My SAFN-49 Luxembourg Contract

[Bongo Boy]

I've had this rifle since I was probably about 13 years old or so, and I believe I'm the only person to have owned it after its import into the US.

I rediscovered it about 4 months ago and was concerned that, after having been in storage for 20 years or so, it might be in rough shape. Ran a swab through the barrel and it looks absolutely brand new. Ran a bore brush through it just it case it only looked clean, then a patch. Still looked like it was chromed.

Anyway, I'm not interested in shooting it, although I bought two boxes of Winchester just to verify it shoots, etc. While the stock is nearly blemish-free, the bore is like it came off the factory floor yesterday, and metal parts are in perfect condition and corrosion-free...the finish itself has taken a bit of a beating.

In spite of a good deal of info on the internet about this model, I find most of it is just a repeat of the same stuff, and there's nothing I found regarding what the finish is. It looks a lot like paint, actually. I assume having it refinished would destroy its value to quite a few folks, but I wonder if anyone is known for refinishing these rifles in the 'best way' possible.

[Marlin]

Any chance of Pic's?

Is it kind of a clear finish, that is flaking? There is a chance that it just might be thinned out linseed oil..

[Bongo Boy]

Oh, it's the metal finish, not the stock I'm concerned about. The stock is in very good condition--it's just not a gorgeoous piece of walnut or anything. Photos look worse than the gun actually looks to me (highlights of the worn finish are very nicely accentuated):

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/BreechLeftClosed.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/ButtLH02.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/ButtLH.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/FrontSightLHClose.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/FrontSightTop2.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/ReceiverRH2Close.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/MuzzleLH3Close.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/ReceiverTopChamberClose.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/RifleProfileRight02.jpg

...and of course, the obligatory

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/SAFN-49/Breech1.jpg

I read that all SAFNs were originally blued, and that only the Egyptian contract weapons were later given the paint finish. That looks to be not true. The metal on this one has virtually no marks in it at all--everything is in excellent shape if you were to peel it down to the bare metal. I have to get it out to the range this week and see how it does at 100 yds. I recall it was one helluva lot more fun to shoot, when I was a kid, than my '03A3. :)

[jerrymrc]

The father of the Fal. I would like to get a 49 someday.

[earplug]

I shot one years ago. All the machine work would is very nice.

[Troublco]

Yes, refinishing it would destroy it's collectors value. That'd be a shame as these rifles aren't very common. I always figured that any finish wear a piece like this has is just part of its pedigree and it had earned; so I keep 'em that way. They have more character if they've been used. Plus, the really nice ones (like the 1917 Enfield I just picked up) I don't want to use because it's really hard to find them in that shape. I just get one in average shape then, and shoot that one.

Yours is actually in fairly nice shape. I've seen a lot of FN-49's that were really beat. Yours appears to be just normal use. I have a Danish Madsen M47 made for the Colombian Navy that has a painted finish on certain parts that has worn some too. But I've only ever seen 5 or 6 of these rifles, so I'm not going to mess with it.