Introduction
Following WW2, it become clear that the days of bolt action military rifle were at the end. Majors armys have moved to the semi automatic and selective fire battle rifle. A post WW2 rifle that is perhaps one of the last military rifle to exhibit a high quality of manufacturing,at the time were simpler manufacturing process were choosen for military small arms, the SAFN 49(semi automatic model 49) or simply called FN 49 is another prized rifle among the milsurp collectors.
History
The FN 49 was created by Dieudonné Joseph Saive, a belgian arms designer. Working at the Fabrique Nationale(FN) ,belgium, Saive became chief weapon designer in 1930. He was know for modifying design of Browning firearms like the FN pistol and the Browning .30 caliber machinegun. In the 30's, like many others arms designers, Saive worked on a semi automatic rifle and an experimental rifle was ready in 1937, that will later evolve in the FN 49. In 1940, with the german invasion of belgium, Saive successfully fled to U.K and begining to work at the Royal Ordnance Corp Small Arms Design Unit. With the war end's, Saive returned in belgium to get the FN factory back on production and to perfect his semi automatic rifle that would be completed at the end of 1940's and named SAFN 49(semi automatic model 49).
Saive experimental rifle of 1937
The SAFN FN 49
The FN 49 (This unit is an Egyptian contract)
The FN 49 is a gas operated semi automatic rifle, barrel lenght of 590mm,overall length of 1116mm for a weight of 4.31kg,fixed 10 rounds magazine. After firing, gas is bled from the barrel via a gas port and gas push a piston to unlock the breech bolt. In battery, the back of the bolt is held against a lug in the receiver by the bolt carrier. During the rearward motion, the piston push the bolt carrier,unlocking the rear of the bolt and allowing the bolt to travel to the rear, ejecting fired shell and a recoil spring drive the bolt foward picking a new cartridge from the magazine and lock again in rifle receiver. The locking mecanisme of the FN is very similar to the soviet Tokarev SVT 40 and the swedish Jlungman ag42.The bolt will stay open on an empty magazine. Originally, the firing pin was 1 piece type but since it was prone to breakage,a 2 pieces type was designed. Its a very good idea to upgrade the 1 piece firing for the 2 pieces one because if the 1 piece firing pin broke, the tip can stay jammed in the bolt,protubing from the bolt face and can lead to a slam fire incident,firing a round while the bolt is not locked. That possible issue is avoided with the 2 pieces pin. The fixed magazine is loaded using stripper clip or one cartridge at time. The magazine body can be unlocked and removed for cleaning. Another good feature of the FN49 is the adjustable gas system, allowing the rifle to work in any condition with pretty much any ammo. In most adjustable gas operated rifle, adjustements work on the amount of gas that enter in the gas system but the FN is different because the adjustement work actually to vent the excess of gas from the gas system. On the barrel,under the front handguard, there's an adjusting sleeve that can be screwed or unscrewed to regulate the system. The sleeve cover a venting port. Ammo developping more pressure need the gas sleeve to be unscrewed,opening the exhaust port so only enough gas are kept in the system to operate the rifle reliably. Low power ammo need the venting port to be closed more for the rifle to operate correctly. At the front of the gas tube, there's a two position gas plug that can be rotated to close the gas port completely, for grenade launching or to the open position for normal rifle operation. The sights consist of a front blade protected by “wings” and the rear sight is an aperture type,graduated to 1000 m and can be adjusted for windage via opposed screws. On the right side of the receiver,There's a little sliding dust cover to prevent dirt entering in the rifle when not in use. The safety is placed just above the trigger,on the right side. The trigger guard also have a cocking indicator. The FN 49 was available in four calibers, 7.92x57mm mauser, 7.65x53mm argentine,30-06 and 7x57mm mauser. End of barrel is threaded and a cap is screwed on and Venezuelan rifles have a muzzle brake at the end of barrel. Somes rifles also had a dovetail rail on the left side of receiver for scope mounting. The FN 49 is the ancestor of the FN FAL, one of the most widely used rifle after the kalashikov AK 47.
Safety on “safe”
Safety in “fire” position
The cocking indicator
Sliding dust cover
FN 49 production
About 176 257 FN 49 have been built. 125 072 were built in 30-06 caliber, the majority of 30-06 rifles were used by Belgium and the rest being used by Luxembourg ,Belgian Congo,Indonesia,Colombia and Brazil. Venezuela bought 8003 rifles in 7x57mm , Argentina 5541 in 7.65x53 and Egypt received 37 641 in 7.92x57mm. Also FN produced fews test rifles, 5 in 6.5x55mm, 1 in 7.5x54mm MAS and 1 in 7.62x51mmThe belgians models could have selective fire trigger group intalled but with the 10 rounds magazines,would not been of great utility and the rifle receiver are different from the regular rifle so they can accept the selective fire parts. The Argentine Navy converted their FN 49 to 7.62 NATO in early 1960's,including new barrel and detachable 20 rounds magazines,somes of them went on the U.S market in 1990's. Venezuelan,Colombian,Argentin and Egyptian rifles bear their nationnal crest on receiver, the belgian rifle are marked “ABL” and Luxemborg ones “AL”. Browning Arms .Co imported somes 30-06 rifle in U.S.A for commercials sales, they differency from military contracts by the lack of any national crest on receiver and they also have a flash hider similar to the one on Venezuelan rifle. Since the FN was in production from 1949 to 1956 and Browning imported the commercials ones in 1961, commercials rifles were likely built from left over parts. Manys Egyptian FN imported by Century Arms had their stock replaced by newly manufactured stock with a plastic buttplate instead of the original military one.
Argentine Navy FN 49 in 7.62x51mm with removable 20 rounds magazine.
The Venezuelan FN have a 15 inch bayonet instead of the standard 9 inch one.
Venezuelan FN also have a muzzle break while optional accessorie on other contract.
Markings
The differents crest on the FN 49
Belgian FN 49
Luxembourg FN 49
Venezuelan FN 49
Argentine FN 49
Egyptian FN 49
Egyptian contract have arabic number on the rear sight.
Marking disk on Egyptian rifle.
Accessories
FN 49 bayonets. Top, standard bayonet 9 inch blade,bottom Venezuelan bayonet with a 15 inch blade.
Leather sling
Cleaning kit, stored in buttstock,however,the Venezuelan FN dont have a compartiment in the buttstock for a cleaning kit.
Combination wrench
Blank firing device
Grenade laucher.
Disassembly
This is a egyptian contract FN49 in 7.92x57. The disassembly should be same with other contract as well.
Like any firearm, open the action to make sure its unloaded and clear.
If available, the FN49 wrench can be use for basic field strip.
Unlock the magazine catch and remove the mag,spring and follower from the rifle.
On reassembly, be sure that the front part of the mag is engage first before pushing the rear to lock the mag in place.
Pull back and slowly allow the bolt to close.
To unlock the rear cover, turn the lock lever straight up. This may take some effort.
To remove the cover, push foward and lift up and pull it off the rifle.
Note how the notchs in the cover mesh with the receiver.
To remove the bolt/carrier assembly, pull the bolt until the tabs on the carrier match the cuts in the receiver, then lift the assembly up.
Separate the bolt from the carrier.
Bolt disassembly.
Pry and rotate the extractor spring 90* down,the extractor can be removed now.
Push the firing pin foward and remove the extractor spring. After, the firing pin and spring can be removed as well. My FN have the 2 pieces firing pin.
Gas system.
Remove the gas plug by pushing the locking button and rotate the plug 90* clockwise then pull the plug out. Note, if the plug is turned 180*, the gas flow will be shut, this was used to launch grenade with a grenade launcher.
Tilt the rifle foward and the piston and spring should come out.
Basic field strip is now complete.
Further disassembly.
Remove the screw of the front hanguard ferrule and slide the ferrule away,lift up and remove the front handguard.
The gas adjusting sleeve can be removed by unscrewing and sliding of the gas tube. The FN wrench is useful but mine can be turned by hand easily. Just be sure to put it in same position.
Remove the barrel band and the rear handguard.
To remove the trigger group, 3 screws must be removed, 2 of the screws have also lock screws like somes Mauser rifles.
Left to right, front,middle and rear screws.
Pull the trigger group out of rifle. The bolt hold open device can be removed too.
Pull out the stock.
Reassembly is in reverse order.
A view of the piston assembled in rifle.
The muzzle end can be unscrewed with the FN wrench too.
The FN 49 is a very interesting rifle that deserve a place in any firearm collection. Thankyou for looking.
Joce
Following WW2, it become clear that the days of bolt action military rifle were at the end. Majors armys have moved to the semi automatic and selective fire battle rifle. A post WW2 rifle that is perhaps one of the last military rifle to exhibit a high quality of manufacturing,at the time were simpler manufacturing process were choosen for military small arms, the SAFN 49(semi automatic model 49) or simply called FN 49 is another prized rifle among the milsurp collectors.
History
The FN 49 was created by Dieudonné Joseph Saive, a belgian arms designer. Working at the Fabrique Nationale(FN) ,belgium, Saive became chief weapon designer in 1930. He was know for modifying design of Browning firearms like the FN pistol and the Browning .30 caliber machinegun. In the 30's, like many others arms designers, Saive worked on a semi automatic rifle and an experimental rifle was ready in 1937, that will later evolve in the FN 49. In 1940, with the german invasion of belgium, Saive successfully fled to U.K and begining to work at the Royal Ordnance Corp Small Arms Design Unit. With the war end's, Saive returned in belgium to get the FN factory back on production and to perfect his semi automatic rifle that would be completed at the end of 1940's and named SAFN 49(semi automatic model 49).
Saive experimental rifle of 1937
The SAFN FN 49
The FN 49 (This unit is an Egyptian contract)
The FN 49 is a gas operated semi automatic rifle, barrel lenght of 590mm,overall length of 1116mm for a weight of 4.31kg,fixed 10 rounds magazine. After firing, gas is bled from the barrel via a gas port and gas push a piston to unlock the breech bolt. In battery, the back of the bolt is held against a lug in the receiver by the bolt carrier. During the rearward motion, the piston push the bolt carrier,unlocking the rear of the bolt and allowing the bolt to travel to the rear, ejecting fired shell and a recoil spring drive the bolt foward picking a new cartridge from the magazine and lock again in rifle receiver. The locking mecanisme of the FN is very similar to the soviet Tokarev SVT 40 and the swedish Jlungman ag42.The bolt will stay open on an empty magazine. Originally, the firing pin was 1 piece type but since it was prone to breakage,a 2 pieces type was designed. Its a very good idea to upgrade the 1 piece firing for the 2 pieces one because if the 1 piece firing pin broke, the tip can stay jammed in the bolt,protubing from the bolt face and can lead to a slam fire incident,firing a round while the bolt is not locked. That possible issue is avoided with the 2 pieces pin. The fixed magazine is loaded using stripper clip or one cartridge at time. The magazine body can be unlocked and removed for cleaning. Another good feature of the FN49 is the adjustable gas system, allowing the rifle to work in any condition with pretty much any ammo. In most adjustable gas operated rifle, adjustements work on the amount of gas that enter in the gas system but the FN is different because the adjustement work actually to vent the excess of gas from the gas system. On the barrel,under the front handguard, there's an adjusting sleeve that can be screwed or unscrewed to regulate the system. The sleeve cover a venting port. Ammo developping more pressure need the gas sleeve to be unscrewed,opening the exhaust port so only enough gas are kept in the system to operate the rifle reliably. Low power ammo need the venting port to be closed more for the rifle to operate correctly. At the front of the gas tube, there's a two position gas plug that can be rotated to close the gas port completely, for grenade launching or to the open position for normal rifle operation. The sights consist of a front blade protected by “wings” and the rear sight is an aperture type,graduated to 1000 m and can be adjusted for windage via opposed screws. On the right side of the receiver,There's a little sliding dust cover to prevent dirt entering in the rifle when not in use. The safety is placed just above the trigger,on the right side. The trigger guard also have a cocking indicator. The FN 49 was available in four calibers, 7.92x57mm mauser, 7.65x53mm argentine,30-06 and 7x57mm mauser. End of barrel is threaded and a cap is screwed on and Venezuelan rifles have a muzzle brake at the end of barrel. Somes rifles also had a dovetail rail on the left side of receiver for scope mounting. The FN 49 is the ancestor of the FN FAL, one of the most widely used rifle after the kalashikov AK 47.
Safety on “safe”
Safety in “fire” position
The cocking indicator
Sliding dust cover
FN 49 production
About 176 257 FN 49 have been built. 125 072 were built in 30-06 caliber, the majority of 30-06 rifles were used by Belgium and the rest being used by Luxembourg ,Belgian Congo,Indonesia,Colombia and Brazil. Venezuela bought 8003 rifles in 7x57mm , Argentina 5541 in 7.65x53 and Egypt received 37 641 in 7.92x57mm. Also FN produced fews test rifles, 5 in 6.5x55mm, 1 in 7.5x54mm MAS and 1 in 7.62x51mmThe belgians models could have selective fire trigger group intalled but with the 10 rounds magazines,would not been of great utility and the rifle receiver are different from the regular rifle so they can accept the selective fire parts. The Argentine Navy converted their FN 49 to 7.62 NATO in early 1960's,including new barrel and detachable 20 rounds magazines,somes of them went on the U.S market in 1990's. Venezuelan,Colombian,Argentin and Egyptian rifles bear their nationnal crest on receiver, the belgian rifle are marked “ABL” and Luxemborg ones “AL”. Browning Arms .Co imported somes 30-06 rifle in U.S.A for commercials sales, they differency from military contracts by the lack of any national crest on receiver and they also have a flash hider similar to the one on Venezuelan rifle. Since the FN was in production from 1949 to 1956 and Browning imported the commercials ones in 1961, commercials rifles were likely built from left over parts. Manys Egyptian FN imported by Century Arms had their stock replaced by newly manufactured stock with a plastic buttplate instead of the original military one.
Argentine Navy FN 49 in 7.62x51mm with removable 20 rounds magazine.
The Venezuelan FN have a 15 inch bayonet instead of the standard 9 inch one.
Venezuelan FN also have a muzzle break while optional accessorie on other contract.
Markings
The differents crest on the FN 49
Belgian FN 49
Luxembourg FN 49
Venezuelan FN 49
Argentine FN 49
Egyptian FN 49
Egyptian contract have arabic number on the rear sight.
Marking disk on Egyptian rifle.
Accessories
FN 49 bayonets. Top, standard bayonet 9 inch blade,bottom Venezuelan bayonet with a 15 inch blade.
Leather sling
Cleaning kit, stored in buttstock,however,the Venezuelan FN dont have a compartiment in the buttstock for a cleaning kit.
Combination wrench
Blank firing device
Grenade laucher.
Disassembly
This is a egyptian contract FN49 in 7.92x57. The disassembly should be same with other contract as well.
Like any firearm, open the action to make sure its unloaded and clear.
If available, the FN49 wrench can be use for basic field strip.
Unlock the magazine catch and remove the mag,spring and follower from the rifle.
On reassembly, be sure that the front part of the mag is engage first before pushing the rear to lock the mag in place.
Pull back and slowly allow the bolt to close.
To unlock the rear cover, turn the lock lever straight up. This may take some effort.
To remove the cover, push foward and lift up and pull it off the rifle.
Note how the notchs in the cover mesh with the receiver.
To remove the bolt/carrier assembly, pull the bolt until the tabs on the carrier match the cuts in the receiver, then lift the assembly up.
Separate the bolt from the carrier.
Bolt disassembly.
Pry and rotate the extractor spring 90* down,the extractor can be removed now.
Push the firing pin foward and remove the extractor spring. After, the firing pin and spring can be removed as well. My FN have the 2 pieces firing pin.
Gas system.
Remove the gas plug by pushing the locking button and rotate the plug 90* clockwise then pull the plug out. Note, if the plug is turned 180*, the gas flow will be shut, this was used to launch grenade with a grenade launcher.
Tilt the rifle foward and the piston and spring should come out.
Basic field strip is now complete.
Further disassembly.
Remove the screw of the front hanguard ferrule and slide the ferrule away,lift up and remove the front handguard.
The gas adjusting sleeve can be removed by unscrewing and sliding of the gas tube. The FN wrench is useful but mine can be turned by hand easily. Just be sure to put it in same position.
Remove the barrel band and the rear handguard.
To remove the trigger group, 3 screws must be removed, 2 of the screws have also lock screws like somes Mauser rifles.
Left to right, front,middle and rear screws.
Pull the trigger group out of rifle. The bolt hold open device can be removed too.
Pull out the stock.
Reassembly is in reverse order.
A view of the piston assembled in rifle.
The muzzle end can be unscrewed with the FN wrench too.
The FN 49 is a very interesting rifle that deserve a place in any firearm collection. Thankyou for looking.
Joce
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