If ever you’ve wanted to own a WWII-era battle rifle but were put off by the cost of the M1 Garand, the Russian SVT-40 and the German G.41 or G.43, allow me to suggest a decent alternative, the Belgian FN-49, as offered by Collectors in its “Egyptian” variant.
Why choose a gun that was obsolete almost as soon as it began production?
Let’s start off with the fact that it was designed by Dieudonné Saive, the man who refined the John Moses Browning High Power pistol. He began work on the design just before Belgium was invaded in WWII by you-know-who, and only got to finish it in the late 1940s. So you know the gun is going to work well.
Secondly, it uses stripper clips rather than a detachable magazine, which means that replacement / additional mag costs are zero because 8mm clips are cheap and readily available.
Thirdly, it shoots the manly 7.92x57mm (a.k.a. 8mm Mauser) cartridge. (Those wanting less recoil should opt for the Venezuelan contract model, which shoots the 7x57mm cartridge. I lost mine in the Great Canoeing Accident On The Brazos, but I can attest to its greatness.)
Finally, it is a joy to shoot: smooth operation, reliable feeding (even when chambering the rimmed 7×57), manageable recoil and excellent accuracy. (One caveat: the older single-piece firing pin is prone to breaking, and when it does, you’ll get the occasional double-fire slamfire which is irritating not to mention dangerous. When you buy yours, have the seller affirm that it’s been fitted with a two-piece firing pin.)
Yes, it’s a heavy gun, just like the Garand and G.41, but that’s why the recoil is bearable.
If you already own a Mauser K98 boltie (as every rifleman should), why then, you’ll have an adequate supply of ammo, won’t you?
And if you have rifles chambered in .30-06 Springfield, then you should get the “Belgian” contract FN-49, which are thus chambered. (If you want to read more about it, go here or here.)
Sheesh… as I write this, I can sense that I’m talking myself into wanting this lovely rifle.
You could do worse, a lot worse, than having the FN-49 as your SHTF rifle.
In the far way-back times of my youth, I had the good fortune to fire one in 8X57. It was just as you describe. At the time, I was a (sort of) starving college student on the G.I. bill, and already knee deep in the M1 Garand, so never made any serious effort to acquiring an FN.
I had one – an Egyptian exactly as depicted, acquired at the tail-end of my CRFFL holding twentysome years ago. I’ve still got a half box of 8×57 around here somewhere that didn’t go with the rifle when I traded it off. Nice enough gun, I just never got excited about it.
One quibble:
The 7x57mm Mauser isn’t rimmed. It’s got effectively the same case head as the 7.92×57 / 8×57 Mauser. They can even use the same stripper clips.
I’m not sure what you’re referencing there.
I have a beautiful iteration of the Venezuelan model in 7×57 Mauser
But I have not shot it yet
They’re hot looking rifles
Ive seen these show up at various matches at local clubs. A retired Navy Captain at our club ran a Memorial Day match and a Veteran’s Day match. One was for bolt action milsurps and the other was for semi auto milsurps with allowances made for M1A and AR15s. The variety of rifles that were brought to these bragging rights matches was educational and a joy.
JQ