FN49 Advice Needed

I just obtained a FN49. It is one of the Egyptian contract rifles. A further exam revealed it is a CAI import/rebuild. It has non-matching numbers and the receiver/barrel are set into a stock that has a very fake appearance to it. I am looking at three options for this rifle:

1. Leave it as is

2. Strip the finish and redo the stock in the original natural wood look

3. Try and find an original Egyptian stock with unit disc and replace the CAI stock

As always, your advice is always appreciated and please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Tried liberty tree?

I'm also interested in this post, Argentine .308 model with a stock that someone "cleaned up" and gouged hard scraping the rack numbers off. If a nice piece of Luxembourg wood would fit I'd do it without much hesitation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BVZ24

Tried liberty tree?

I'm also interested in this post, Argentine .308 model with a stock that someone "cleaned up" and gouged hard scraping the rack numbers off. If a nice piece of Luxembourg wood would fit I'd do it without much hesitation.

---

I checked Liberty Tree and they had the remnants of the CAI stock inventory. From what I have been finding in research, the different caliber/contract rifles had slightly different stocks so I'm not sure if they are interchangeable. If they are, then that would be a good option!

1. Leave it as is... especially if it's Eagle marked instead of Crowned. Save your ducats for other FN49 stuff, 2-piece FP, copy of Wayne Johnson's fine book, ammo. PAX

Pictures would help.

I personally always try and restore things, but it sounds like CAI did more to these than most and so it really depends. Probably, I'd still try to get it as close as possible to original.

Here are some pictures. It is actually a pretty good looking stock but......well....it just doesn't seem right if you know what I mean....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Singer B

It is actually a pretty good looking stock

---

I wouldn't mess with that stock at all.

I'd probably leave the stock. I was under the impression it was some weird oddball thing it was in. Maybe strip the finish if that is a clear coat and not oil finish. It probably isn't an original stock but I don't know that much about them to know if they all had stock disks or not.

In the meantime, if a cheap stock with a disk walked by I'd grab it but I don't think I'd make a huge effort to find one. It's a mixmaster anyway and as you say, it does look good.

It looks fairly original. The CAI import stocks are darker and the finger grooves are smaller and sharp. This one looks older and like it got sandpaper.

Thanks. I can't figure out what the seal is on the buttstock. Almost looks like a fake seal placed by CAI to imitate the original Egyptian disc. I think my biggest issue is the pristine stock doesn't fit with the semi-worn metal.

I'm slightly late to this. I like the look of the stock. I don't have Wayne's book available to me right now (traveling) but I don't think the butt plate is correct for a Egyptian contract. On mine it's a brass like material and it looks much like an Enfield butt plate. On the century made repros I believe they were made of plastic. I'm wondering if this stock was originally on a different contract FN-49. This might explain why the stock looks original but not "correct" looking to you.

---------- Post added at 10:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

I just remembered too that on the Egyptian contract that there was a cleaning kit available in a trap in the butt plate. Not sure if this cutout is on your rifle underneath your butt plate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Patton12

I'm slightly late to this. I like the look of the stock. I don't have Wayne's book available to me right now (traveling) but I don't think the butt plate is correct for a Egyptian contract. On mine it's a brass like material and it looks much like an Enfield butt plate. On the century made repros I believe they were made of plastic. I'm wondering if this stock was originally on a different contract FN-49. This might explain why the stock looks original but not "correct" looking to you.

---------- Post added at 10:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

I just remembered too that on the Egyptian contract that there was a cleaning kit available in a trap in the butt plate. Not sure if this cutout is on your rifle underneath your butt plate.

---

Thanks. It is definitely a CAI replacement stock. I've decided to just be on the lookout for a decent original Egyptian replacement stock.