"The SAFN-49 (Saive Automatique, Fabrique Nationale Modèle 1949 to give it its correct name) was developed at Fabrique Nationale in Herstal, Belgium in the mid-to late 1930s at exactly the same time as the American M1 Garand and the Soviet SVT38/40. Dieudonné J. Saive, the rifle's designer developed a tilting block system that locked the bolt against the breech by allowing it to drop down against a hardened steel step. But the Nazi attack on, and occupation of Belgium precluded its use in World War II where it surely would have ranked in importance with the M1 Garand and far ahead of the G41 and G43 German semiautomatic battle rifles that preceded the MP44."

- Publisher

The SAFN-49 Battle Rifle: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide is just that, a shooter's guide first and then a collector's guide.  This book's style is a divergence from the popular North Cape Publication's "For Collector's Only" series of books. It does cover most of the same topics as a "For Collector's Only" style book, but also quite a bit more. Joe's book supplies equal coverage to maintenance and shooting as the book gives to collecting the FN-49. 

One of the few books published on the subject and per the publisher, the only one printed in the English language.

Heck, that's enough reason to pick up a copy.

It may be the only one available on the market - but the author was not complacent in his task of producing a great "How To" manual as well as a great "Collector's Guide".

Some of the highlights of the SAFN-49 Battle Rifle: A Shooter's and Collector's Guide:

• Lots of photos;
• Easy to read narrative style;
• Large "How To" sections on shooting, sighting-in, maintenance, and troubleshooting;
• Model by Model comparison of similarities and differences between parts, caliber, and functionality;
• and much, much more!

Paperback: 69 pages
Publisher: North Cape Publications; 1 edition (December 1, 1999)
ISBN: 1882391225
 

This book can be purchased for around $15 + S&H at -

http://www.northcapepubs.com/

List of Chapters and Appendices

1. The SAFN Model 1949 Rifle;
2. ABL/SAFN-49 Component Identification;
3. Parts Identification;
4. SANF-49 Sniper Rifle; 
5. Shooting the SAFN-49;
6. Accuracy and the SAFN-49;
7. The Century International Arms;
8. Disassembly and Reassembly of the SAFN-49;
9. Trouble-Shooting the SAFN-49;
10. Maintenance and Repair;
11. The Successor to the SAFN-49, the FAL;
12. Appendix A;
13. Appendix B