This is the paratrooper version of the famous FN-FAL rifle as produced by Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Belgium. This specific rifle was manufactured in 1981 (as noted on the letter from FN) and was marketed by the HOWCO company in Maryland as the M44 rifle, intended for Law Enforcement use, without being a full-automatic rifle. These rifles have all the same features as the FN-FAL rifle except they were produced in a smaller, more compact version (as the 50.63 model) that features an 18 inch barrel and folding stock. The right side of the receiver is marked in three lines "FABRIQUE NATIONALE HERSTAL/FN. 308 MADE IN BELGIUM/GUN SOUTH INC. BIRMINGHAM AL.", with the right side of the magazine well marked "HOWCO DIST. INC./LAUREL MD. U.S.A." It has the standard adjustable front sight and fixed combat rear sight, adjustable gas regulator, short flash hider, sling swivels, and composite handguards and pistol grip. It is complete with an original folding bipod, four original 20 round magazines, bayonet with scabbard, early style sniper scope mount (for the FN-FAL rifle), magazine loader, sling, FN sales brochure, marketing literature from the HOWCO company and an original FN-FAL style shipping box.

Excellent plus with 99% plus of the original factory parkerized/black anodized finish overall. The plastic components show minor handling marks and the various accessories are all in excellent condition. An excellent example of an early FN-FAL paratrooper rifle with numerous accessories all in one package.