fnc armourer's manual

[Gracie]

Does anyone know of the existence/availability of an fnc armorer's manual? If so, what is the fair market price for one?
Thanks for any info. Just noticed, posted this question a couple of years ago.

 

[okpud]

Sure, they exist. They are regulated and not for reproduction/sale. The last on I saw "become available" was in 2011 and it went for some in the neighborhood of $1000, if I remember correctly. I expect if one "popped up" today, it would likely sell for something >$1k.

Over a decade ago, I contacted both FN US and Belgium headquarters looking for one, providing my Type 7 FFL and Class II SOT. I even provided the NSN for the manual I was looking for. US office told me they don't have any and didn't have access to get one (same with FNC armorer's tools) because they were never produced in the US and to try Belgium. Belgium told me they were only available to militaries, not manufacturers or gunsmiths, and I could not have one imported. When I told them I was doing work on FNCs that we legally imported in the 1980s they essentially said "sorry, can't help you, try the US office"...

Basically, if you do find one, it likely came from an unofficial source that somehow made it into private hands. Also, they were produced in Dutch, French, and English, from what I remember, and I think English was only done due to Belgium being part of NATO. So if you do find one, there is also a decent chance it wouldn't be in English.

 

[Kramer]

There are a few over on this side of the pond, but as mentioned they are not usually in English. Unless you can read French or Dutch, it's a picture manual with specs..

 

[Gracie]

Thanks for the responses guys, I appreciate it very much.

 

[rhandle]

I know someone with an English copy. The guy payed a lot of $$ for it. He purchased the book thinking he could re-coup his cost by selling copies and also make some money.
Problem #1- Believe it or not, noPrint shop would copy the book for him.EVEN THOUGH there is no copyright on the book anymore.
Problem #2- If he was able to start making copies( did it himself),He doesn't want to start having issues with people purchasing,say ,a thumb drive, then having that purchaser sell to others essentially stealing from him.
I have asked to look at it. I Know he has it cause I saw it years ago. If I can get some pics I will post them here but don't know when. He is older. The original plan was for both of us to make a little $$ while having a copy of the manual for ourselves

 

[sweersa]

I know someone with an English copy. The guy payed a lot of $$ for it. He purchased the book thinking he could re-coup his cost by selling copies and also make some money.
Problem #1- Believe it or not, noPrint shop would copy the book for him.EVEN THOUGH there is no copyright on the book anymore.
Problem #2- If he was able to start making copies( did it himself),He doesn't want to start having issues with people purchasing,say ,a thumb drive, then having that purchaser sell to others essentially stealing from him.
I have asked to look at it. I Know he has it cause I saw it years ago. If I can get some pics I will post them here but don't know when. He is older. The original plan was for both of us to make a little $$ while having a copy of the manual for ourselves

That reminds me, years ago, after years of searching I was able to obtain an HK XM8 manual. The XM8 is a derivative of the HK G36 that almost replaced the M4/M16 15 years or so ago for the US Army. It was the typical HK manual of the time (though it was marked as a draft copy, as the XM8 never went into production, only prototypes were made, some parts of which I possess) with the red cardstock covers, regular 8.5x11" white pages of content and black plastic spiral binding. I carefully disassembled the original book, scanned it, and made several copies, including the red thick covers with all graphics and even bought a spiral binding machine with the correct spiral binding and made piles of copies that were 99% faithful to the original, almost indistinguishable. I sold a bunch of copies, gave many away, and even sent the PDF scan to various folks, but even so, years later, have yet to break even with all I have invested into it. But, I'd still do it again because it was a project of passion. And many other folks have been able to enjoy the books and information within who otherwise wouldn't have.