I recently purchased a FN Columbian Carbine in Good to Very Good condition at a gun show in Montreal. The seller gave me two different "Transfer Reference numbers" of previous transfer attempts, unsettled at the CFC. When I called the CFC, and mentioned the barrel was 443 mm (17.25 inches), they said this "carbine" did not exist in any of their reference data, only short rifles (longer) did. I was transferred to a CFC "technician" who said the same thing and demanded additional information, pictures and full description before she would accept to process the transfer. I think the CFC was suspecting this example to have been tampered with (shortened) and as such, I was worried of having this fine original FN Mauser confiscated.
So I took out the camera and three of my reference manuals to try to demonstrate to CFC that such a
carbine had been made by FN, at least as a "police rifle" in
Belgium
, for the Duch an a few other nations. In looking very carefully through "
Mauser Military Rifles of the World" Forth Edition, by Roberts W.D. Ball, I discovered some carbines were made in 1930 by FN for Columbia's in 7x57mm, with straight bolt handle. Some of their 1940 short rifles were converted to .30-06 after WWII and stamped "R. FRAMAGE 1952". One is tempted to think that perhaps carbines in 7mm were also converted to .30-06.
But mine has a bent bolt (with matching s/n) and is stamped ".30" on the rear receiver ring and has no "R. FRAMAGE" stamping. It corresponds exactly to entry 6e on page 50 of the referenced book: "
An example without "F. FRAMAGE... " marking (an acronym for Spanish phrase "Reformado, Fabrica de Material de Guerra", which means "Modified, Factory of Military Equipment"), possibly new post WW II production with a notched receiver to accommodate the .30-06 round was recently observed bearing the star-over-Z mark of the Liege Proof House most likely belonging to contrôleur Martin Lyuten (1952-1968), and the "Peron" nitro proof mark." The observer being BJdtB = Bruno Joos de ter Beerts, in "
Trade and Hallmarks on Firearms in Belbium" Pandora, Antwerp, Belgium 1998.
This "round notch" is quite evident on the receiver on my example.
Two day ago, I received from the CFC the Transfer Notification (Buyer), signalling that the transfer has gone thru. However, this document shows the model as being "
1950 Colombian (sic)
Short Rifle" which it is not. The Col
umbian 1950 Short rifle is clearly described in the reference book as having a 22.75" barrel (and a straight bolt handle). Also, on the transfer document, the Make is shown as "Mauser" instead of "FN". I wonder what the registration certificate is going to show as barrel length when I receive that document from the province in a few days.
So it seems I got my self a very rare 1950 FN Columbian Carbine, the only registered one in
Canada judging by the CFC laboring in the transfer. The shape is awesomely slick and the action is silky smooth. The previous owner mentioned the neat muzzle flash that is visible when shooting at dusk. Can't wait to see that. I also expect to get quite a kick out of it...
(If someone can explain to me how to post pictures, you'll be able to view this rare bird.) Or just drop me a line.
Cheers.
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Originally Posted by Jean Forest
There is real lack of info about these rifles and a lot of it is conflicting. I don't know what the correct model designation is. However, the Colombian carbines could have been produced in the same time frame as the FN Model 30 since they were supposed to be built originally in 7mm Mauser. FN also made some of these carbines for Morocco, Venezuela and the Netherlands in various calibres. Since the Moroccan ones was supposedly built in 7.62x51 NATO they must be from a later production date from the Model 1950 era. Other people speculate that the whole production run with the 17.5 inch barrels were done in 1952 and the Colombian version was built in 30-06. Conversely, the production run for the 17.5" barrel carbines could have happened in '52, Colombia order some in 7mm, later in the 50's ordered some M1950's in 30-06 and then converted the short barrelled carbines and other rifles they used to match. Who knows, but I think the last theory is the best. 
