According to an as of yet uncorroborated report from the French publication RETEX MAG, the next French rifle will be a variant of the German-made Heckler & Koch HK416.With much of Europe, the past isn't over, not by a damned sight. The Brits are known for going from zero to the Blitz in ninety seconds and, as the French might point out, damn few Germans during the wars set foot in England with weapons in hand. On the other hand, the French have gone 1-2 in wars with the Germans, with the Prussian/German army twice marching in victory through Paris.
Both countries have worked hard, especially since de Gaulle began the process, to bury the hatchet. But infantry rifles are potent national symbols, that the French are adopting a German rifle says a lot.
It will be interesting to see what this does to the USA fanboy market. The gun for the FRENCH army? HK really does hate us!
ReplyDeleteI dunno, the FAMAS was a freaky-looking rifle to me, like all bullpups.
ReplyDeleteI trained with an FNC1 (Canadian version of the FN FAL) and before that I owned a 1942 Lee-Enfield - now those are rifles (actually, still have the Enfield).