Steyr Build FN FAL value

[Buffman]

I've had this FAL for 8 months now. After original purchase it was determined to never have been fired, or darn close to it. The rifle was covered in all nooks and krannies with cosmoline. I spent probably 8 hours cleaning the rifle, and put 120 flawless rounds through it (save for the 5 hard primered POS S&B junk). Gun was cleaned and has been stored since I shot it 4 months ago. I keep coming back to it, and have decided I don't have much interest in it, and would like to think about possibly selling it. So that's why I'm posting here :)

The Details,

Receiver is Imbel Gear Logo undermarked with Pacific Armament Corp, Modesta CA. (can't find a date on the receiver)
Lower Receiver, Bolt Carrier and Bolt , and Barrel are all matched serial #: 1024XX. Barrel is marked 7.62x51mm VCL140 with three proof marks. This gun is Semi-Automatic, and WILL not fire F/A. The U/R on an FAL is the registered part, and these guns need the safety sear, and a sear cut Upper Receiver in order for F/A to occur, and this gun has neither. There is no bearing on the fact that the fun switch goes to the third position. 21" Barrel

I have no original history of the weapon, except for the older gentlemen that I bought it from stated it was originally 86+ F/A FAL (he was once a FFL). His local trusted FAL smith, removed the safety sear, and rebuilt the weapon on the Semi-Auto U/R. I can't comment to whether or not that's the case (as the gentlemen does have some tall stories), but I would have thought if the gun was rebuilt with a new UR, that it wouldn't have been left covered in cosmoline.

The only original parts not on this gun are the charging handle and knob (the original had a crack in the handle, so It was replaced with a DSA USA made unit), and the carry handle which was made out of titanium since the original plastic unit was damaged. The finish is not perfect on the gun, but is still in very good shape. There's a little surface rust on the gas tube, and on the grooves of the flash hider. Thanks for any insight.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9292/fal1.th.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/i/fal1.jpg/)
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/2548/fal2.th.jpg (http://img693.imageshack.us/i/fal2.jpg/)
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2844/fal3.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/i/fal3.jpg/)
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6655/fal4.th.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/fal4.jpg/)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7988/fal5.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/fal5.jpg/)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3879/fal6.th.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/fal6.jpg/)
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8005/fal7.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/fal7.jpg/)
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3949/fal8.th.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/i/fal8.jpg/)
http://a.imageshack.us/img412/1491/dscn1085u.th.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/dscn1085u.jpg/)
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/6198/fal10.th.jpg (http://img387.imageshack.us/i/fal10.jpg/)
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3949/fal11.th.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/fal11.jpg/)
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2527/fal12.th.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/fal12.jpg/)
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6107/fal13.th.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/fal13.jpg/)
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4796/fal14.th.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/i/fal14.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1350/fal15.th.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/fal15.jpg/)
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7610/fal16.th.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/fal16.jpg/)
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/3043/fal17.th.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/fal17.jpg/)
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/212/fal18.th.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/fal18.jpg/)
http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/1084/fal19.th.jpg (http://img686.imageshack.us/i/fal19.jpg/)
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7493/fal20.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/fal20.jpg/)
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9239/fal21.th.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/fal21.jpg/)
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9114/fal22.th.jpg (http://img260.imageshack.us/i/fal22.jpg/)
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3250/fal23.th.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/fal23.jpg/)
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5576/fal24.th.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/fal24.jpg/)
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9641/fal25.th.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/fal25.jpg/)
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2251/fal26.th.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/fal26.jpg/)
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/5711/fal27.th.jpg (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/fal27.jpg/)
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1145/fal28.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/fal28.jpg/)
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9031/fal29.th.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/fal29.jpg/)
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1687/fal30.th.jpg (http://img46.imageshack.us/i/fal30.jpg/)
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4821/fal31.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/i/fal31.jpg/)
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6870/fal32.th.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/i/fal32.jpg/)
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7033/fal33.th.jpg (http://img175.imageshack.us/i/fal33.jpg/)
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8238/fal34.th.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/fal34.jpg/)
http://a.imageshack.us/img843/4877/dscn1169.th.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/dscn1169.jpg/)

I take it this is a timing mark?
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3263/fal36.th.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/fal36.jpg/)
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5408/fal37.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/i/fal37.jpg/)
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/668/fal38.th.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/fal38.jpg/)
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5034/fal39.th.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/fal39.jpg/)
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/217/fal40.th.jpg (http://img260.imageshack.us/i/fal40.jpg/)
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/1379/fal41.th.jpg (http://img203.imageshack.us/i/fal41.jpg/)

[billbrasky]

just to be clear is it an original Imbel factory build?

if so you have quite a nice gun, check gun broker, they can go for $1,500 and more.

[Buffman]

just to be clear is it an original Imbel factory build?

if so you have quite a nice gun, check gun broker, they can go for $1,500 and more.
That's what I'm unsure of. There are some scuffs here and there from handling and storage, but the finish looks original, and I can see no indication of it being assembled at a later date. I thought it might be original due to all the cosmoline. I'll have to dig up Pacific Armaments # and see if that serial was registered as a UR only or an entire firearm.

[billbrasky]

Imbel was licensed to build FALs by steyr, and they did import them complete from the factory, not like today where you cant import most military style semi auto "assault" weapons.

So it could be a factory build, which would be nicer and more valuable than some hobbiest build.

If you go on FALfiles someone will be able to tell you for sure. http://www.falfiles.com/forums/index.php

Imbels are among the most desirable receivers you can get. Arguably second only to a belgian made FN receiver.

They are very well made, and if one factors in price, and performance, it is pretty much dead nutz with a FN made unit, but 1/3 the price.

Your gun could be $1,500, a belgian one imported by browning america could be $3,500-4,000 or more if it is unused or 95%.

Myself? I would rather have you gun and $3,000 in bullets than pay the going rate for a real semi auto FN made fal

[Buffman]

Imbel was licensed to build FALs by steyr, and they did import them complete from the factory, not like today where you cant import most military style semi auto "assault" weapons.

So it could be a factory build, which would be nicer and more valuable than some hobbiest build.

If you go on FALfiles someone will be able to tell you for sure. http://www.falfiles.com/forums/index.php

Imbels are among the most desirable receivers you can get. Arguably second only to a belgian made FN receiver.

They are very well made, and if one factors in price, and performance, it is pretty much dead nutz with a FN made unit, but 1/3 the price.

Your gun could be $1,500, a belgian one imported by browning america could be $3,500-4,000 or more if it is unused or 95%.

Myself? I would rather have you gun and $3,000 in bullets than pay the going rate for a real semi auto FN made fal

Yeah I had a thread going over there awhile ago, but no one really answered what the gun could be. I've contacted PAC with my serial # to see if the UR was imported, or if the gun as a whole was imported. Thanks

Matt

[Donzie]

the type 03 UR(usually inch cut??) generally means it was not built by Imbel. the stock and pistol grip don't match the G1 forearm(maybe for 922r compliance). that receiver is not cut for an auto sear. low front sight, STG break. i'd say US built STG 58 frankenfal.

[Buffman]

the type 03 UR(usually inch cut??) generally means it was not built by Imbel. the stock and pistol grip don't match the G1 forearm(maybe for 922r compliance). that receiver is not cut for an auto sear. low front sight, STG break. i'd say US built STG 58 frankenfal.

It's a metric UR. Talked to PAC, and indeed they only imported Receivers. SO more than likely the guy's FAL smith put this one together. (I indicated in the original post that it's not sear cut)

[Batman]

This looks like it's an STG-58 kit built up on an Imbal receiver. Very common to see these built when the STG kits were selling everywhere. That was back in the mid 1990's. I don't know when they started coming in but 86 seems rather early to me. I bought my first STG kit for $200 from What a Country in 1997 and an Imbel receiver from Dealer Warehouse for $149. You still need to have all 922r parts on it unless you can prove exactly when it was made (that being pre-ban). Since your gun doesn't have the 6 US parts your not compliante. 922r didn't sunset.

All this said... I don't think your gun was built up during that time frame. Your gun appears to have the original STG flash hidder on it. That was a no-no until the AWB sunsetted. The gun could have been built up during that time frame then added the FH later or maybe they just built it up any way and ignored the law.

The value of the gun is around $800 IMHO. Falfiles.com market place will be a good place to see what they are selling for.

[Buffman]

This looks like it's an STG-58 kit built up on an Imbal receiver. Very common to see these built when the STG kits were selling everywhere. That was back in the mid 1990's. I don't know when they started coming in but 86 seems rather early to me. I bought my first STG kit for $200 from What a Country in 1997 and an Imbel receiver from Dealer Warehouse for $149. You still need to have all 922r parts on it unless you can prove exactly when it was made (that being pre-ban). Since your gun doesn't have the 6 US parts your not compliante. 922r didn't sunset.

All this said... I don't think your gun was built up during that time frame. Your gun appears to have the original STG flash hidder on it. That was a no-no until the AWB sunsetted. The gun could have been built up during that time frame then added the FH later or maybe they just built it up any way and ignored the law.

The value of the gun is around $800 IMHO. Falfiles.com market place will be a good place to see what they are selling for.

I'm not sure the FH was even removed from the barrel. When I cleaned it, I didn't want to remove the FH, so I left it alone. When firing, the cosomoline that was under the Flash hider on the threads came oozing out. It does have a DSA charging handle which IIRC is 1 point US :)

I posted on FAL and most think the gun is in the $1000-$1300 range. Due to the matching lower #s serials on the STG parts, and the Imbel Gear receiver.