Israeli 98k FN 22/ MAS 45 22

[can14]

Besides Numrich, who else has FN 98k 22 factory parts?
Anyone know of anyone who has MAS 45 factory parts?
I got a very nice MAS 45 walnut sporter stock a few years ago, made in America.
Anyone know if stocks are still being made?
I have done minor restorations on FN 98k 22's, mostly because the guns I got were mint in oil soaked stocks and needed bolt head parts.
When they only made 2000 for Israel and 1000 of them were sent to South Africa as military Aid.
It kind of limits the amount of parts to draw from.
But, new Israeli wood and metal , add bolt parts, basically a new rifle each time

Information

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[Daan Kemp]

1000 of them were sent to South Africa as military Aid

Any more information about this? Haven't seen or heard of them in SA.

[beltfedplus]

Some time ago I saw a picture of an FN22 that had thereceiver rollmarked with a crest of the Congo I believe. Wishing I had downloaded the pics now.

[can14]

My understanding is that it was done around the same time as when they received them
So, that would be in the early 1950's. I have number 1994.
So it wasnt done by lot, it was just divided and shipped.
No one even writes anything about them , other than that they exist because people have them
I am certain that most of them in America came from the small amount that came to Canada
I lost my list with the numbers. You also have to consider the guns that were broken up for parts by Numrich. 2000 guns isn't that many when you consider the time frame for them to disappear into
scrape bins. Single shot 22's are not something that get saved
Not much new wood, so the un marked 308 wood was used on some of them.
So, I did the same thing, as the guns were in mint original condition needing bolt head parts in some cases and new stock metal.

[can14]

I looked again, I have 1997 and 1998. So that's the proof that there was 2000
Anyone have a higher number?

[beltfedplus]

My IDF .22 Sn is 1806. It would be nice if there was some kind of registry of all the serials and rollmarks. I.m sure there is a back story to all of the FN 22s.

[Mattnall]

Sorry to come to the party late.
I have one of these rifles. I have been told that FN built 1000 (numbers 0001 to 1000?) for the Belgian Congo from 'liberated rifles' and then made from new another 1000 (numbers 1001 to 2000?) for the Israelis. This is the blurb I got when I purchased mine:

.22 K98 - FN HERSTAL BELGIUM was contracted by the Israelis to build them roughly 1000 of these dedicated .22 LR Mauser K98 training rifles. These were not built from existing K98 actions, but manufactured from new in .22 using brand new single shot actions & .22 solid barrels. The bolt is a shortened K98 bolt modified into a two piece assembly specially designed for the .22 cartridge. These are full size Mauser K98 rifles and at first glance indistinguishable from the full bore versions, the only clue is the modified bolt and the receiver is not cut for a charger clip. The example has matching numbers with a mint bore, and retains the original IDF sling evident Israeli Military Marks. The receiver bears the Israeli Defence Force "Haganah" crest. IDF - Israel Defense Forces (Tzahal - "Tzva Hagana L’yisrael") a very rare rifle.
Tzva Haganah L'yisrael - Israel Defense Army (צה"ל) lit. Army of Defence for Israel

It is a lovely rifle and shoots very well, it goes to the range weekly and sometimes more often.
The serial number is 1385. A list of numbers and their stories would be great, there wasn't that many to start with and I'm sure a few have been lost over time so even a complete list wouldn't be too long.