| Sarge wrote (snipped) : "I'm not familiar with an FN 50? "
As per Ball's book on the Mausers, the Czech post war 98k rifles, produced for Israel were originally in 7x57mm Mauser chambering and many were later converted to 7.62x51NATO by the Israelis, when the 8mm rifles became unserviceable due to shortages of wartime made 8mmMauser and the fact that NATO ammo was being given to Israel.
The FN produced Short Rifle, also cited by Ball, was produced in Beligium already chambered for the NATO cartridge, as that FN rifle came later than did the post-war Czech made rifles.
The Israel FN short rifle made in 7.62x51NATO, is a true K98k style rifle and not what we generally refer to as a Short Rifle (although that designation is what Ball uses). The FN M1950 Carbine, a true shortened 98k, was produced for Morocco. First in 30-06, the Moroccan carbine was later produced in 7.62x51NATO.
I did misspeak, as Sarge pointed out, in referring to the Israel FN as a Model 1950. It would more correctly be called and FN Model Karbiner 98k produced in the NATO chambering of 7.62x51mm in the 1950s.
Steve |