Arizona Response Systems (ARS) Built "Replica" StG 58.

This is the first one I've ever seen. It belongs to my neighbor who has never, ever, fired it. How he acquired it, is anybody's guess. He is a Purple Heart Vietnam vet and has turned down all my invitations to attend some of our local shoots. I guess he got his fill of shooting during his Southeast Asia Camp Out.

T. Mark Graham of ARS built exactly ten of these back around 2000. He used matching s/n Austrian parts kits and Imbel forged receivers. He re-machined and re-marked the receivers to duplicate the original Austrian markings. After receiving a "Cease and Desist" letter from FN no more of these rifles were ever built.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hvgdwyqg-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eqxvcv6k-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...g2fmvs8t-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5gnjbfpr-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ohqgxeip-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...sknjbu8n-1.jpg

Looks nice, isn't the colour a bit gray and matt compared to the original rifles though, I seem to recall the parkerising with a distinct blue semi matt finish on the original STG58?

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Looks nice, isn't the colour a bit gray and matt compared to the original rifles though, I seem to recall the parkerising with a distinct blue semi matt finish on the original STG58?

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I have no clue as I've never seen an original STG 58. Also, the camera I used to take the photos is crap.

Original matching numbers STG58 (deact of course being the UK!) for comparison. Camera not great either I'm afraid.
P.S. Having just seen the amusing thread on the 'other' forum, I'd be surprised if FN's lawyers were able to have the last word! John, maybe you should've taken a leaf out of their book :D:rofl:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9/qpmn89-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../106dhsh-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../344r2h0-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by desperatedan

Original matching numbers STG58 (deact of course being the UK!) for comparison. Camera not great either I'm afraid.
P.S. Having just seen the amusing thread on the 'other' forum, I'd be surprised if FN's lawyers were able to have the last word! John, maybe you should've taken a leaf out of their book

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:lol: I did have a little fun ... but I don't want to be responsible for a heart attack, poor old bugger!:lol:

---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

Anyway, according to him this is "the other forum" :rofl:

---------- Post added at 11:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

:lol: I did have a little fun ... but I don't want to be responsible for a heart attack, poor old bugger!:lol:

---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

Anyway, according to him this is "the other forum" :rofl:

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Oh, almost forgot, thats the colour I remember, very nice example, cracking scope too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

:lol: I did have a little fun ... but I don't want to be responsible for a heart attack, poor old bugger!:lol:
---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------
Anyway, according to him this is "the other forum" :rofl:
---------- Post added at 11:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

Oh, almost forgot, thats the colour I remember, very nice example, cracking scope too!

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Wow! I just finished reading your ongoing "conversation" with Mark. I finished a 16 oz. Gin & Tonic while doing so. Now, that's entertainment.

Dan, Just a Pedantic (But Correct) Point. Your Hinge pin screw is in the wrong way around.
it should be turned 180 Degrees & refitted. (EASY!).............;)

Just an Armourers eye for detail. But I was always tought at Tech Training school, the 'Right' way to do things.

It makes no difference to a Deact or indeed a Live Firing Example. However.............
What I have stated here, is the CORRECT (& how they left the factory) position in the Weapon.

To be truthful, when fitted correctly, it looks just that bit better astheticly.
And nothing personal towards you obviously.
But when something is not 'Right', I find it annoying!.....:madsmile:

:cheers: Mike.

Mike, thanks.
The pics are from a couple of years ago when I first picked it up and I did realise after posting them that it showed it the wrong way round. Rest assured it was fixed long ago!
I'm not sure if its not a replacement anyway given the difference in finish from the rest of the rifle.
Regards Kev

Doesn't look like the clicky-out ends of the screw are protruding sufficiently either. Needs to be screwed in a bit more. It's these spring loaded ends that prevent the screw from unscrewing

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Originally Posted by MG34_Dan

Wow! I just finished reading your ongoing "conversation" with Mark. I finished a 16 oz. Gin & Tonic while doing so. Now, that's entertainment.

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Morning Dan, how long have you had the STG, they are very interesting members of the Fal family with their built in grenade launchers.

From our UK collectors perspective, they are also the most reasonable to buy.

Any more fals in the collection?

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Morning Dan, how long have you had the STG, they are very interesting members of the Fal family with their built in grenade launchers.
From our UK collectors perspective, they are also the most reasonable to buy.
Any more fals in the collection?

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It isn't mine. It belongs to my neighbor. As far as I know, he has no other FAL. I do have an L1A1 that I traded for a while ago. It has British mixed serial number components, all wood furniture, a Canadian rotary diopter rear sight, and a well used Canadian .22lr conversion kit. It also has a funky Aussie pattern upper receiver, but that's another story. It's descent looking and a unique piece.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MG34_Dan

It isn't mine. It belongs to my neighbor. As far as I know, he has no other FAL. I do have an L1A1 that I traded for a while ago. It has British mixed serial number components, all wood furniture, a Canadian rotary diopter rear sight, and a well used Canadian .22lr conversion kit. It also has a funky Aussie pattern upper receiver, but that's another story. It's descent looking and a unique piece.

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If possible, I would love to see a few pictures of that one, sounds very interesting!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

If possible, I would love to see a few pictures of that one, sounds very interesting!

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I'll get some pics taken of the weapon in a couple days. As a teaser, here are a couple photos of it taken a few years ago prior to me trading for it.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...298small-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...299small-1.jpg

These pictures were taken when the original owner and I were trying to determine who manufactured the upper. It turned out the upper was made by the machine shop who did the sub-contracting work for Entreprise in California back in the mid '80s. Well, it seems that Entreprise did not pay the machine shop for their work, so the machine shop "obtained" a few receivers in lieu of cash. The receivers were then built into complete weapons and sold at the old LA County Gun Show. Sadly, the LA County Gun Show is no more.

Very nice indeed Dan, that looks like a very close copy of the Lithgow cut receiver.

I have to say, speaking as a complete anorak, I prefer the Lithgow cut, to the British cut receivers, the curved lines are just more pleasing for some reason....I know sad!

Not all StG58's were gray parkerized. The first 20,000-30,000 FN made were blued.
I have seen earlier Steyr production parts kit runs both in park and intermittent blued StG's. Most if not all of the later StG's perduction run were gray park.

FN with FN wood stock.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...128_2839-1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

If possible, I would love to see a few pictures of that one, sounds very interesting!

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OK. I'm on a picture taking tirade today. Here are some pictures of my L1A1. They are in no particular order. I tried to get a shot of every "number" or marking I could find.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...gg6cegyd-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2n5efjhf-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...vdwohvco-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...npgpnqtz-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ajrzf0vm-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...x2siwv1u-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...djujafqb-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fzasn3ai-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...apc4nkge-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4loltpzv-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3pmv4ini-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...knj89jbo-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...jiabfjnz-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...iuaipkbj-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...doxz9tpn-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ncyaa0o8-1.jpg

And finally my favorite picture. Charlie Brown checking it out and bored to death:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nd7kszj3-1.jpg

The first 20K StG58's produced by FN were blued. Steyr also blued many of their StG's but the majority of the latter production run were parked gray. In dealing with many StG kits 25 years ago the gray park came in several different shades perhaps due to aging and weathering.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...128_2839-1.jpg