Deactivated to old (but still 100% UK legal) specifications. Fully field strippable, and working action. In contrast, all modern deactivations are welded up tight so very little (if anything) moves.

Although the FN FAL undoubtedly reins supreme as the world’s finest MBR (Main Battle Rifle), the Kalashnikov AK-47 design of ‘assault rifle’ (a media term) must surely rank as the greatest weapon of its type ever, whichever criteria one uses for measurement. The original design concept still lives on in the shape of the Izhmash AK-103 issued to select Russian units, and other armed forces worldwide.

It is quite worrying to note that, over 60 years since the introduction of the German Sturmgewehr 44 ‘assualt rifle’, NATO still does not posess an effective ‘assualt rifle’ nor an effective ‘assualt rifle’ round. Attempts to settle on a suitable round were twice scuppered by the US with their full power (and therefore not suitable for fully automatic fire in lightweight weapons) 7.62mm round, and the infamous and inadequate 5.56mm varmint round now in use.