This is a very nice and extremely rare Commercial copy of the French FAMAS semi-automatic Bullpup rifle. This rifle is the French equivalent of the American M4 Carbine and still is the standard infantry service rifle in France today. These rifles were designed and manufactured in the French MAS arsenal at St. Etienne. The most unique thing obviously is that these rifles are of a Bullpup design. This concept was intended to provide a full size rifle barrel and action in a very short and compact rifle by shortening or eliminating the stock and moving the action to the rear. Thereby considerably reducing the overall length. This rifle is only 30 inches long overall. This concept did not receive support in most countries, and only a handful today actually use the Bullpup rifle design, France, England and Austria among them. The right side of the receiver is marked "MAS223" over the serial number and the left side of the receiver is marked "MANUFACTURE NATIONALE D' ARMES, DE SAINT ETIENNE, MADE IN FRANCE, CENTURY ARMS, ST. ALBANS VT." The rear sight has single large battle sight with a large aperture with two different size flip up peep sights, one in front and one behind the large aperture. The front sight has a standard blade front that is also adjustable for windage and includes a unique push up quick point type night sight in front of the front sight post all housed inside the long carrying handle. The charging handle is located directly below the carrying handle. With a fold-down bipod mounted on the sides of the receiver and a factory bird cage flash-hider. The rifle is designed to be adaptable to either a left or right handed shooter by removing the ejection port cover and switching it to the other side of the rifle. It also has an ambidextrous safety to accommodate either style shooter. It is estimated that only 50-100 of these rifles were imported into the U.S. before the assault rifle ban stopped their importation. Consequently this is a very rare rifle today. The FAMAS Bullpup is the pictured cover story in the October 1988 Gun World magazine, page 18, entitled "The Fetching Famas" by Chuck Karwan. Complete with a original web sling, a Galati Intl. soft case, one extra magazine, two FAMAS magazine pouches, a cleaning kit and a FAMAS bayonet and scabbard.