Saive Automatique, Fabrique Nationale (SAFN) Model 1949 Range Report

Usually the specimens I have found range in price from $500 to $1000.  I will on occasion spend that much for a mil-surp rifle, but I REALLY have to WANT the rifle to do so.

I usually get a lot of emails after I write an article asking me - "Hey Jamie, where can I get one of those rifles?".  Let me say this - the FN-49 is not usually something you are going to find in ads in Shotgun News for a couple hundred dollars shipped to your front door.

Although the FN-49 is a C&R rifle (Classified as - Fabrique Nationale, model SAFN49 semiautomatic rifles, any caliber by the BATF), you will usually only find them in quantities of one or two and maybe on consignment from someone like you and me.

The FN-49 is something you are going to have to keep an eye out for when you are perusing the isles of the Gun Show or when you are visiting Gun Stores, Pawn Shops, etc.

My friend Tony getting ready to load up and shoot the 7.62x51 Nato FN-49 we had with us.

Designed by Dieudonne Saive of Fabrique Nationale (FN) prior to WWII, but not manufactured until after WWII, the FN-49 is very similar in functionality to the Soviet SVT rifles and the Simonov carbines (SKS). If you are familiar with any one of the three rifles, I have found that you can easily understand the operating principles and maintenance of all three.

The FN-49 is the predecessor to the famous FN-FAL rifle, which was manufactured and carried by most non-communist countries in the post WWII world.

If not for the overwhelming abundance and availability of surplus military arms after WWII probably many more FN-49 rifles would have been manufactured and sold by the FN company.  It is a fact that Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and The United States supplied amazing amounts of WWII era weapons to most countries making it very difficult for weapons manufacturers to sell their rifles.

Another contributing factor to the demise of the FN-49 is by the time it was actually manufactured the design was already obsolete.

Figure 1 - Venezuelan FN converted to 7.62x51 Nato

The FN-49 weighs almost as much as the M1 Garand but for some reason, to me, seems almost "carbine" like in overall dimensions. What I mean by this statement is that it seems shorter than the Garand, but in reality it is about the same length and size. Kind of reminds me of pulling an SKS up to your shoulder - but heavier.

The 3 piece stock is usually European walnut with a military oil finish. The design is very ergonomic with a semi-pistol grip and two handguards.

The most common FN-49 magazine is a 10 round non-detachable type. The magazine is not really designed to be removed to feed the rifle. The rifle is loaded through the top of the receiver via a stripper clip, but is easily loaded a single cartridge at a time.

Figure 2 - Venezuelan FN converted to 7.62x51 Nato

The first (as shown in figure 2) was a Venezuelan FN-49 that had been converted to the abundantly available 7.62x51 Nato cartridge. I picked up some surplus ammo that only cost around $3 per 20 rounds.

Quality ammo for most of the available FN-49 models (30.06, 8mm, and 7.62 Nato) is bountifully available in the surplus market and is at bargain-basement prices. A perfect combination for a fun and accurate shooter.

Figure 3 - Cheap and accurate Portuguese 7.62x51 Nato ammo

Figure 4 - Loaded 30.06 Luxembourg FN-49

1) The gas cylinder plug was set to non-semiautomatic,  grenade launch mode. This is when the "R" is visible on the gas cylinder plug (this is true on all FN-49 rifles except for 8mm Mauser rifles of which the letter "A" and "R" are in Arabic).  When I fired the first cartridge all of the gas was vented off before reaching the gas piston. The first couple of rounds I fired would not cycle the bolt at all and the empty cases would not eject unless I manually cycled the bolt. After I turned the gas cylinder plug till the letter "A" was displayed facing upward,  the rifle cycled in semiautomatic mode just like it was designed to do.

Figure 5 - 30.06 Luxembourg FN-49

Amazing how a rifle works correctly when it is properly adjusted for the mode and ammo you are shooting!

Figure 6 - Proper sight picture for the FN-49

The elevation of the rear sight is graduated to 1000 meters and can be adjusted in increments of 100 meters.

On the FN-49 the "battle sight" position is when the rear sight is pulled all of the way to the rear of the gradient. The range of the "battle sight" measures out at 300 meters. A "battle sight" usually refers to a setting on a rifle that allows for the shooter to hit a man sized target between X distance and Y distance without having to adjust elevation of the rear sight. With the FN-49 X = 50 Meters and Y = 350 meters.

Windage on the FN-49 sights can be set at either the front or rear sights, but not easily in my opinion. The rear sight is adjusted via screws but has no settings or marks as a guide, while the front sight is adjustable via a hammer and punch method. Like most mil-surp rifles that have been sitting for more than 50 years, good luck moving the front sight easily.

Figure 7 - FN-49 (7.62x51 Nato) 5 shot grouping at 50 yards

I would have to say the 7.62 Nato FN-49 was a real pleasure to shoot and very accurate as well. Regardless of recoil, both rifles pulled in exceptional accuracy.

Figure 8 -  FN-49 (7.62x51 Nato) 10 shot grouping at 50 yards

Figure 9 -  FN-49 (7.62x51 Nato) 5 shot grouping at 100 yards

Figure 10 -  FN-49 (30.06) 10 shot grouping at 50 yards

Figure 11 -  FN-49 (30.06) 5 shot grouping at 50 yards

Figure 12 -  FN-49 (30.06) 5 shot grouping at 50 yards

For someone who is looking for a rifle to collect there are enough diversity in the models found today to make it interesting enough to collect the FN-49. Although collecting would be an expensive proposition, none the less it would be rewarding.

To gauge the quality of the FN-49 I think it might be helpful to compare it to another rifle. If I had to make a comparison between the FN-49 and another rifle I guess I would choose the SKS. I make this choice because of the similarity in functionality and size.

I would say the following: The FN-49 and SKS function almost identically. But this is where the similarities stop.

Comparing the FN-49 to the SKS (and I really like the SKS) is like comparing a Ford Focus with a Mercedes Benz. Both vehicles have four wheels, an engine, brakes, etc.  The FN-49 is like someone took the SKS and said - "Let's make a luxury version of the SKS, cut no manufacturing corners, and not worry about cost and materials".

In all fairness - the beauty of the SKS is - it is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. But then again this is probably why so many SKS were manufactured above and beyond the number of FN-49 produced. 

This is my report and opinion of the FN-49.

jlm;)

Rifles used in article courtesy of River City Gun Exchange

W.H.B. Smith and Joseph E. Smith, "The Book of Rifles, Third Edition", The Stackpole Company, 1963.

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