FR8 Production?

[finloq]

Alright, so the FR8's are converted from the Spanish Model 43 Mausers (K98 design). Most that I have seen are from Mausers dated 1949-1955. The 7.62 Nato round was accepted into service in 1954. The CETME A was in production in 1957. So when did they convert the FR8's? Next is: how many did they make? I have read that the less common FR7's (Spanish Model 1916 conversion) production was around 6000. I have not been able to find production numbers or specific years of production for the FR8's?

[finloq]

Addendum: I have read that they were converted using CETME C barrels and the CETME C was not in production until 1964?

[Plywood]

Good question. Here's an M43 I just picked up that wasnt converted.

[finloq]

Nice. The stock looks to be in great shape!

[Plywood]

Thanks! it is in pretty nice shape. It didnt take much to clean it up at all. Hopefully I be able to get it to the range in a few weeks. I wish I knew more about the FR8 production for you

[Interloper]

My understanding is that the FR7 and FR8 were produced concurrently with the CETME. They even have CETME barrels. They were issued to Guardia Civil untits.

[finloq]

Yeah, on another sight I read that they started production of the FR8's in 1965.
I have seen serial numbers posted between 18XXX and 47XXX, so figure a minimum production (conversion) of 30,000-50,000.

[mj1]

This photo was taken in '67

[finloq]

I guess that Franco's Spain was jolly after all.

[finloq]

Good question. Here's an M43 I just picked up that wasnt converted.

[ATTACH]69769[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]69770[/ATTACH]

Has the stock been cleaned up or is that how it was issued. I ask because my FR8 has a light shine to it (shellac, varnish?), that I have been debating removing.

[Interloper]

Has the stock been cleaned up or is that how it was issued. I ask because my FR8 has a light shine to it (shellac, varnish?), that I have been debating removing.

Keep this in mind:
There seems to be a variety of "original" finishes when it comes tor rifles refurbished by Franco's arsenals. These include both oils and shellacs and lord knows what all.
Did they receive this finish in their original armory? Or in Africa? Or in an Assault Guard or Guardia Civil arsenal before the war? Or perhaps they were refinished by either Republican or Nationalist field armorers, or more likely yet, as part of the post war refurbishment process applied to battlefield pickups after the war. There's no real way of knowing. Odds are it's the original finish. Don't mess with it.

[finloq]

Unfortunately, mine has already been re-finished. I found it on gunbroker.com painted black. Somebody bought it, refinished and relisted it. I won it in the second auction and am now looking at his efforts stripping off the black paint and refinishing it with a dark chocolate brown. That is why I am trying to find out what it looked like before somebody painted it black.

The first picture is as it was listed in August, the second is as I won it.

[Interloper]

Hmmm... Who painted it? Many Carcano's have black painted stocks. Not sure if they are original or if they were painted by an importer.

[finloq]

Unknown, sadly. I just came across the old auction posting when I was researching the FR8's. I put 2 and 2 together when I saw that the 'completed' auction was for the carbine with the same serial number as the one that I just bought, then I saw that the buyer was the seller that I bought the carbine from...compared the pictures and, eureka! I think that the original paint job was to hide several cracks in the handguard (bad ones), the buyer took off the paint and saw the cracks and then sold the carbine to me. I just ordered a replacement handguard from Apexgunparts.com and problem solved. It will be interesting to see what color handguard I get in the mail.

[Scott Connors]

[snippage] I am trying to find out what it looked like before somebody painted it black.

[snippage

Rolling Stones fan perhaps?