| The
Belgian Browning Pistols: 1889-1949
Wet Dog Publications, 2001, softcover 130 pages ISBN 0-87947-133-6 $19.95 |
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presents
Book Review,
May 2001:
| The
Belgian Browning Pistols: 1889-1949
Wet Dog Publications, 2001, softcover 130 pages ISBN 0-87947-133-6 $19.95 |
|
That being said, creativity wasn't really a required attribute for providing a complete guide to the FAL that would encompass, operation, maintenance, assembly, disassembly, and model identification. What better source for such information than the manufacturer? And that is exactly where Desert Publications went. The result is a handy manual that nobody who works on FAL rifle variants should be without. The manual is divided into fourteen chapters that cover just about every aspect of the rifle an owner might need to know, including:
The nature of the technical information provided by the book makes it ideal for those who own a FAL variant and anticipate doing any and all maintenance required to keep the rifle operational. Unfortunately, the book does not fully support the needs of those who intend to build a FAL at home. Vital information on barreling and headspacing is conspicuous by its absence. In Desert Publications' (and FN's) defense, most FAL owners and operators are not going to be building the rifles from scratch, and in that light the information provided is most ample. Still, those wishing to use the book as a "how to" for building a rifle should be aware that they will need to obtain some basic and critical information from another source.- General Characteristics
- Operation of the Mechanism
- Operation
- Gas Setting
- Zeroing
- Immediate Action and Stoppages
- Grenade Launching
- Clearing and Maintenance
- Stripping and Assembly
- Automatic Rifle with Heavy Barrel and Bipod
- Accessories
- Variations on Standard Model
- List of Components for F.N. Light Automatic Rifle
- List of Components for F.N. Automatic Rifle with Heavy Barrel and Bipod
- Appendix
The manual is amply, and ably, illustrated - F.N.'s technical documentation people get high marks here. Every step in assembly, disassembly, and operation is graphically detailed. Of special interest are the period illustrations of Belgian soldiers using their FAL's to fire rifle grenades, as well as the illustrations of the many accessories available with the rifle. Ever wondered what a grenade launching cartridge for the FAL looks like? Or the blank firing adapter? Or the bayonet that doubled as a flash suppressor? With this book you'll have to wonder no more. The text is also noteworthy as an example of what technical documentation should be. Each passage is clearly and concisely written so as to convey its core concept with maximum clarity and minimum ambiguity. Software documentation writers could, and should, take a page from this book.
Given that Desert Publications has
done very little more than unabashedly plagiarize the original F.N. manual,
we'd like to see a few things added to the publication for the $19.95 cover
price: A section on the history of the FAL would be nice, and an illustrated
guide to barreling and headspacing would round out the book nicely.
All in all though, the book is an excellent reference for those who choose
to own and/or build one of these historic rifles.
F.N. F.A.L.
Auto Rifles
is available from Desert Publications.
Click on the image to order: