FN T48 replica ; finally finished!!

[SteyrAUG]

DSA's T48 were primarily produced for the California market AND during the actual Assault Weapons Ban, most had a fixed 10 round magazine, later style stripper clip top cover and a faux long browning style flash hider. Furniture was more like a type C FN FAL, sights were low, lower was an aluminum styled to fit a type 1 receiver. Not really a replica of much of anything, looked more like a Belgian export M2 without the gray paint finish.

Type A's had tall open ear sights (Israel, Argentina and Commonwealth continued taller sights, FN/Steyr went with short G1 sights), blocky grips, square trigger guard, different forearm, steel lower had specific lightning and stock attachment cuts that interfaced with a buttstock that was different than subsequent buttstocks, top cover was a little different from subsequent versions, chrome or polished carrier (sometimes), could be found with or without long browning flash hiders. Small parts like the selector, takedown lever, takedown pin assembly, etc were different on the type A. I think the type A lower has a selector that is in fact incompatible with later variations, but that might just be the Israeli type A's. The lugged barrels only accept type A bayonets. The gas system and gas block on type A rifles is more akin to what you'd find on later Israeli FAL's also.

Steyr, if you want a cool early FAL, find an FN G-series, but be prepared to pay. I had the chance to buy one for a good price, boy did I screw up.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=324809249

Thanks for the data. I knew about the early G series imports. Kinds a sister rifle to my early G3 semi import. But I think I'd actually grab a premay FN G1 before I went with a G series semi.

[Vash1023]

congrats, looks great

[Larry Vickers]

I haven't really shot it yet beyond test firing - way too busy right now with SHOT show and the 2013 training schedule kicking off

When I film with it later on this year for the show maybe ill get a chance to wring it out

Very cool FAL - I am extremely pleased with how it turned out

[dewatters]

The T48's adoption was doomed the moment the Army passed its production from High Standard to Harrington & Richardson. H&R should have never been allowed to bid on another Ordnance contract after they failed to deliver on their M1911A1 educational contract. When a firearms manufacturer gets shown up by a sewing machine company, someone should have taken the hint.

An endnote in "The Great Rifle Controversy" mentions the other bidders on the T48 contract that went to H&R. If I recall correctly, the next lowest bids were submitted by International Harvester and Winchester.

[SteyrAUG]

The T48's adoption was doomed the moment the Army passed its production from High Standard to Harrington & Richardson. H&R should have never been allowed to bid on another Ordnance contract after they failed to deliver on their M1911A1 educational contract. When a firearms manufacturer gets shown up by a sewing machine company, someone should have taken the hint.

An endnote in "The Great Rifle Controversy" mentions the other bidders on the T48 contract that went to H&R. If I recall correctly, the next lowest bids were submitted by International Harvester and Winchester.

After reading the Blake Stevens books, I don't think H&R was the problem. Seems the powers that be were intent upon going to an improved Garand design (what would become the M-14). H&R managed to provide some of the Korean War Garands and if they weren't capable of production demands it would have simply shifted to Winchester or IHC as you noted.

And it is probably a good thing, if you think the first M-16s had problems in Vietnam, I don't think the FAL rifle would have done as well. It would be a great rifle for fighting in Eastern Europe, but as others have noted it requires some level or responsibility to maintain. Of course the M-14 would have done much better in a theater such as Eastern Europe as well.

I think all things considered, including various shenanigans and teething issues in the early days, we ended up with the best rifle in the best caliber for our needs.

That said, there are still about a dozen FAL variants on my "still need" list. One of the more interesting rifles out there, I just wish more true variants were more available.

[armakraut]

Remember, you can get real preban Israeli, Argentine and Aussie FAL's too. Wasn't just the Belgians that imported variants, there's a greater variety than people think floating around, but some are very rare.

I'm not sure if H&R even manufactured any FAL's or parts, they probably just got the rifles directly from Belgium or assembled them. H&R also supposedly "manufactured" the T223 (HK33) for the Seals in Vietnam, but they were all German guns with SEF marked trigger packs.

[SteyrAUG]

Remember, you can get real preban Israeli, Argentine and Aussie FAL's too. Wasn't just the Belgians that imported variants, there's a greater variety than people think floating around, but some are very rare.

I'm not sure if H&R even manufactured any FAL's or parts, they probably just got the rifles directly from Belgium or assembled them. H&R also supposedly "manufactured" the T223 (HK33) for the Seals in Vietnam, but they were all German guns with SEF marked trigger packs.

Brazilian also. Technically I suppose DSA rifles qualify is Steyrs.

Aren't Aussie inch patterns pretty rare?

IIRC, the Izzies were all Hbars correct? From memory wasn't that the Springfield Heavy Barrel and the standard rifles Brazilian?

[armakraut]

The actual Israeli rifles by onyx were light barrels. The Springfields were imbel receivers with izzy parts, or straight Brazilian guns.

One sold for 1900 bucks on the fal files a couple days ago.

http://www.falfiles.com/groups/showthread.php?t=316513

Inch pattern imports were VERY rare. FN heavy barrel FALO imports seem to be also exceedingly rare.

There are supposedly 350 Aussie lithgow l1a1's in the country, half of them imported by John Poyer. Century imported and sold safety sear cut semi-auto Enfield l1a1's during the ban, they were sold to individual LEO's with letterhead. Century also imported Indian FAL's in the same manner. Neither seem to turn up in any great numbers. I think most real inch guns are in excess of 8k in the current marketplace.

[Jaws]

For some reason I keep coming back to this thread to look at the pictures.
I love that thing.

[AFCATM]

Awesome FAL. I have always loved FAL's too. I recently got back into black guns again. I spent a month or two debating on a DSArms FAL or a Colt 6920. I got the 6920 although not as amped up about my purchase as a FAL I think I did good. But I will do my best to get a FAL soon. Good luck with the shooter can't wait to see it on the show.