A real inch pattern geek question..

[nzl1a1collector]

It's a complected story. At this stage I haven't come across first hand written evidence that the ABC were paying for changes. The Rifle Steering Committee (made of FN, Canada, UK and America) discussed any and all changes that effected the FAL Rifle. Some porposals where accepted, some rejected others became national preferences. There were thousands of minor manafacturing tolerance changes done. FN did get ****ed off when the ABC rifle went with the larger front lug on the magazine, requiring a deeper slot in the front of the magazine well. FN looked at this and because of the way they were manufacturing their bodies claimed they would be unable to do the deeper slot. The front lug solved the problem of the weaker pressed 'beak' on the FN mags at the time. FN took on changes they saw would enhance their rifle such as the 2 piece firing pin. American designed flash eliminator slots. Etc.