Israeli Galil Info

[mrclark303]

Afternoon all,

I wonder if anyone can share any info on this piece, year of manufacture perhaps ... it's an IDF Service Galil, the Start of David scratched into the pistol grip confirms it wasn't a contract sales piece.

S/N 2065079

Its another live example I am pleased to say, happily living in exile in New Zealand.

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Information

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[browningautorifle]

Is that a weld repair in the top tube of the buttstock?

[mrclark303]

Looks like a little fortifying mig weld Jim...

The age old problem of folding stocks, shaken to bits...

I've always liked the Galil, an already excellent base design further improved by Israeli engineering know how.

Wish I had bought a Semi conversation example back when we were allowed such things in the UK.

Cheap Milsurps back then.

[browningautorifle]

I had one back about 25 years when I was posted to our small arms school in Gagetown NB. I must say though, I had other things I liked better...the 40 rd mag was neat though.

[jonnyc]

I was issued a shorter Glilon back in the '80s (with 35 round mags), and I never did like it that much. Compared to the M16s I had carried and the AK I had at home, the Galil was just too heavy with lots of pointy bits. The AK was just as reliable, and the M16s were more accurate.

[browningautorifle]

lots of pointy bits.

Snaggy stuff...

[Vincent]

It looks like an ARM model that’s missing the bipod-wire cutter-bottle opener.

The scratched star on the grip doesn’t prove it was IDF. An IDF gun will have the info engraved on the left side in Hebrew and 5.56 in Hindu-Arabic numerals. There will also be a prominent IDF crest. I can’t tell from your photos if they are present.

IMI came up with some of the changes from AK and took a lot from Finnish Valmet Rk 62.

Used to see the exported version in Central and South America. I was told they were very reliable in the jungle conditions and have very little recoil.

BTW, the barrel threads into the receiver making it a bit more difficult to set the headspace than the AKM’s pressed and pinned method.

[mrclark303]

It looks like an ARM model that’s missing the bipod-wire cutter-bottle opener.

The scratched star on the grip doesn’t prove it was IDF. An IDF gun will have the info engraved on the left side in Hebrew and 5.56 in Hindu-Arabic numerals. There will also be a prominent IDF crest. I can’t tell from your photos if they are present.

IMI came up with some of the changes from AK and took a lot from Finnish Valmet Rk 62.

Used to see the exported version in Central and South America. I was told they were very reliable in the jungle conditions and have very little recoil.

BTW, the barrel threads into the receiver making it a bit more difficult to set the headspace than the AKM’s pressed and pinned method.

Thanks for the info Vincent, these are the only images I have unfortunately.

Assumption being a dangerous thing, I noted the Star of David and thought it had to be an IDF example. Did the export versions also have Hebrew markings for the selector do you know?

I would have thought that with the extra weight of its build and chambered in 5.56mm the recoil must be almost non existent.

So where in the family tree does the South African R4 sit, is it a copy of the Galil, or based on the Rk62, or a bit of both?

[Vincent]

Did the export versions also have Hebrew markings for the selector do you know?

No Hebrew on the ones I have seen. Selector markings were “S”, “A” and “R.”

So where in the family tree does the South African R4 sit, is it a copy of the Galil, or based on the Rk62, or a bit of both?

The R4 is a Galil copy, built under license from IMI, now called IWI.

After another look I see the bottle opener is still there. It’s the hand guard / bipod retainer.

[mrclark303]

Many thanks Vincent, your knowledge never fails to impress.