Egyptian FN-49 Rifle

 

Egyptian FN-49 Rifle 

 

Dieudonne Saive, Fabrique Nationale's then chief firearm designer, experimented with a number of recoil-operated rifle designs in the early 1930s. While little came of these experiments, they would become the basis for a gas-operated semi-automatic rifle, which he patented in 1936 and prototyped in 1937. (Photographs of these prototypes still exist, and they show a number of characteristics that would later appear in the FN-49.)

FN's new rifle was still in development in late 1938 – early 1939, and a version with a 5-round magazine was about to be marketed. When German armies invaded Poland, these plans were delayed increasing production of bolt-action rifles and machine guns.

The German invasion of Belgium in May 1940 interrupted any plans for the production of the new model, as Liège, home of FN's factory, was occupied by the German military. Despite this setback, Saive was able to escape to England via Portugal in 1941, where he continued work on what would become the FN-49.

By 1943, Saive was back to working on his experimental rifle, now in 7.92×57mm Mauser. Late that year, the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield ordered 50 prototypes (designated "EXP-1" and sometimes referred to as "SLEM-1" or "Self-Loading Experimental Model"). Based on tests with these prototypes, Enfield placed an order for 2,000 rifles for troop trials, but a last-minute problem with the moderation of the gas pressure (as well as the impending end of World War II) led to the cancellation of this order. Despite this, Saive (who had returned to Liège shortly after its liberation in September 1944) continued work on the rifle and finalized the design for the FN-49 in 1947.

The FN Model 1949 is not ammunition specific, since it has an adjustable gas port or valve to adjust the rifle to various propellant and projectile specific pressure behavior, in which the gas port can be adjusted with a special wrench. This also requires removing the upper forward handguard for the adjustment.

 

Egyptian FN-49 Rifle Specs,

In use: 1948 to 1982

Used by multiple countries such as Venezuela and Egypt Mine is from the Egyptian contract 

Was used in lots of wars like the Suez Crisis in 1956

Weight: 4.31kg/9 pounds 8 oz

Length: 1116mm/ 43.5 in

Barrel Length: 590mm/23.2in 

Cart: 8X57mm Mauser

Feed: 10 round box fixed magazine  

Action: Gas operated short stroke piston, tilting bolt,

Sights: Iron Sights 

Cool looking sliding dust cover 

 

Mine has the Egyptian crest on the receiver. My stock was replaced sometime in the past. I replaced the plastic butt plate with a British Mk1 Brass butt plate. I also installed a SAFN FN-49 Leather sling.