F. N. Herstal, December 6, 1963 LOT OF ARMS CLANDESTINELY INTRODUCED IN VENEZUELA Major R. PIMENTEL has delivered to us, for identification, one "F.N." F.A.L. rifle, 7.62 mm NATO, taken from a lot of arms confiscated by the Venezuelan Armed Forces. 1. 2. Description of the weapon that was delivered to us 1.1 1.2 The right cheek of the action box (right side of the feeding window) bears, on its back part, a cut of more or less circular shape (see photograph No. 1). Undoubtedly this cut was made so that the coat of arms of the country for which the weapon was intended would disappear. On the action box, the slide, and the breech, the numbers have been ground down, covered by arc welding, and then the welded surface has been planished. On the barrel and the trigger-guard, the serial number has been covered by arc welding. Our Central Laboratory, to which we submitted the weapon for examination, has pointed out that the procedure employed for hiding the numbering left it no possibility of reconstituting it. 1.4 This model of F.A.L. has been supplied to only three countries: Cuba, The first 3,000 Ecuador F.A.L.'s and those that were delivered to Chile came from the part of the Cuban order that could not be filled as a result of the cancellation of the export license by the Belgian Government, in August 1960. Identification of the weapon Here we shall give a comparison of the distinctive features of the rifles supplied to the three countries mentioned in paragraph 1.4 above. 2.1.1 The coat of arms, which is wider and higher than the Cuban one, 2.1.2 The serial number initially assigned for Cuba (which is different from the number applied for Ecuador) appears on the back part of the right side of the action box. 2.1.3 The trigger-guard also bears two different numbers. While the Cuban serial number appears on the left side, the Ecuadorian serial number is found on the right side. 2.1.4 The bottom of the magazine and the bayonet are numbered. 2.1.5 The mounting bolt of the flash-concealer is short. 2.2 F.A.L. Chile 2.2.1 The coat of arms, likewise higher than the Cuban one, is also located in the central part of the right cheek of the action box, and a serial number appears to the right of the coat of arms. The serial number initially assigned for Cuba remains on the left back part of the side of the action box and of the trigger-guard. The trigger-guard also bears, on its right side, the serial number of Chile. 2.2.2 The mark "EJERCITO DE CHILE" (Army of Chile) also appear on the right side of the action box above the cheek where the coat of arms of the Chilean Army is located (see photograph No. 3). 2.2.3 The handshield is of polyester calored green, while the Cuban 2.2.4 The mounting bolt of the flash-concealer is short. 2.2.5 The base of the magazine and the bayonet are not numbered. 2.3 F.A.L. Cuba 2.3.1 The coat of arms is located in the back part of the right cheek of the action box, exactly at the place where, on the weapon that has been delivered to us, a cut has been made (see photograph No. 4). 2.3.2 The numbering of the action box and of the trigger-guard appears only on the left side. 2.3.3 In the F.A.L. Cuba series, up to number 20,000 the mounting bolt for the flash-concealer is long. 2.3.4 The bayonet and the bottom of the magazine are not numbered. In conclusion, considering that: 3.1 the coat of arms of Cuba was stamped in the same place where a cut has been made; 3.1 if the weapon we have received had come from Chile or Ecuador it would have been necessary also to hide the numbers applied on the right side of the weapon, which action has not been established with respect to the example presented; 3.3 the weapon we have examined has a long bolt for mounting the 3.4 the weapon examined is equipped with a bayonet and a magazine we can therefore state that the only country to which we have supplied weapons that present this combination of characteristics is CUBA. (s) DESSARD In agreement with the examination and its interpretation. The Chief of Service (s) A.L. ROCOUR |