In the first part of this two-part series on Fabrique Nationale’s FNC carbine we learned about its background, technical details and operating characteristics. Now, in this concluding episode we will go into the details of actually converting an FNC into a thoroughly reliable select fire weapon. This is done using a registered transferable sear. Yes – it can be done – and to factory standard, too!

When you consider a weapon for conversion to full automatic (fully transferable, of course) there are four critical areas to research:

* Design of the base weapon itself. Does it lend itself to conversion with few additional changes?
* Are appropriate feed devices such as high capacity magazines available in sufficient quantity?
* Is it in an available ammunition caliber? Preferably, it should be procurable in milspec surplus lots which are made on modern equipment with quality components.
* Finally, and foremost, is the BATF-registered part (sear or bolt) actually available and at a price that will not make you take a second mortgage on the house?

The FNC is an excellent candidate for transformation into a true assault rifle. It is well built with a solid design. When FN manufactured approximately 6000 semiautomatic rifles for import into the US during 1982-1988 they made few changes from the standard military version. For conversion purposes, this means intricate machining and/or parts replacement will not be necessary. Unlike conversions such as IMI’s Uzi which had numerous deviations from the full auto design (barrel trunnion, receiver bolt block, sear holes, safety block, etc.) the imported FNC remains very close to the original. This was taken to such a degree that semiauto FNC’s retained the built-in rifle grenade sight which, when activated, cuts off the porting through the gas block. Even the owner’s manual is the same as provided to military users.

Other critical areas which indicate the FNC is a superb candidate for select fire conversion include the type of high capacity magazine it employs and availability of milspec ammunition. As the mag well is built to NATO STANAG 4179 and uses milspec 20 and 30-round M16 magazines the reserve of highcaps is essentially limitless. Further, the supply of milspec 5.56mm ammo which duplicates the performance of the US M193 55gr. round is quite robust and will be for years into the future. Should you handload, the components such as powder, brass and bullet are all available in bulk lots.

Finally, the last and most important question regarding a fully transferable conversion to full auto: what does BATF consider to be the registered part and are any available? This is not an idle question given that H&K sears sell at $2500, AR15 auto sears around $2300 and Uzi 9mm bolts at $1300. Even with these stratospheric prices there remain very few available on the open market. The demand far outstrips the supply – and it will only get worse.

I knew from my research the FNC passed the first three checkpoints with no problem. Its semiauto design is extremely close to the military version and it fires the 5.56mm M193 cartridge via common AR15 magazines. So far so good. Now, what about the registered part? What was the availability and cost of this critical item?

Good news!

BATF considers the registered part to be the trip sear and…and…it is plentiful and available at a very reasonable cost!

Amazingly, the cost of this sear and the entire process to convert the FNC to select fire can be done to the highest standards and for as low as $800. Should you wish to convert your FNC to select fire with a three-round burst option the cost modestly increases to $1000. Now that you have recovered your breath and demand to know more, let’s see how this modern-day miracle is really performed.

Conversion Process

The conversion of the FNC to full auto follows the same basic process as used in AK and FAL conversions. This process includes:

* Lower receiver modifications
* Bolt carrier modification
* Function testing

While there are numerous nationally known C2 manufacturers who can properly convert various weapons to select fire, only one can do it for the FNC. This is Curtis Higgins of S&H Arms of OK. The remainder of this article will focus on Curtis’ work as he has consented to allow Small Arms Review into his shop and see how it is properly done.

Curtis is nationally known in the C2/3 business and has been in operation for many years. He has offered a select fire version of the FNC since 1986 which is classified by BATF as a registered sear gun. What makes Curtis’ conversion so desirable is that he uses an absolute top quality sear and and now has access to brand new factory full auto fire control parts. This conversion is then carried out with very high precision metalworking equipment and finished with a correct selector switch remarking. The end product is as close to a genuine factory FNC as you can get this side of Liege, Belgium.

Let’s now follow Curtis as he converts a semiauto FNC into a true select fire rifle. The end result will be a most interesting weapon with a very appreciative market value – and really fun to shoot!

Lower Receiver Modifications

The first thing Curtis does when he receives a customer’s FNC is to thoroughly inspect it for wear and serviceability. Any part not meeting factory specifications is noted and the customer is contacted for resolution. Due to the FNC’s reliability and escalating market value he has never received one in unserviceable condition. Further, Curtis makes very sure all parts are bagged and kept together with the same rifle. What you send him is what you get back – nothing is “swapped” out.

Next, the lower receiver is partially stripped in preparation for installation of the registered sear and selector remarking. The first thing to be pulled is the fire control mechanism. This is done by rotating the selector switch to the 12 o’clock position and extracting it to the left. Levering out the safety support cradle and its axis pin allows removal of the fire control mechanism. The hammer spring and spur are then rotated out with the use of a special tool. This tool captures the head of the spur and allows spring compression and outward rotation. Next, the hammer axis pin, SA hammer, trigger pin, trigger and trigger spring are all removed. Then, the magazine catch pin is drifted out and the catch along with its spring are withdrawn. Finally, the handgrip and buttstock have their retaining screws removed and these items are pulled off.

With the lower receiver mostly stripped – essentially the two receiver pins are all that is left – Curtis now engraves additional selector switch markings to reflect its full auto status. The markings on a semi FNC are “S-1” to show safe and semiauto functioning. The additional markings of “3-A” are then added to identify the three-burst and full auto functions. He does this by first bolting the stripped receiver onto the bed of a carbide-tipped rotary engraving machine. Positioning must be very precise as no mistakes are allowed. Once the receiver is engraved, you cannot go back and re-do it again!

After verifying with a machinist’s rule the final location of the “3-A” symbols, Curtis places the pantograph stylus into the copper scribing template and begins the cuts. After several minutes of constant work, and a final wiping away of the cutting oil, the new “3-A” symbols are revealed. He then fills in these symbols with red enamel to match the existing FN markings. The result is a four-position lower receiver (S-1-3-A) which is factory correct in function and appearance. It is simply beautiful.

With the fire control mechanism removed and the selector switch symbols added, it is time for the sear installation. The process in doing so is proprietary to S&H Arms of OK, but having observed it first hand I can assure you it is absolutely reliable and simple. Total time to install one is approximately twenty minutes and once in place is a very rugged addition to the FNC. The sear itself has a Rockwell hardness in the mid-40’s and is made of 4130 steel which has been precisely machined and hardened via an oil quenching. Its shape, location and the relationship it presents to the hammer and bolt carrier were all developed by Curtis. Further, he has never had a sear fail or wear out.

After the sear installation is completed, Curtis performs final quality checks and then begins the fire control mechanism upgrade. There are two routes he may now take: 1) safe-semi-full auto functioning, or, 2) safe-semi-burst-full auto functioning. The choice is up to the customer. The initial entry route of $800 will get you choice 1, while an additional $200 will gain you choice 2. Guys, spend the additional funds and get choice 2 as it is what makes an FNC truly factory correct!

For choice 1, Curtis notches the existing SA hammer and installs all the original fire control parts back into the FNC. A note of interest: unlike semiauto Colt AR15’s, the semiauto FNC selector switch is exactly what the military uses and already machined to support both full automatic and burst fire. One less replacement part to worry about! The conversion is now complete and when the selector switch is placed in the “burst/3” mode will continue to fire semiautomatic.

Choice 2 is much more interesting. First, he deletes the semiauto hammer and its safety support cradle and replaces them with a factory three-shot burst ratchet counter and full auto hammer. These rare parts are produced by the FN-licensed factory in Indonesia and are fully equivalent in specification to those from the European FN plant. Once unheard of in the US, these items along with a complete line of brand new FNC parts are now being stocked by Tampa Bay Military and Police Supply. If you own an FNC you need to call them.

With the necessary fire control parts replaced, the lower receiver work is completed by installing the trigger, mag catch mechanism, furniture, etc. Final quality checks are then performed by Curtis and the lower receiver conversion is now complete.

Bolt Carrier Modification

The bottom of the bolt carrier is modified by building up a sear trip shelf with TIG welding material. It is then carefully machined to correct (and proprietary) dimensions with a Bridgeport mill. This is a critical step as the timing of the full automatic process is dependent on the precise moment when the modified bolt carrier trips the registered auto sear. The sear then releases the hammer after the bolt has achieved lockup with the barrel extension. Incorrect timing of the bolt carrier could result in poor functioning, a destroyed receiver – or worse.

Sequence of Operation

When the selector switch is placed into the full automatic (“A”) position and the trigger is pulled several things start to happen. The hammer, which has been held back by both the automatic safety and secondary sears, is set free. It rotates forward and strikes the firing pin, which then impacts the primer to begin the ignition sequence. When the hot gasses from the burning propellant pass the barrel porting hole some of them are bled off to travel through the gas block. These gasses impinge on the gas piston and drive back the bolt carrier assembly. During this rearward travel a ramp on the bottom of the bolt carrier strikes the hammer to rotate it backwards. Since the FNC is in the “A” position a cut in the selector switch axle has caused the secondary sear to be rotated back and out of position. The hammer is therefore not caught by this secondary sear and is retained by just the automatic safety sear. As the bolt assembly moves forward it strips off a cartridge, which is then pushed up the feed ramp and into the barrel chamber. When the lugs on the bolt begin to lock into their recesses the bolt carrier trip shelf impacts the automatic safety sear. This sear then disengages from the hammer which in turns rotates forward to strike the firing pin…and the sequence begins again. Whew! And to think this occurs approximately 700 times per minute.

When the selector switch is in the “3” position a slightly different sequence occurs. Each time the hammer rotates forward it contacts a spring-loaded pawl which is part of the three-shot burst mechanism. The rear tip of this burst mechanism engages the secondary sear and keeps it off the hammer. When three rounds have been fired and the pawl has clicked its way through the toothed counter, a spring flips up the burst mechanism which then releases the secondary sear. This sear re-engages the hammer and holds it back. Should the trigger be released before three shots are fired the spring-loaded burst mechanism snaps back to reset itself in preparation for the next burst. Typically, a three round burst can be fired in .2 second.

When the selector is in the “1” position the secondary sear is always engaged to hold back the hammer after each shot.

Function Testing

The final part of the conversion is a live fire test. Curtis runs a magazine of either Olin or Federal “white box” paramilitary ammo through the FNC to check semi, burst (if ordered), full auto and safety functions. As the rounds are going downrange he carefully observes the timing, ejection pattern, ignition reliability and intangibles. Once the FNC passes this real world test it is carefully packaged back up and shipped to the customer upon ATF form approval. Curtis is adamant that nothing is shipped until he talks with the actual person receiving the FNC.

FNC users have reported to me the full auto FNC is sometimes partial to certain brands of ammo. While all brands function quite fine in the semi mode, Winchester and Hirtenberger rounds sometimes cause stoppages in burst and full automatic. The suspected problem area is the pressure curve generated by their powder. South African, IMI, PMC and other 5.56mm rounds work fine in any mode. Also, commercial reloaded ammo seems to work very well regardless of selector switch setting.

Shooting Impressions

Firing the FNC on full auto is very similar to that of the M16-series rifle. Recoil seems to be a little more robust due to a different buffer system which has less spring length. This may also accentuated by the very solid folding stock which transmits the recoil into the shoulder. Also, the lack of a bolt-hold open on the last shot requires a bit of getting used to as the Europeans do not view this as being necessary on a small arm. Further, given its barrel diameter/length and cooling efficiency the cyclic and maximum rate of fire should be the same as the M16A1 – 700 and 65 rounds per minute respectively. This is typical for a modern, small caliber, select fire assault rifle.

Since the cost of full auto weapons is continuing to go through the roof, the wear endured by the FNC when wringing it out should be considered. This is an area where it shines, and for several very good reasons! The barrel itself is hammer forged and then chrome lined. This results in a hard barrel with a “slippery” bore which is resistant to excess wear. Should you have someone cyrogenically freeze the barrel to eliminate internal stresses and increase its surface hardness the wear will be reduced even further.

The barrel extension (which contains the locking lug cutouts) and twin-lug bolt are cast and then machined. The bearing surfaces in these two areas have a very large amount of contact and thus further reduce the wear as impact/shear forces are spread over a sizable area. My experience with Swedish FNC’s (known as the AK5) in Bosnia indicates that wear of the barrel and bolt assembly are not an issue. Even so, TBMP is importing high quality factory parts to provide backup. Purchase two spare firing pins and perhaps one additional hammer spring to gain peace of mind.

When the FNC is fired the brass does get dented a bit. The case mouth bounces off the right side of the receiver and cocking slot cover before pitching to the side. Typically, a smoking pile of brass will build up 20-30’ to the right front of the muzzle. As the FNC can rapidly eat ammunition I save handloading time and use the excellent quality 55gr. IMI M193 cartridge which is available from Cole Distributing. Recent accuracy testing I conducted on this round (with my FNC) clearly showed it yielded 2-2.5 MOA even after extended fire – with iron sights! Finally, that nice black enamel finish on the barrel does have one weak point. After a short period of firing the area of the barrel just in front of the chamber will exhibit scorched paint. This is simply part of the FNC’s character and can be left as is or else molycoated to restore a heat resistance coating of beauty.

Conclusion

This article has described in detail the process involved in selecting and converting a semi-automatic rifle to select fire. In this case, Fabrique Nationale’s FNC carbine. The FNC meets the four primary criteria of a candidate weapon. It adheres very closely to the factory full auto weapon and requires few new parts to achieve a correct conversion…and the parts are on the market. Further, it uses the very common AR15/M16 20 and 30-round magazines while the availability of suitable milspec 5.56mm ammunition is a major plus.

Finally – and this is the most important point – high quality registered auto sears are fully available and RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE!!! Most importantly, should you desire to convert the FNC to select fire it can be faithfully done to factory standard.

Enough said.

Check out Fabrique Nationale’s FNC and its conversion to select fire… give Curtis a call…and you will become a convert like me!

S&H Arms of OK
Attn: Curtis Higgins
PO Box 121
Owasso, OK
(918) 272-9894

Tampa Bay Military & Police
Supply, Inc.
Attn: Dana Reed
501 S. Falkenburg Rd.
Tampa, FL 33619
(813) 662-9433
fullauto@gte.net

Cole Distributing
Attn: Gary Cole
PO Box 50271
Bowling Green, KY 42102-2871
(502) 843-6844

As readers of SAR may know, I recently completed a military tour in Bosnia and was able to observe and handle many foreign weapons. One which caught my eye was that carried by the Belgium contingent – the Fabrique Nationale Carabine. Upon returning to America I kept on thinking about that FNC. I discovered they were available and decided (actually, my wife Linda gave me permission) to get one. A phone call to Gene Guilaroff, who has supplied me “black rifles” in the past, had an FNC Paratrooper with 18” barrel on the way to me.

After becoming quite familiar with my FNC, I wanted to learn more about it but quickly discovered there was little information available. Well, that situation has now ended with the publication of this two-part series on the FNC. This first article will provide a detailed overview of the rifle, including its background, technical details and operating characteristics. The second article, to be published shortly, will cover in detail its conversion to a factory-correct select fire weapon. Hint for all Class III enthusiasts: registered sears are plentiful and relatively inexpensive!

Installment 1 of the FN FNC in America.

Background

The birth of the FNC begins with its grandfather, the world famous FN FAL 7.62mm battle rifle. In the period 1963-66 as the arms market showed interest in smaller calibers, particularly the 5.56mm round, FN responded by designing the 5.56mm CAL rifle. Essentially the CAL was a smaller version of the FAL and continued to use the unique adjustable gas system. Unfortunately, the CAL was costly to manufacture/unreliable and therefore discontinued in 1975. It should be noted that 15-20 semiauto CAL’s were imported into America and sell (if available) for around $7500.

During 1974-76 FN redesigned the CAL into what we now know as the FNC. This was done for two reasons: 1) to compete in the 1976 Swedish arms tests and 1977-80 NATO cartridge evaluation trials; and, 2) to market a reliable 5.56mm rifle which could oppose the M16. Ultimately, in addition to Belgium, Sweden and Indonesia became licensed manufacturers of the FNC. At last count the FNC remains used by these three countries’ military forces and also is exported to parts of Asia and Africa.

Three importers are known to have brought semiauto FNC’s into the United States. Steyr of Secaucus, NJ and Howco of Laurel, MD brought in a total of about 1000 into the US during 1982-early ’83 timeframe. Gun South Inc. of Birmingham (later Trussville), AL imported approximately 5000 from mid 1983-88. When first imported in 1982 the price for an FNC was between $1000-1100. In 1985 this dropped to around $750 for either version to stimulate sales. In 1989 the importation of FNC’s, along with SIG, etc. was halted upon order of President Bush.

There were three imported versions of the FNC:

*Standard Model – Fixed stock with 18” barrel

*Paratroop Version 1 – Folding stock with 18” barrel

*Paratroop Version 2 – Folding stock with 16” barrel

Interestingly enough, while the folding/collapsing stock versions of military style weapons tend to be more rare, this is not the case with the FNC. Almost 90% of all imported FNC’s were the folding stock variation while the fixed stock comprised just 10% of the total. Also, the short 16” barrel is relatively uncommon and quite desirable.

Technical Details

Layout

The FNC is constructed of steel and aluminum alloys that are designed for reliability of operation and straightforward construction. Most of the parts are finished with a rugged satin black enamel which is baked on. The aluminum parts are black anodized while several steel items are dark gray parkerized.

With an overall length of 39.25” and unloaded weight of 8.3 lbs. (Para Version 1) it is of similar dimensions when compared to other 5.56mm rifles. The relationship of stock, trigger and handguard is excellent and readily lends itself to ease of handling and shooting. The handfilling front handguard is particularly well designed and remains cool to the touch even after periods of extended firing.

The trigger is designed by FN as a single-stage model and is fairly stiff. Trigger slack takeup requires 2.5 lbs. of pressure while sear disengagement needs an additional 8 lbs. to achieve release. Creep is typically .04-.05” which is well within specifications for a rifle designed for hard battlefield use.

The FNC is designed to use the NATO STANAG 4179 (Colt AR15-type) magazine. While a blued all-steel 30-round mag was originally available, it is generally hard to find and expensive. This is not a problem as the Colt 20 and 30-round versions work perfectly well and are found everywhere. For you serious collectors, the Beta-C mag should work properly in the FNC.

Receiver

The upper receiver is composed of stamped sheet steel with all welding performed robotically. The barrel extension, which includes the cartridge feed ramp, is spot welded into the front of the receiver. The rear of the receiver is given structural integrity by having the rear take down support also spot welded in. The rear sight assembly, too, is welded onto the receiver. To carry the bolt assembly, two U-shaped guide rails are spot welded inside the receiver. Next to the right guide rail is the ejector, which is riveted in place. Finally, to keep debris from getting inside the receiver there is a cocking slot cover which is spring loaded to ride over the cocking handle when the bolt assembly reciprocates.

The lower receiver is milled from aluminum alloy stock which is black anodized to reduce visibility. The magazine release is very similar to the Colt AR15 and is well positioned for one finger use. The trigger mechanism replicates the FALs’ and is easily accessible for maintenance. By rotating the safety switch vertically upwards it can be slid out to permit greater internal access for mechanism adjusting and/or replacement.

Barrel

The FNC’s imported into the US had two different length barrels. One was 18” and the other was 16”. Paratroop FNC’s came with both lengths while the standard fixed stock model came with the 18” version. Unlike the AR15, there has never been a heavyweight or “target” FNC barrel.

The barrel is hammer forged with a 6-groove RH twist which, is then hard chrome plated. Twist is 1/12” and designed to stabilize the US M193 55gr. bullet. It may not fully stabilize the newer US M855 62gr green tip slug. Interestingly enough, the Swedish Bofors-manufactured FNC (entered service in 1987 as the AK5) initially used a slow twist barrel due to humanitarian concerns about excessive wound trauma. They have since adopted the 1/7” twist as used on the M16A2 rifle.

The FNC barrel has a parkerized NATO-standard 22mm flash suppressor (LH thread!) which is very similar to the FAL “shorty” factory model. Flash suppression is adequate, but the main purpose of this device is to allow the mounting/launching of rifle grenades. Finally, the barrel is ribbed to support a clip-on bipod and front sling swivel.

Operating System

The gas-operated recoil system is a combination of the AK and FAL systems. A takeoff port in the barrel directs expanding gases through the gas block and into the gas tube. This tube carries the gas piston, which is part of the bolt carrier assembly. The gas slams into the head of the gas piston and forces the entire bolt carrier assembly to move backwards. As it begins moving to the rear, a camming action causes the bolt to unlock from the barrel extension and extract the spent cartridge case. Further bolt assembly movement causes the case to hit the ejector, recock the hammer and compress the recoil spring. The spring then drives back into battery the bolt carrier assembly, which strips off a fresh cartridge from the magazine and cams the bolt back into engagement with the barrel extension locking lugs. It is now ready for another round to be fired.

The FNC bolt is similar in size to an AR15 bolt and has two large dual-opposed locking lugs. The firing pin rides within the bolt, but is unusual in that it is retained by the bolt carrier and floats for 7mm. A firing pin spring is used so that an accidental inertia impact with the cartridge primer (which AR15’s are known to do) is eliminated. This firing pin is very thin and perhaps the weakest point in the FNC system.

Finally, the FNC gas system is adjustable in two separate ways. Should crud build up and more gas pressure is needed to cycle the action, an extension on the gas piston tube is rotated 90 degrees clockwise. This will cause the gas piston tube to close over an exhaust port located on the gas block and result in increased pressure being diverted against the gas piston head. The second adjustment is in regard to the firing of rifle grenades. By flipping up the grenade sight the gas is then cut off from flowing through the gas block and the FNC will not cycle. This permits the full force of the gas to be directed against the base of the grenade. Of course, a special ballistite (blank) cartridge is required to generate the high pressures required for launching.

Sights

Sights on the FNC are clearly in line with those of the FAL. The rear is an aperture type that flips into two positions: one for 250m and the other for 400m. It is protected from accidental knocks by two ears, which extend up from the base. Each adjusting click of the detent will traverse the bullet point-of-impact 1cm at 100m. The front sight is a spring-loaded post, which is also protected by two ears. Although there is no detent, each 1/4 turn of the post will elevate the bullet 1cm at 100m. While the sight adjusting function is performed with the combination tool, the Uzi SMG tool is also perfect for the job. Sight radius for the FNC is 20”.

Furniture

All the furniture on the FNC is rugged black plastic. The handguards are compression molded and riveted with brass nibs to steel liners. These liners give excellent structural integrity while being vented to dissipate the heat both forward and through the top. The pistolgrip is a direct takeoff from the FAL and is wedge shaped with a fairly steep rake to increase control while in rapid fire. The pistolgrip also contains the oiler/cleaning kit.

The sturdy folding stock is also a copy of the FAL paratroop unit. The two legs and buttpiece comprising the stock are made of aluminum, which has been finished in a baked-on satin black enamel. Also, the top leg of the buttstock is encased in plastic to reduce the effect of temperature extremes on the shooter’s face. The stock is fixed to the lower receiver via an aluminum mounting block which has been black anodized. To fold the stock, simply thumb aside the lock button, disengage the stock from the mounting block and fold against the right side of the rifle.

The fixed stock is also made of hard black plastic with a steel buttplate. It is mounted directly to the lower receiver via one screw. Swapping folding and fixed buttstocks is quite simple and requires no modifications to the bolt carrier, recoil mechanism, etc. Simply remove the screw, replace the stock, and reinstall the screw.

Spare Parts

Just recently the import of Indonesian-manufactured spare parts has taken place. Spare barrels, firing pins, magazines, tools, etc. are all available from Tampa Bay Military & Police Supply Inc. These items are officially licensed from FN and built to military specifications by the quasi-governmental firm of Bandung. Since Indonesia has been fighting terrorists and internal unrest for many years it is safe to say these parts have stood the test of time and will work quite well in the FNC. Two particularly interesting items are the 16” and 18” barrel assemblies with the 1/7” twist which will permit stabilization of the heavier M855 62gr. bullet.

Accessories

The FNC factory manual dated March, 1982, shows the following accessories to be available:

M16 Bayonet Adapter – This is attached to the barrel and permits the US M7 bayonet to be used. Otherwise, the FN “tubular” bayonet is used by sliding it over the NATO-standard 22mm flash suppressor.

Telescopic Sight – This is a superb 4×28 milspec scope manufactured by Hensoldt. It has the typical picket-post crosshair and sports an olive green finish. It is attached to the scope mount via two STANAG screws and is adjustable for windage and elevation.

Telescopic Sight Mount – This is a quick disconnect mount very similar to the SIG AMT design. The forward end of the mount is inserted into a cutout that is machined into a protrusion coming up from the barrel extension. The rear is then lowered until it lays against a dovetail which is part of the rear sight base. A lever on the mount is then pushed which cams into the dovetail. Neat, simple and very quick.

Bipod – This is a sturdy cast aluminum “claw clamp” design similar to the model used on the AR15. It functions by squeezing the spring-loaded legs together and placing the open mouth against the barrel. Releasing it will cause the mouth to close around the barrel and remain in place. With a working height of 11” it gives excellent support to the FNC.

Combination Tool – This tool is very handy for cleaning the gas piston, gas block port and adjusting the sights. Normally quite difficult to find, it is now being imported by Tampa Bay Military & Police Supply Inc. and an excellent addition to the tool box.

Operating Characteristics

The FNC is a fun firearm to shoot. Its simple, yet solid, construction gives it a balance and heft which yields confidence. Whether in the paratroop or fixed stock versions, it remains an excellent firearm to employ.

To load the FNC simply insert the magazine into the feed well and push until it locks into place. Grasping the cocking handle on the right side of the receiver, pull it to the rear and release smartly. A round will be chambered. Take it off safe, aim through the sights and press the trigger. Recoil is well dampened and presses directly back into the shoulder. Recovery onto the target is rapid for followup shots.

Accuracy testing with 210 rounds of first quality (not surplus) IMI M193 ball ammo provided by Cole Distributing revealed my particular FNC fired a consistent 10-round group of 2 1/2 MOA. This was with iron sights and stiff trigger, while the average velocity clocked at 3281 fps. The accuracy with this particular FNC/cartridge combination was outstanding and exceeds any military requirement I am aware of. One comment: many shooters avoid “surplus fodder” due to concerns about overpressure, corrosion, etc. This is clearly not true with Cole’s .223 IMI cartridge. It is very accurate/clean burning and is highly recommended!

For reloading purposes the FNC is not as friendly as the AR15. Most cases being ejected from the FNC are dented due to impacting the cocking slot cover. Unlike the H&K series of rifles, there is no optional ejection port buffer to snap on and reduce case damage.

Breaking down and cleaning the FNC is similar to the AR15. First, take out the magazine and make sure the chamber is empty. Cock the weapon and place it on safe. Push out the two captive takedown pins that connect the upper and lower receivers together. Grasp the cocking handle and retract the entire bolt carrier assembly towards the rear. As the handle reaches the cutout at the rear of the cocking slot pull it (the handle) out from the bolt carrier assembly. Use your finger to slide out the bolt carrier assembly from the upper receiver rails.

Next, press on the recoil spring retainer plate and rotate it 1/4 turn in either direction. This will disconnect the recoil spring/guide from its attachment point inside the gas piston. Slowly withdraw it towards the rear as spring tension is released. Finally, separate the bolt from the bolt carrier by rotating it 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the bolt carrier. Be careful the firing pin spring does not accidentally fall off the pin and get lost! Remove the handguards by snapping off their spring retainer clip located in front of the gas block.

Cleaning the FNC is very simple. Standard solvents and oils are used, but make sure all ammonia-based products do not come into contact with the aluminum lower receiver. It will attack non-ferrous metal! Cleaning the barrel from the breech end is simple and the only proper way to do so. Make especially sure you address the receiver extension where the bolt locks up as it will harbor a good amount of crud. Other places to make sure are clean include the hard chromed gas piston area, the gas tube it travels in and the gas block with its porting hole. For really stubborn carbon deposits in these areas I use a wooden popsicle stick or the combination tool to scrap them away.

Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly. Items to watch for include making sure the cocking handle is placed back into the bolt carrier assembly (it’s easy to forget) and the gas selector lever is placed into the “normal” and not full power position.

Conclusion

The FN FNC is one of the “best kept secrets” in military-style rifles to be imported into America. It is clearly one of the best. When comparing its cost to similar imports the true value of the FNC will become even more apparent. In fact, I consider it one of the few remaining “bargains” to be found. Where else can you get a firearm of this type from an internationally respected manufacturer for the price of a green label AR15?

Firing the low recoil and commonly available 5.56mm cartridge makes it a pleasure to shoot and even easier on the pocketbook. Further, its supply of high capacity magazines is assured for years to come. As an additional incentive, the import of licensed spare parts has begun and will keep the FNC running long into the future.

Fabrique Nationale’s FNC until now has been little known in America and deserves much greater respect than has been accorded. Belgium, Indonesia, Sweden and a host of other armed forces cannot be wrong. Now, with your knowledge of the FNC, you will not be either.

Stay tuned for a future article on how to convert the FNC to select fire – with registered transferable factory parts!

Arclight
Attn: Gene Guilaroff
PO Box 173
Alvaton, KY 42122
(502) 622-7309

Tampa Bay Military &
Police Supply, Inc.
Attn: Dana Reed
501 S. Falkenburg Rd.
Tampa, FL 33619
(813) 662-9433
fullauto@gte.net

Cole Distributing, Inc.
Attn: Gary Cole
PO Box 50271
Bowling Green, KY 42102-2871
(502) 843-6844
www.cole-distributing.com

This article provides an overview of what is arguably the highest quality military-style rifle to ever be imported into America – the SIG AMT. By understanding the background, technical details, operating characteristics and accessories of the SIG AMT you will gain a perspective into why it is considered one of the finest rifles of its type in existence. Have doubts about this grandiose statement? Then read on!

Background

During the period 1954-1957 the Swiss firm of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) designed an assault rifle which ultimately became the Sturmgewehr (StGw) 57. The StGw57 was in the 7.5mm Swiss caliber and borrowed ideas from the earlier Spanish CETME Model L and Mauser StG45 rifles. Chief among these ideas was using a receiver of stamped steel along with a delayed-blowback operating system comprised of a bolt assembly utilizing twin locking rollers. These locking rollers are most commonly seen today in H&K rifles.

The Swiss military used the StGw57 from 1957-1986 at which time it was phased out in favor of the newer StGw90 in 5.6mm GP90 caliber. However, throughout the distinguished 30-year service life of the StGw57 several updates to the basic design took place. These were done to increase its suitability for export purposes onto the global arms market. The updated StGw57, when exported out of Switzerland, then became known as the StGw510.

Options available within the 510-series included differing calibers, weight reductions, ergonomic refinements and simplified sighting equipment. There were five versions of the 510. These included:

510-1 Same as the StGw57 but renamed for export purposes
510-2 Lightweight version of the 510-1
510-3 Same as the 510-1 but in 7.62x39mm caliber
510-4 Same as the 510-1 but in 7.62mm NATO caliber
510-5 Same as the 510-1; Mexican Army prototype in 30-06 caliber

Throughout the period 1969-1989, SIG exported two versions of the 510 into the US. One was the 510-1 which was renamed for sales purposes as the PE57 and remained chambered in 7.5mm Swiss. The other was the 510-4. The remainder of this article will touch on the 510-4 and then detail its refined brother – the superb SIG American Match Target (AMT).

In 1969 several SIG 510-4’s, perhaps less than a dozen, were imported into the US. These were legally parallel to the FN “G” series rifle in that they were built around full automatic receivers with semi automatic internals. However, BATF approved these rifles as semi-automatics and therefore not falling under the restrictions of the NFA.

Later in 1969 SIG responded to emerging gun regulations in other countries (notably England and Italy) by slightly modifying the 510-4 to make it more “sporting”. This included deleting the bayonet mount and rifle grenade rings on the barrel. When imported into the United States this now became the SIG AMT. Benet Arms, SARCO, Osborne Brothers (import marking of “OSS”!), Mandall, SIGARMS and Golden State Arms all were AMT importers. It is known that 1,440 AMT’s were imported during the period 1969-1978. From 1979-1989 more AMT’s were imported although they were reportedly made up of parts which had been manufactured earlier. Total import of the AMT is estimated at 3,000 rifles for the years 1969-89. Even SIG does not know the exact number.

With a high retail price ($348 in the early 1970’s and $1700 in 1978) it was very expensive. Colt AR15’s and H&K 91’s were selling for well over a thousand dollars less during this same period. For these reasons – small supply and very high cost – the AMT is now one of the rarest military-style rifles in the United States. Market trends indicate it is now one of the most desired.

Technical Details

The AMT is superbly manufactured and finished in every respect. The traditional quality of Swiss workmanship is evident throughout all parts and functions of the rifle. After all, being directly related to the primary small arm of the Swiss military, it would have to be! Specifics on the major components of the SIG AMT follow.

* Layout – The AMT is not a big rifle, although it visually appears to be larger than it really is. Total length is 40” with an unloaded weight of 10 pounds. The charging handle is on the right side of the receiver and is extremely easy to grasp. The large ejection port is also on the right side and there is no ejector door as on the M16. The staggered-row box magazine comes in 5, 10 and 20-round versions although the 24-round 7.5mm Swiss PE57 magazine will fit and function correctly if it has the older metal (not plastic) follower. The hollow black plastic pistol grip is quite comfortable to use and has a removable endcap to allow storing the cleaning kit.

From a side view the AMT appears to be a square and perhaps bulky rifle which could be uncomfortable to use. This is definitely not the case as it very readily falls into your shoulder when firing. The relationship between buttstock, forward hand rest and trigger assembly are excellent. Overall fit and finish are the best I have ever see in any production rifle, anywhere. Finally, the major components of the AMT are all numbered to each other in traditional European fashion.

* Receiver – The receiver is essentially composed of three pieces: two end caps which are blued, and the parkerized central receiver section. The central section is stamped steel with several ribs to give rigidity and also perform a self-cleaning function. The front end cap is a cast and precision machined component which is spot welded to the central section. One unique feature of this cap is that the bolt locking roller recesses are contained in separate parts and held in place by circlips. When the recesses become worn simply pop off the circlips, install new locking recess parts, and replace the circlips. Your AMT is now ready for thousands of new rounds to be fired. The rear end cap is also spot welded to the central section and lends structural support while serving as a mount for the buttstock. Typical for the period, a carrying handle is mounted into the receiver and is placed where the AMT naturally balances.

The lower receiver is also of stamped and folded steel which has been parkerized a medium gray color. It operates in the same fashion as H&K rifles since it contains the trigger/safety mechanism and pistol grip. The lower receiver is retained in the rifle by clipping the front section into two flanges with the rear locked in by a single push pin. One unique feature of the SIG AMT is it comes standard with a winter trigger. Under normal operating conditions it is folded up against the right side of the lower receiver and out of the way. To use, simply snap it down and fire with your gloved hand. Believe it or not this winter trigger is so well designed it gives an excellent “feel” of the sear disengagement and fire control. Finally, a small square metal plate is visible on the right side of the lower receiver. The external side is painted white to signify the AMT is semi-automatic. If it was reversed to its normal gray parkerized color this would visually indicate the rifle was full automatic.

* Barrel – The blued steel barrel is 19.9” long and has four-groove rifling with a 1/12” twist rate. This is an optimum geometry for 7.62mm NATO slugs in the 150-165 grain weight range. Accuracy with milspec ammunition is excellent as my AMT routinely delivers 2 MOA with iron sights and my poor eyes. The barrel is threaded and torqued into the upper receiver and is covered for 1/2 of its length by a perforated aluminum barrel casing. This casing not only assists in preventing unwanted banging of the barrel during field use but also acts as a heat sink and protection against hand burning. It is easily removable and contains the front sight assembly, hand rest and folding bipod. The barrel is also threaded for a flash suppressor which closely resembles the M16 birdcage version.

* Operating System – The AMT fires from a closed bolt. In fact, the full automatic StGw57 and 510-series all fire from the closed bolt. Pulling back on the very large charging handle (it is shaped like a miniature beer keg!) and letting it fly forward to load a round into the chamber is a very satisfying experience as all bearing surfaces are finely machined. It feels like glass sliding on glass. The charging handle has a detent which locks it forward and therefore keeps it from cycling as the bolt reciprocates. Also, the chamber is fluted to aid in initial extraction of a spent cartridge. While these flutes are not as prominent as on the H&K, there are more of them.

The AMT’s delayed blowback system uses twin locking rollers. The bolt assembly is quite similar to the H&K system in that a smaller bolt head contains the locking rollers and extractor. The larger bolt body contains the firing pin and a protruding director shaft (acts just like the H&K locking piece) which causes the locking rollers to cam into their recesses at the moment of firing. After the bullet exits the bore and pressures drop to a safe level the bolt body moves rearward and pulls back the director shaft. This allows the locking rollers to release out of their recesses and the entire bolt assembly to continue recoiling back, cock the hammer, and compress the recoil rod/spring combination. Upon reaching the limit of travel the rod/spring drives the bolt assembly forward to strip and chamber a fresh cartridge. As the bolt assembly comes back into battery the locking rollers are then cammed back into their locking recesses by the director shaft and you are ready to fire another round.

* Sights – The front sight is a post which is protected by ears. Elevation adjustment is carried out by screwing the post the appropriate direction as on the AR15. However, unlike the AR15, traversing adjustment is performed by drifting the front sight base left or right. The rear sight is of the aperture type and is spring loaded to slide up or down a ramp which is ballistically matched to the 7.62mm NATO round. This ramp is graduated with detents from 100-600 meters. Sight radius is a generous 21”.

* Furniture – All AMT’s have wood furniture composed of a buttstock and two-piece forward hand rest. The wood is French walnut which is smoothly finished under a flat polyurethane coating. While both appear to be too small, this is definitely not the case. The buttstock has a hollow scooped from its midsection to allow an excellent cheekweld and proper alignment of eye-to-sight. The forward hand rest falls readily in place and is shaped to permit a good grip at a comfortable arm/body angle. Because of its straight-line design the force of recoil is directed against the shoulder muscle and the AMT does not unduly rise even in rapid fire. It is the softest recoiling 7.62mm I have ever fired. In comparison the H&K91 and FN FAL are like elephant guns.

Operating Characteristics

Firing the AMT is a pure joy. The balance and excellent ergonomics are hard to appreciate until you shoot several hundred rounds through it – at one session.

To begin, load up the magazine and insert it into the rifle. This is done in the same manner as a FAL or H&K. Place the forward part of the magazine into the mag well and rock it backwards until it latches in place. While keeping the AMT pointed downrange, grab the very large charging handle and pull it smartly to the rear. Letting it go will immediately place a round into the fluted chamber. At this point take it off Safe and start firing. You can always tell if the AMT is loaded as a cartridge indicator is built into the upper receiver. It will pop up a fraction of an inch if a round is chambered. In the darkness you can reach forward and feel it protruding. There is also a secondary cartridge indicator which is part of the firing pin lever and viewable/touchable through the ejection port.

As there is no hold open on the AMT the bolt will not lock to the rear after the last shot. It will close on an empty magazine just like the H&K. A hint which can prevent some minor marring is to not let the AMT “run dry” on a magazine. They are hard to find and expensive ($130 each) to purchase. As you come up on the last round it is better to remove the magazine instead of having the bolt slam into the magazine follower. Make sure you take care to manually eject the round which is still in the chamber!

Offhand shooting is perhaps my favorite position with the SIG as it really brings out the rifle’s inherent solid design. However, the factory manual states the preferred position is with the built-in bipod as it yields the greatest accuracy. While not disagreeing with this statement, it does sort of take the fun out of standing up and enjoying an extremely well built firearm with minimal recoil.

Cleaning the AMT is quite simple. First, make it safe by taking out the magazine and charging it. Place the selector lever on “S” and push out the single pin which retains the lower receiver. Swing down and remove the entire lower receiver. Depress the buttstock latch, rotate the buttstock 90 degrees counterclockwise and remove it. The recoil spring and rod will come out with the buttstock. Grasp the charging handle and slide it to the rear. The bolt assembly and charging handle can now be withdrawn from the receiver. Finally, split the bolt assembly by removing the transverse key. That is all there is for general disassembly. Detail stripping is not necessary except for once or twice a year.

Standard cleaning procedures should be used but make sure no aggressive chemicals such as carb cleaner, Tetra teflon solution, Gun Scrubber, etc. come into contact with the wood furniture. The fine finish on the wood may not be able to take these aggressive compounds. Also keep in mind the fluted chamber harbors additional crud and should be addressed a little more thoroughly. A US GI 7.62mm chamber brush will work quite fine. As the upper receiver is now wide open you can properly clean the bore from the breech side.

Accessories

The AMT has available several accessories which add to the enjoyment of owning this fine weapon. In addition to the 5, 10 and 20-round magazines there is also a cleaning kit, cartridge indicator hold open tool, locked breech gauge (similar to headspace) and sight adjusting tool. Since the AMT is still being sold in Switzerland the availability of most spare parts is assured. One location to get these parts is through SIG Parts Service of Auburn, WA, or you can file the necessary Form 6 with BATF and import them yourself.

Perhaps the hardest accessory to find is the very rare scope and QD mount combination. Reportedly there were about 100 scopes made in the 1970’s by the firm of Dr. Wohler from Kassel, Germany. Half of these went to the Chilean army for their use and the remainder were placed on the retail market. The scope is 4x with a 1” tube and comes with the traditional picket-post reticle pattern. It has a range adjusting knob which is cammed for the standard 7.62 NATO ball round.

The quick disconnect mount is equally hard to find. Fortunately, SIG Parts Service does a first class job of reproducing this mount which is currently available for $325. If you want to put optics on your AMT this high quality mount is clearly the way to go. Since the Dr. Wohler scope/QD mount are almost impossible to find, the use of a military 4x Hensoldt with reproduction mount would duplicate the original’s size and performance at less than half the cost.

Conclusion

The SIG AMT is one of the rarest military-style rifles in the United States. Imported in very limited numbers, the few which are available command a premium price and are normally found in excellent condition. Who would want to abuse such a fine example of the gunmaker’s art? Top notch machine work, solid design, excellent ergonomics, meticulous attention to detail and a host of similar thoughts crowd your mind when examining one. I should know – I bought my AMT after seeing it for only a few fleeting moments! Now, having been bitten by the SIG bug, how can I convince my wife to let me get that PE57… and mount a Gemtech suppressor on it… and… You get the idea.

SIG Parts Service
Attn: Estes Adams
PO Box 2631
Auburn, WA 98071-2631

(For Love of a Bosnian Child)

It was a another cold night on January 15th , 1997, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The snow had been blowing for several days and now the temperatures were plunging into the mid-teens. The short daylight hours had quickly changed to an overcast black night as my soldiers from the 361st Civil Affairs Brigade were winding down another duty day. We were US Army Reservists from Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida who had been activated by President Clinton on November 15th for a nine month tour in Bosnia. Arriving in the war torn country on December 2nd as part of Operation Joint Endeavor, we had to quickly learn all the in’s and out’s of soldiering in a complicated international environment of 33 separate nations. Even though Civil Affairs soldiers are trained in managing the intricate relationship between military and civilian components, some of us would have no idea how complicated it could get – or how fulfilling it would be.

Until a fax page was brought in, and a boy whom we had never met suddenly started the process of getting his life back together.

It was 6:00pm and my J3 Operations section was shutting down our computers and preparing to leave when a message was delivered. Since the weather was getting worse and we had to hurry up and get to the mess hall at Zetra Stadium, my Operations Sergeant, MSG Pate, took a quick glance at it. After a few moments he motioned for me to stay and the others could leave.

He asked me to sit down and read the fax. I looked it over for a minute and could not tell if it was even intended for us. A cover page was missing which could provide many of the details we needed in order to respond. Apparently, a humanitarian agency we had never heard of was requesting a military medical evacuation flight for some child and a parent. We already knew from our short time in Bosnia these were extremely difficult to obtain for both operational and liability reasons. One thing was sure, the military organization who received this mission was guaranteed a very hard time in carrying it out. The bureaucracy to overcome in obtaining the aircraft would probably be insurmountable.

After further discussion, MSG Pate and I agreed that our Task Force Surgeon, LTC Canale needed to research this further. If we were the ones to receive this mission all our facts must be absolutely straight in order to take on the military regulations.

With this, we both left the darkened office and quietly walked out into the frigid night, not knowing what to think.

The next morning, LTC Canale called the single phone number on the message and began validation of the case. The number rang to the Sarajevo office of an Italian humanitarian organization named INTERSOS. The attending physician on this case was a Dr. Kahn. The story he related was heartbreaking.

In June 1996, an 14-year old boy named Tihomir Ostojic was playing with some friends in the Dobrinja suburb of Sarajevo when he climbed down from a cherry tree. In the moment before his feet touched the ground, he knew something was terribly wrong. The grass had been undisturbed by pedestrians for a reason – it was a live minefield. A Yugoslavian land mine immediately exploded and blew him into the sky. Violently thrown forward, he landed on a second mine which also detonated. Each carried enough high explosives to severely maim or kill whoever had the great misfortune to discover them. Tihomir was the unfortunate finder.

The blasts literally ripped off both hands just above the wrists, broke a leg, severed two toes and severely bruised his entire body. Near death, he was rushed to a local Sarajevo hospital which managed, through emergency medical care honed by years of war, to staunch the bleeding and keep the boy’s life from fading away. After surviving almost four years of war, his days as a young teenager were now permanently altered.

Dr. Kahn continued his story to LTC Canale. As the boy’s overall condition became stabilized his case came to the attention of INTERSOS. Primarily composed of medical professionals who specialized in treating civilians maimed in the hellish Bosnian war, Tihomir was identified as an excellent candidate for prosthetics. Now, it was time to start the fitting process and get him to Italy for the work to be performed. However, there was one major problem – transportation to Italy.

INTERSOS, like most all humanitarian agencies, never has enough money to do everything it wants. The hard choice to make is allocation of funds. Do they place a large portion of their scarce resources in transporting the patients to Italy for treatment or maximize the medical component and hope other organizations will assist with transport? In Tihomirs’ case the choice was particularly difficult. There were no commercial transport flights out of Bosnia – anywhere – as the two available airfields only handled military traffic. Road transport would be too difficult for his wounds and was tenuous at best. Illegal checkpoints, poor freedom of movement, ethnic hatred and a lack of trafficable roads in the winter all were against him.

INTERSOS decided to hope for the good graces of the NATO-led peace stabilization forces (called SFOR). Only SFOR had the aircraft to fly Tihomir out. It was now the 361st Civil Affairs Brigade’s mission and the burden was on our shoulders. We were in the hot seat to overcome a truly amazing mass of regulations.

The next day, January 17th, MSG Pate began researching how to acquire a military aircraft seat for a Bosnian child. By pure chance, laying on an empty desk we found a detailed memorandum from SFOR headquarters on who was authorized to fly their aircraft. Buried in the middle of eighteen separate categories were two which – in a real stretch of the imagination – might apply. It was the only chance. He gave me the memo and I sat down at my desk to write an official justification. I knew if the memo was not perfect the seat for Tihomir and a parent would never materialize. There was only one chance to get it right. The next day, January 18th, we faxed it along with the standard passenger reservation request to SFOR Air Booking. This is the unit which controls aircraft seat assignment in all of Bosnia. We crossed our fingers and hoped it would slip past them to reserve two seats on the January 21st flight from Sarajevo to Rimini, Italy.

The waiting game now began.

Air Booking procedures said we could not confirm a reserved seat until 6pm the night before takeoff. If we called any earlier it might bring too much attention to the request and result in a probable refusal. The waiting was very stressful. Tihomir and his parent, Dr. Kahn, MSG Pate and I were all quite concerned.

Finally, at 6pm on the 20th, MSG Pate called and calmly inquired about the two reserved seats. We were turned down. Air Booking said the child and his father were simply not authorized to fly on SFOR aircraft. They understood this was a humanitarian request, and wished they could do something, but their interpretation of the regulations was quite clear. No.

Improvise, Overcome and Adapt

MSG Pate and I were depressed. After discussing who would call Dr. Kahn with the bad news we had one more idea: jump over Air Booking and directly call their boss, the Joint Movement Control Center (JMCC) at Zagreb, Croatia. Perhaps a direct appeal could help the case as there were no other options available.

Quickly calling the JMCC representative, MSG Pate was told they had never received any request for Tihomir or his parent! Upon hearing this we rolled our eyes and immediately re-faxed the entire request package to them. A few minutes later JMCC called us back and confirmed receipt, however, due to the late hour they could not assure any seats until 10am the next day. Time was now getting short.

We knew the chances of Tihomir and his parent getting a seat were slim. Furthermore, to get their hopes up and have them pack their bags, only to be disappointed the next day shortly before takeoff, would be too much. MSG Pate and I discussed the entire situation and agreed to request a one day delay in the flight until the 22nd. Hopefully, this would give us the time to re-do the process and get confirmed seats. I called Dr. Kahn and told him the flight would be delayed for one day. I did not tell him this whole event was on the verge of failing and we had only one more chance tomorrow. MSG Pate and I felt that something positive would happen. We did not know what, though.

After waiting all day, at 6pm on the 21st we called back to JMCC for their final decision. We got it! Tihomir and his parent were now confirmed on Flight 140Z, leaving Sarajevo at 1:30pm the next afternoon. MSG Pate excitedly called Dr. Kahn and gave him the great news. Dr. Kahn was very happy and in turn called Tihomir and his parent. They were now finally leaving Bosnia on a military aircraft for Italy and the dreamed-for prosthetic fitting. It appeared that sheer persistence had finally paid off – almost.

The weather report for the next three days was not encouraging. Freezing rain was moving in and SFOR aircraft were very reluctant to fly in this condition after the death of Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown a year earlier. Furthermore, if the aircraft was canceled the seats for Tihomir and his parent would not be automatically re-booked. We would have to start the process all over again and this time there would be a lot of unwanted attention on the case. None of us needed this attention so close to the end.

The next day, January 22nd, another one of my Operations section members, SSG Markert, and I drove to the Sarajevo airport. We were to meet Dr. Kahn, Tihomir and his parent, and several INTERSOS staff at the French Army checkpoint. After signing them in we were to all wait inside a cold steel aircraft hanger for several hours until the flight departed.

Arriving at the checkpoint at 11:00am we quickly linked up with Dr. Kahn and Tihomir. The father was also there and was escorting his son to Italy. A cold rain was starting to come down and fog was moving in so completely that nearby Mount Igman was disappearing into the haze. It did not look promising and everyone knew it. Although there was happiness at getting this far in the process, we all realized the chances for departure were rapidly decreasing with every minute of delay. Also, SSG Markert and I privately understood that delay meant a very real chance Tihomir would never get out of Bosnia. His re-booking would be highly scrutinized by numerous SFOR personnel. He absolutely had to get out today; we did not reveal our fears to anyone.

After standing in line at the French checkpoint for several minutes, Dr. Kahn and I finally got to the soldier checking the authorizations. As I started to speak a very well dressed gentleman pushed his way up to the window and cut in line. He was the German ambassador and was late in picking up someone at the airport. Elbowing and pushing me away, he showed his paperwork and insisted on rapid admittance. The French soldier looked at me and shook his head in amusement. After beating this many odds to get Tihomir out, I had little desire to start an incident with a gentleman who had forgotten his manners. We stepped aside and let the Ambassador through without further word. If he had known what we were trying to do then perhaps his graces would have been remembered!

Getting through the checkpoint we all went to the passenger check-in desk located in the hanger. Reporting to the French sergeant that Tihomir Ostojic and his father were now here, I was greeted with a real shock. They were not on the approved manifest! JMCC had apparently not forwarded their names to the French and we were now in deep trouble. The flight was also overbooked as American embassy personnel were on standby. There were no seats available and the best we could get was standby status. Looking over at Tihomir and his father, I was sick to my stomach. How was I going to break this terrible news to them? We had come this far only to falter at the end.

Getting firm, I asked the French sergeant to please check again as there was very definitely a mistake. She told me in a combination of French-German-English that no mistake was made. If the names were not on the manifest there would be no seats available. She was sorry, but those are the rules. Hearing this, I reached through the window and took the manifest to check it for myself. Perhaps there was a misspelling or mispronunciation which caused the error.

As I quickly brought it through the window a flash of yellow paper fluttering in the air caught my eyes. Grabbing it as it drifted down, I glanced at some writing on one side. The names of Tihomir Ostojic and his father were there. JMCC had made a late addition to Flight 140Z’s manifest and the French had added this change with a post-it note. What a break! Eagerly showing this note to the French sergeant, she broadly smiled and inked their names in as having reserved seats. We were ready to go!

Except the weather was now collapsing badly and the flight might be cancelled.

We all nervously waited in the cold and drafty hanger for the next two hours in the hope the aircraft would be able to take off. The weather continued to get worse. Finally, at 1:00pm the announcement was made to begin loading the passenger’s baggage into the nearby cart. Maybe there was some hope after all. I took Tihomir and his father’s two simple suitcases into the hanger next door and placed them onto the wooden packing form. It quickly filled up with luggage and some French soldiers threw a cargo net over it and efficiently ratcheted it down. A motorized cart then drew up, a forklift placed the heavy weight onto the cart, and it disappeared towards the darkened runway.

Finally, the announcement we had anxiously waited for arrived. All confirmed passengers were to step outside to the ground guide and walk to the awaiting C130 aircraft. Tihomir was a slightly built boy trying as best as possible to look calm. He self consciously kept his arms inside his jacket pockets and stayed near his father. All our hearts went out to him at a time like this. He had never been on an airplane, outside the country of Bosnia, or near so many soldiers in his short life. Now, he was almost ready to take off on a military cargo plane, into bad weather, to a foreign country and be fitted for advanced prosthetic devices.

To give him some increase in confidence, I pulled out my good luck piece which was with me for many years – my 11th Special Forces Group coin – and placed it in his jacket pocket. Through my interpreter Danka, I told him that it had been with me on many parachute jumps and it would be with him now. He should fear nothing. Looking up, he thanked me with a nervous smile and wished the best for all of us who had helped him

With a final hug from everyone, and a shaking of the father’s outstretched hand, Tihomir and his parent joined the line behind the French guide and quickly disappeared into the fog towards the dark shape of a C130 aircraft. Hopefully, he was on his way to the start of a new chance in life. If they could take off.

SSG Markert and I said our goodbyes to Dr. Kahn and the INTERSOS staff and then slowly walked to our parked vehicles. Still unsure whether there would be any more problems with the flight – or even if the weather would allow a takeoff – SSG Markert and I stood beside our Hummer vehicle and watched the runway. Nothing could be seen or heard for twenty minutes. We were now quite worried as most all aircraft leaving Sarajevo tend to take off rapidly in order to clear the runway for the next plane. The darkness, rain and fog were now built up so much that one could not see nearby Mount Igman. This was a sure sign that we had lost the race. If Igman is not visible then local airsafety regulations would prohibit the flight. After all this, Tihomir and his father would not be leaving.

Suddenly, with a muffled roar of engines washing over our bodies, the totally blacked out shape of an American C130 cargo plane came flashing over the hanger in front of us. SSG Markert and I stood there and craned our necks as we tracked its single visible tailight into the gloom. We were ecstatic, as the pilots had obviously gotten out under absolutely minimum standards. Shaking each others hands, we got back into the Hummer and drove through the fog and rain back to Sarajevo. Tihomir had finally won.

TWO WEEKS LATER….

The phone rang and MSG Pate answered it. After a short conversation he hung up and smiled. Standing up, he announced to the J3 section that Dr. Kahn of INTERSOS had just called. Tihomir Ostojic and his father were returning in a few hours and we were invited to the airport to welcome him back. His prosthetic work had been very successful and there was an excellent prognosis for the future. Looking at each other, MSG Pate and I knew right then that we would be there. We wouldn’t miss if for anything.

Two hours later, we were standing at the airport entrance gate and eagerly awaiting for Tihomir and his father. Without any fanfare, they appeared with the other passengers getting off the flight from Italy. When Tihomir spotted our group he broke out in a smile which could illuminate the world. Walking up to him, I gave the traditional Bosnian welcome by kissing him on both sides of his face. Through an interpreter he thanked me for the good luck coin which I have given him shortly before departure. It had obviously worked for him!

After a few minutes of greetings, we all started to walk back to our parked vehicles. As we turned towards our Hummer, Tihomir’s father walked up with the INTERSOS interpreter to say a few private words. What he said was most heartfelt.

It turned out the Ostojic family was Serbian! The Serbs in Bosnia do not look kindly on American soldiers as we are viewed as their enemies who forced an unfair Dayton Peace Accords on them. For the American military to now do so much in support of his son was simply astounding. He had a totally changed opinion about us and the United States of America.

“Bless you and your soldiers – thank you America!” was all he could say through a huge smile. Shaking his hand, MSG Pate and I grinned and told him that we would have done the same thing for anybody. We meant it – and he knew it. And that made all the difference.