SAFN 49 Serial # question

[eos]

Several nations used the SAFN in .30-06 and often scrubbed the national markings when the rifles were released for sale

My question is this: Can anyone tell me how to identify the nation of issue from the serial # alone of such a .30-06 rifle with scrubbed markings?

I've done several searches of various forums and other web resources without finding the answer so far.

 

[sunray]

Not from just the serial number. I suspect those records either don't exist or were destroyed long ago. FN won't release any info either.
About nine countries used it, not all in .30-06, of course. There should still be acceptance stamps from the assorted countries on it though.
North Cape Publications puts out a reasonably priced($14.95US) book that supposedly has the markings. ncape@ix.netcom.com
https://www.northcapepubs.com/#anchor176670

 

[MiG25]

did anyone besides belgium, colombia, brazil, indonesia, luxembourg, and the belgian congo use these in 30-06?

anyone besides the belgians scrub the crest? this seems to be in common with their bolt guns as well.

other than the belgians, i think all the others order small quantities, ie colombia ordered around 1000.... SN 0001 - 1000 type of deal. and i think the orders were serial numbered seperately, so i would assume that the only confusion with SN's would be with low ones.

the biggest orders were belgium (30-06) for something like 100,000 (although if my memory serves i could swear i saw one with a SN of 127,000 something) and egypt (8mm) for 37,000 or so.

did anyone else order more than 10,000 of these rifles?

 

[sunray]

According to one site I looked at, there were fewer than 200,000 of all types made before the switch to the FAL. There doesn't seem to be any info about who ordered what and FN will not tell.
"...scrub the crest..." Likely done because it's a Royal crest. Leo the King wouldn't be happy having foreigners running around with his crest on their milsurp.

 

[eos]

According to one site I looked at, there were fewer than 200,000 of all types made before the switch to the FAL. There doesn't seem to be any info about who ordered what and FN will not tell.
"...scrub the crest..." Likely done because it's a Royal crest. Leo the King wouldn't be happy having foreigners running around with his crest on their milsurp.

I figure on the balance of probability it's Belgian as well. Was the largest single contract.

Crested examples seem to be more common stateside.

 

[Stevo]

Check the underside of the forearm. Belgian examples will have a cursive script "LR in a circle" cartouche stamped in the wood.

According to Johnson, aprx. half of the Belgian SAFN's found outside Europe have the crest removed.