49 I have seen? Is this normal?
Plus the barrel is corroded toward the muzzle. I am thinking of replacing it since I have an unnumbered barrel. Is there any harm in this as far as collectablity of Egyptains?

 

[Goose52]

wildwilly - Perhaps we're still not communicating but all I can say about the serial number on the receiver cover is that it should exactly match all 5 digits of the Arabic serial number on the receiver. So, it sounds like you have a mismatched receiver cover. Since the receiver cover is mismatched, then there is probably no harm in replacing the barrel.

The 7.9 marking, either by itself or enclosed within a box, is found on nearly all Egyptian contract rifles. However, I own one collector-grade Egyptian that does not have this marking so it's not unheard of for this marking to be missing (or lightly stamped).

Goose

 

[lhofeld]

Venezuelan Contract
578X
Cartouch on the RH side of the stock and a smaller one fwd of the magwell.
Lock screw
One piece handguard

 

[Goose52]

lhofeld - Thanks for the data. You have a late-variant Venezuelan. These originally came with two-piece handguards. Either someone has installed the Early-variant one-piece handguard on your rifle .... or perhaps an old one-piece slipped through and made it on the rifle at FN.

In the event that you care to find out if this handguard was original to your rifle, these early handguards were serialized - the one-piece was serialized on the rear underside. Only the front handguard of the two-piece set-up is serialized.

Goose

 

[Goose52]

Thanks for the come back - good luck !

Goose

 

[DABTL]

Just bought a Columbian which looks to be in good shape. Details follow on receipt of the rifle.

 

[Goose52]

Only 1000 Colombian contract FN-49s made ....

Did this one have a rubber or ridged steel buttplate ?

Goose

 

[DABTL]

Only 1000 Colombian contract FN-49s made ....

Did this one have a rubber or ridged steel buttplate ?

Goose

Steel.

 

[Goose52]

Good deal... I'd appreciate the data when you get the rifle in hand ...

Goose

 

[DABTL]

Columbian

Serial number 0465
Steel butt plate flat
Scope cut
no reinforcing bolt

 

[Goose52]

(deleted)

 

[bykerhd]

The FN49 I just got is a Century Egyptian mixmaster.
The barrel & receiver match. That would be fine, but the bore is not wonderful.

Receiver serial # 2495X Belgian marked, no scope cut, Crown crest
Bolt has Arabic numerals only and is cut for the firing pin safety stop which is not present.
Stock is probably beech which was stained but is now blond. Except for the barrel channel and under the handguard ring. Roots showing I guess. No markings, no disc, no extra swivel(s), no crossbolt, no cracks either thankfully.
Black Plastic Century buttplate.
The metal has been refinished and overall the rifle looks very nice. I will probably rebarrel it eventually as it has little collector value.

 

[Goose52]

Thanks for the data ....


Goose

 

[mojo_matic]

Hi Goose! I have an Egyptian "Eagle" FN49 inbound very soon...will post info. when it arrives. I will have to buy a rear sight assembly since original was removed for B-square mount and lost (Numrich has me covered). Beautiful rifle! I understand the history, and the fact that it is a Century build...but still excited!

The Argy FN49 (serial #029X) has been squared away! Will be taking to range for the first time on Weds.. Oh...no cartouch on the stock or the matching bayonet.

 

[Goose52]

OK - I can always use more data on the Eagles. Check back when she comes in.

Make sure that you run the 2-piece firing pin ....

Goose