Fabrique Nationale Model 1949 / SAFN (FN-49)

Fabrique Nationale Model 1949 / SAFN (FN-49) History

Before (and during) World War II (1939-1945), several world powers clearly switched to self-loading rifles (SLRs). Several large armies have introduced SLR rifles with standardized output, replacing their slower-firing bolt-action rifles from earlier decades. Self-loading rifles allow infantry to fire repeatedly through semi-automatic trigger actions/systems, offering significant advantages over enemies that still rely on manual operating procedures.

During World War II, almost every major power used some form of semi-automatic rifle, including the famous American M1 Garand and the Soviet Tokarev SVT series.

The Belgian National Factory had been working on this rifle before the war. The design will take the generally accepted "gun shape", a long stock that combines the grip and stock, while introducing aero-mechanical functionality. FN engineer Dieudonne Saive patented the rifle in 1936 and produced a working prototype the following year.

However, the product was stalled by the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, and was put on hold indefinitely with the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940.

Saive managed to continue his research on rifles from Portugal, where he now lives. Belgium was finally liberated by Axis forces in September 1944, allowing Saive to return to Liege to continue his work. When the war in Europe ended in May 1945, the 1947 rifle was more or less complete. It was named SAFN Model 1949 by Fabrique Nationale, but was also known as "FN-49" and "Fusil Automatique Modele 49" throughout its career.

Interestingly, the Belgian Army was not its first buyer - the credit went to Venezuela, which ordered the type in March 1948.

Saive has created a solid work quality rifle worthy of the Fabrique Nationale brand label. It weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces, measures 43.5 inches long, and has a barrel length of 23 inches. The gun will eventually come with a variety of cartridges to suit customer tastes. The action relies on a pneumatic function with toggle bolts - similar to what was on the Soviet Tokarev SVT line.

Gas cylinders have a plunger mounted on the barrel that provides the necessary passage for escaping gas. Feed from a fixed 10-round magazine located below and in front of the action - either by a 5-round 'drop clip' or loaded from a single cartridge.

The stripper clip allows for quick reloading with five ready-to-fire cartridges mounted on the clip. During the semi-automatic action, the cartridges are "stripped" from the clip one at a time. The stock includes a curved grip behind the trigger group, as well as a shoulder rest.

Finger grooves along the wooden front end provide an improved fore grip area for the assisting hand. The action is set in a wooden body, with a charging handle (and an ejection port) on the right. A treadmill was added to the front end for more rigidity.

The barrel only protrudes forward a short distance, resulting in a relatively compact rifle system. Aiming is via traditional front and rear iron sights, while optics assist in true long-range shooting.

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SAFN arrived just in time to see relatively successful sales in the postwar market, and many had a clear desire for a modern self-loading bolt-action rifle. However, with much of Europe benefiting from the abundant supply of Anglo-American WWII guns, other countries have allied themselves with the Communist Soviet Union and are evaluating Soviet-made small arms. This leaves Fabrique Nationale with a fairly limited pool of potential suitors to market their new rifle. As a result, clients often have no connection to the West or East, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Luxembourg and Venezuela.

Thus, rooms range from . 30-06 Springfield, 8x57mm IS, 7. 57mm Mauser, 7. 62x51mm NATO, 7. 65x53mm Argentine and 7. 92x57mm Mauser form. The Argentine form was eventually converted to be fed by a 20-round detachable magazine.

SAFN performed well in service and managed a healthy lifespan for the operators that used it. However, like other country-made weapons designed to high standards and quality workmanship, the SAF proved to be an expensive weapon to procure in quantity. This resulted in a limited range compared to contemporaries.

In any case, SAFN provided the basis for what may be the most important Cold War product of the upcoming Fabrique Nationale - the famous FN FAL battle rifle, which is detailed elsewhere on this site.

In general, SAF rifles were used in the Korean War (1950-1953), the Congo Crisis (1960-1966), the Suez Crisis (1956) and the Falklands War (1982).

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