belgian FAL

[par]

I just received a FAL.

anyrate I was wondering what it is worth. I have a friend who seems to think it is worth around 3grand, and I don't think it is worth quite that much.

the serial number 2502XXX which seems fairly high to me but my friend insists that this is a early FAL.
the receiver is stamped Fabrique Nationale Herstal, Made In Belgium, Steyr Secaucus NJ
It has "Match .308" stamped on the opposite side of the reciever.

I did a little looking around and found one that seemed identical to mine sold on ar15.com around dec. of last year for 2200, but wasn't sure if mine was actually the same.

 

[KodiakBeer]

If it's an original early FAL, it's select fire...

The early FAL's are G1's like mine below. However, mine (to be legal) had to be rebuilt on a semi-auto receiver. If yours is some semi-auto version and indeed all original and in good shape, it might well be worth 3 grand. If it's rebuilt like mine, it's worth far less.

 

[rswartsell]

Man Kodiak,

I would say that is one handsome rifle except your choice of backdrop just blows it away!

 

[par]

mine is indeed, semi-auto, it doesn't have wooden furniture.


below is a picture of one that is exactly like mine as far as i can tell, though not mine, I don't have a camera handy ;_;

I too, was gazing lovingly at the rifle, but then got distracted by the mountain and lake.

also anyone have anything to say about the century FAL rebuilds, now that I have one, I'd like a second one(this always happens) mostly so my brother can use it when we go to the range.

 

[KodiakBeer]

If it doesn't have wooden furniture, it's not early. Also, if yours has the "flat" upper receiver (like the picture you enclosed), instead of the "scalloped" receiver with the lightening cuts like mine, then it's a rebuild off one of the cheaper receivers.

A few years back a lot of people were building FAL's from kits. You had to replace the receiver and you could go low-end without the lightening cuts or high-end with one that matched the original (lightening cuts).

Some of those "low-end" receivers (Imbel for example) are excellent as far as function goes, but others not so much.

Look for stamps on the upper receiver. If it's Imbel, it's probably a good shooter worth $800 to $1000.

 

[par]

I'm not sure I know what you mean by lightening cuts, but the top of my receiver is not flat. rounded on top, pretty thin.

here is a better picture.

 

[KodiakBeer]

What I mean by the lightening cuts is the metal trimmed out of the receiver to lighten it - see the ledges, layers, cuts on mine where yours is flat.

However, yours is clearly marked Fabrique National on the upper receiver so it's an original and frankly, I don't know what you have there. As an original (even if it's some late civilian import), I suspect it's worth more than a rebuild.

Check out Falfiles.com and I'm sure somebody over there can tell you exactly what you have and exactly what it's worth.

I'm sure curious, so if you find out please drop back and let us know...?

http://www.falfiles.com/index.php

 

[par]

will do kodiakbeer, thank you for all your replies.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I would say that is one handsome rifle except your choice of backdrop just blows it away!

I just took that picture yesterday - summer is here...

 

[hso]

par,

You have a highly collectable REAL Fabrique Nationale FAL made in Belgium and imported by Steyr in Secaucus NJ back in the early 70's. $2000-$3000 price range these days if in very good condition.

Being an import it should be a semi.

As previously noted, drop by FALfiles to get more details.

 

[Jim K]

AFAIK, all the FALs imported for the general market were semi-auto only. There were a few select fire guns brought in for military tests, but those were not (or at least should not) have been available to civilians.

Jim

 

[par]

hey kodiakbeer here is what thefalfiles member J. armstrong had to say
"
It is a Steyr import type 3 50.00 which is late in the FAL production run, probably mid/late '70s. Looks to be in nice shape, , presuming no box, papers, or accessories, about $2500 - $2800 or so, a hundred or so more if it is sear cut ( this is why Gary suggested the ejector block pic. A shot of the ubderside between the magwell and front of triggerguard would do equally well. See R&D, FAQ, I think there will be pics there to help you determine if it is indeed sear cut.) Some regional variation, and as always, the current market is soft but variable, if a seller wanted to wait for the "right" buyer, he might break $3000 but I wouldn't hold my breath.

However, it is a nice collectible and will appreciate in value if maintained in that condition.

Gary, of course it is a preban if it is Herstal mfg."

although I see i missed some posts over here in the intervening time.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Terrific! Have you shot it yet?

 

[rswartsell]

I am risking thread hijack here so forgive or ignore as seems appropriate. I have never fired a FAL even though I have wanted one for some 30 years. How do they compare to my SA M1A standard?

 

[KodiakBeer]

I have never fired a FAL even though I have wanted one for some 30 years. How do they compare to my SA M1A standard?

It's hard to say. Most of the FALs around are built from parts imported a few years ago. Some of those kits (particularly the G1's and SA 58's), were in new to almost new condition. Some of the Century builds are just atrocious. DSA builds are generally excellent.

I built mine from a G1 parts kit on an F.A.C. receiver. I was more interested in making it historically correct, than into a "tacticool" rifle. The barrel is pristine and it easily makes two inch groups on the iron sights. You can slap a scope on it by just buying a top cover with a picatinny rail - takes ten seconds to install a scope or return it to original condition. It's a great shooter even with the light military barrel.

So, I guess the answer to whether it's as good as an M1A is to ask who built it. There are some shoddy ones out there, but also some that will rival the best M1A's.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Steyr was importing these into the 80's I have some old Gun Digest ads that list them as a "semi auto version of the FAL". 3 grand doesn't seem that high for insurance purposes.

They were never imported in huge numbers and this was long before the 'black rifle craze.'

 

[rswartsell]

So no inherent design superiority that you wish to note over the much older M-14 iteration of the Garand design (other than the noted PG and ease of accessories)? Instinctively I thought there would be some, I'm fully aware execution is spotty (as it is with M-14 derivatives).

 

[KodiakBeer]

The only thing I'd say is really superior on the FAL is that you can instantly open or narrow the gas port with a dial behind the front sight. For example when I've shot old Milsurp Greek .762 it begins to foul after a hundred rounds or so and you'll get jams, then you can just reach up and open the gas port a couple of notches and keep shooting.

Ergonomically, I think the M1A is superior, at least in semi-auto mode. The pistol grip is probably just the thing in the full-auto version FAL, but in semi...? I'd rather have the M1A.

They're both fine rifles and fun to shoot.

 

[Jim K]

Maybe Dr. Rob can confirm this from the ads, but I seem to recall that those guns were on the order of $1700, and that was in the 1960's, about the time I bought a new Fairlane for $2500. I didn't buy the FAL.

Jim

 

[hso]

There were things about the design of the FAL that M14 could have benefited from incorporating. Straight piston operation instead of offset op rod, pistol grip, adjustable gas system allowing different types/quality ammunition that also allowed for easy grenade fire, easy replacement of parts/barrels. Some folks point to the use of polymer furniture, but the M14 abandoned wood for fiberglass so there's no marks for greater innovation to either there. Full auto mode was never an advantage for either weapon. My retired Rhodesian and South African acquaintances that I've talked with had much the same opinion as my buddies that were Marines in Vietnam, full auto was a waste of ammo and too difficult to control in 7.62 NATO in a light battle rifle.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Some folks point to the use of polymer furniture, but the M14 abandoned wood for fiberglass so there's no marks for greater innovation to either there.

The original FAL had wood furniture also. One other thing about the FAL that most people don't often realize is that you can noticeably reduce recoil by adjusting the gas system. I've never shot one in full auto, but it might be more effective than an M14 in full auto for that reason.