I’ve always liked the “second gen” main battle rifles that were developed and were issued after WWII. The FAL, HK G3, M14, BM-59, and the Armalite AR-10.
The original AR-10 as produced in the Netherlands for the governments of Portugal, Sudan, Nicaragua, Burma, and several other countries never suffered from the spotty reputation for reliability that the more current AR-10 systems do.
The Portuguese used them widely in their colonial wars in Mozambique and Angola, where they were issued side by side with FN FAL’s and HK G3’s. Articles by Chuck Taylor in the 80’s lead me to believe that they were favored over the FAL and G3 systems that the Portuguese used in theater.
There were a few US made semi auto clones built using original military uppers on semi auto lowers, made by Sendra and Telco. You don’t see them often, and when you do, they are usually running over $3K now.
Anyway, here are some pics of Portuguese troops taken during the colonial wars in Angola and Mozambique during the late 60’s and early 70’s.
If it wasn’t for George Sullivan(then Armalite’s president) using the untried aluminum/steel composite barrel during the test, we very well could have had this instead of a band-aid.
Actually if we’d gone with the original NATO compromise, a FAL chambered in .280 British, we’d probably still be using it, with updates through the years.
I believe that this belongs to a guy named Timkel, who’s been a member of the various boards for a while. It’s the Sudanese version, which doesn’t have the bipod or heavy handguards of the Portuguese model.
Wow Templar - looks awesome. I remember Armalite(not the original company) started making the original(ish) upper with the charging handle inder the carry handle. I think you even got a toaster with it.
I remember, when I was a wee crawler barely able to look over a gun counter top, at a shop my Father took me to, there were two exotic rifles on the upper shelf that drew my attention time and again; one was a Sig AMT and the other was a Portuguese/Nato model AR-10. I fell in love with them both and had always wanted one of each. Years later, I finally found an AR-10 and then a few years after that, an AMT. Now, I have 4 Portuguese model AR-10s (semi, of course) and have been searching for the Sudanese model which was supposed to be built in larger numbers. Anyhow, no pics of mine at this time, but I do have a few online images of the Portuguese in Angola if anyone wants, and here’s a good site to read more about them: http://www.xs4all.nl/~harmar68/schieten/ar10/AR10%20frame%20pag.htm Also, in response to M4fun’s statement; the new Armalite did make the in-handle charger model for a couple of years. The charger was more like the Sudan version; a one piece design, vice the 4 piece collapsable charging handle like the Ports. I have an early AR-10B with the standard A2 stock and handguard, and I have the later version with the brown Sudan style handguard and stock. Both are a joy to shoot, tho I wish they had flash suppressors instead of breaks.
Yup, it was the Israeli handguard that it reminded me of. Looking at the first photo you posted, it looked a lot like a wooden handguard that stopped short of the gas block and forward assembly. The Dutch one has a similar look. Not to say that it’s a spitting image of the FAL, but they just look similar to me.
Thanks for the update.
Weighs seven pounds and does a wicked good G3 impression. Current offerings simply do not compare. When they start making real AR-10’s again, give me a holler, I’ll have cash in hand.
