FAL Flash Hider On Steyr

[HRA466]

I have an FAL, 308 Match, Steyr import. It has the long, fluted flash hider. I have only seen this flash hider on the US FAL's and the Cuban FAL's. I did find a bayonet for it at a gun show circa 1984 in Detroit. It is marked "SA" on the grip. I have never been able to find much out about this flash hider. I wrote Blake Stevens a letter before the Internet happened and he was at a loss to explain its origins. Anything new come to light????

Thanks much

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Show us a pic and we'll be better equipped to answer. The slotted flash hiders were a design of S.A. however and adopted by A/B/C after the rifles were trialed. The U.S. later adopted it for the M14...as you know. That was originally a S.A. design.

[Brian Dick]

The flash hider and bayonet were designated T48 style. All as BAR says above. I have one FN 50-00 as imported by Steyr in NY here too. The rifle is basically new but whoever had it let it sit and the flash hider which is Parkrized and not painted like the rest of the rifle has become brown patina from sitting around with no oil before i bought it. It leads me to believe that the flash hiders were installed after the rifles were finished depending on where they were shipping them. The bayonets are near impossible to find and expensive when you do. I found two from the same dealer at the MD antique arms show in Baltimore over two or three years and haven't seen one since.

[HRA466]

I would be glad to post a picture but not the slightest idea how to size the file to make the site happy. I can send direct if someone is interested.

Interestingly, circa 1980, I met the Steyr rep who was visiting the federal LE agency where I was employed. I wanted a bayonet for my rifle and asked him if he could have one of the round ones installed on it. He took my rifle and a friend's back to wherever. I got a call from him telling me that the threads on the barrels for the fluted flash hiders and the round ones were the reverse of one another. He apologized and brought my rifle back with a bipod, FN wooden stock and cleaning kit. I'm damn glad he wasn't able to change the hider out since I found the bayonet later. Great rifles and I'm glad I got one. I'm only sorry I didn't get one of the HB models that they were also selling. Among the many things I regret.

[browningautorifle]

I would be glad to post a picture

You can send it to me Email and I'll do it for you...check your PM for address.

[browningautorifle]

Here are the pics accompanying...

[bardo]

The "SAP" stamp on the bayonet = South Africa Police.