I built my FAL with a rather worn Imbel parts kit on a Century receiver "on the cheap".  The rifle actually went together pretty well and I didn't run into any of the common Century problems (only had to chase the barrel threads with a tap to clean them up and sand a little to get it timed right).  I used the US-made Penguin "budget" green furniture to keep the costs down and the US parts count up.  And the black Imbel furniture was really beat and ugly looking.  

Today I was looking at the picture thread and realized that my rifle doesn't really compare to many it the glamour pics.  I'm not really thinking about a full refinish of the metal, so I'm not targeting the "New" look.  Here's how it looks now.  Any suggestions for replacement furniture?


(the tape was to hold the hand guards on at the range after my forend nut went AWOL)



Or maybe I can do something with these?  I've read about texturing with bead blasting.  Or maybe paint?

Rob

Make it a classic beauty.  

http://ironwooddesigns.com/IWDFNFAL.html

Just get a bolt and locknut from hardware.
Looks great!

I don't know how you could shoot it without a locking shoulder.

one pic has one the other doesn't....Good contribution to a furniture thread though.



I prefer the black plastic. I can't afford the rarer stuff. If you want wood, Iron wood makes great stuff, otherwise for new furniture, the DSA product isn't bad.



 

VLTOR also makes a decently priced rail fore-end that brings your FAL into the 21 century.
They make both carbine and rifle length. You can configure the rails wherever you want on it, or have none at all.

VLTOR CASV-FAS




ETA I forgot how cool this was. I may have to get one for my Tactical SA58.

I have since replaced the bolt and nut + star washer.



Good eye.  The detail pic was from first assembly while waiting for my locking shoulder to arrive.  In the pic with targets obviously it is installed and functional!

Thanks for the thoughts so far.  I do want to avoid new-looking furniture as I think it would look out of place with the worn parts.

Any other thoughts?  I could put the beat up black Imbel furniture on it an put it back to it's "service" look.  Maybe I'll try that for a comparison before buying something else.

Rob

Rob

robertrtg? He may have some nice surplus, otherwise falfiles marketplace or watch gunbroker. A nice set of surplus would look good on that rifle.

I had the Imbel stock, replaced the cheapy feel DSA stock with that, and it does feel better made, but LOP is still too long for me.
So I replaced it with an Israeli FAL stock with a short LOP and I love it.

I have a set of Israeli light barrel furniture sitting in my box o FAL without any purpose in life.

You can buy the cheaper heavy handguards and easily modify them to fit a metric FAL.

And if you end up pulling the barrel off for any reason, just replace the original LB handguard retainer with a heavy barrel handguard retainer (cheap and easily available).

If you go the Israeli HB handguard route, keep in mind the the handguards will be fatter than the originals.  Since I have big hands, I prefer the Heavy Barrel handguards...

Forrest

I also replaced my STG 58 stock with an Izzy for the shorter LOP.  Someday I'll actually get the LB hand guard installed.

Well this might not be what you're looking for but since you already went green.......baby poop.  Yep baby poop it.  

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187405&highlight=Rhodie


You keep the furniture you have and paint the whole rifle in Rhodesian paint.  

Alternatively I like the modern version with the forearm and the folding stock posted above.

If you still have your beat up Imbel furniture, that's the perfect set to practice or demo a set.  Just clean with alcohol or other good solvent and all them scratches will help hold the paint.

Get them (LB HGs) while they are still cheap!

I remember when M16A1 furniture was so cheap you practically couldn't give it away. Now it ridiculously expensive. That in the space of about 10 years.


I can't use the full length izzy handguards because I have the tactical carbine.  I am trying to work something out to have some slotted Belgian style handguards made of wood for the carbine length gas systems.

I bought the stock and HG set from a guy on the FAL files.  I just never got around to putting the HG on.

If you find someone making the Belgian style wood handguards that fit the short gas system please let me know. I'd love to put a set on my SBR FAL and get rid of all plastic except the grip.

It's under wraps for now, but I sent my DSA plastic ones off to *someone* as a model to see if they could make some production wood copies. Not saying any names.

They said there would be no bipod cuts, but that it should be possible. No idea how long it might take.  Fingers crossed.

Will post it in the arfcom fal forum first if it happens.  I think there are quite a few SA58 tactical carbine owners that might like a set.

Any word yet on these?? Thanks