FN FAL (T48 in the USA)
During the 1950s, the USA urged NATO to adopt a new caliber: 7.62x51mm. It was
unanimously adopted by all member nations under the designation "7.62 NATO."
At the same time, the US Army was seeking to replace its M1 Garand with an
assault rifle chambered for this new caliber.
FN proposed a special version of the FAL for this purpose, which was designated
the T48 in the USA.
It was not adopted, as the US Army preferred an improved version of the Garand:
the T44, or M14. However, the rest of the world made the right choice,
establishing the FN FAL as the most widely used assault rifle, while the T44/M14
saw no success.
This particular unit—from a very limited production run—belongs to the series specifically designed for presentation in the USA at the time.
Given its history and rarity, it is more than just a collector's item; it is a true museum piece.
This prototype is featured in the book *Small Arms of the World*.
