This one-off rifle was produced at FN in 1950 as a testbed for testing different locking systems and manufacturing methods for the Light Automatic Rifle which would eventually become the FAL we know today. It is chambered for the American .30 Carbine cartridge (7.62x33mm) and uses a single-lug rotating bolt and an M1-style fire control system. It was not part of the main linear development of the FAL, but rather an offshoot experiment. Ultimately only this one example was made, and unfortunately we have no records on its performance or testing – but it remains an extremely cool prototype.
Many thanks to the Ars Mechanica Foundation for giving me access to this unique rifle to film for you! You can find their history book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Ars-Mechanica-Innovation-Jean-Marc-Gay/dp/0300267002
The best firearms reference books: https://www.headstamppublishing.com
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http://www.floatplane.com/channel/ForgottenWeapons
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At Forgotten Weapons I think the most interesting guns out there are the most obscure ones. I try to search out experimental and prototype weapons and show you how they work, in addition to more conventional guns that you may not have heard of before. You’re much more likely to find a video on the Cei Rigotti or Webley-Fosbery here than an AR or Glock. So, do you want to learn about something new today? Then stick around!
