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So this discussion is regarding copies of various firearm models made by multiple manufacturers.
For example the HK G3, 33, and MP-5. These firearms are of course manufactured by HK in Germany, but are also licensed for manufacture in other countries such as Turkey, Greece, Pakistan, and Portugal. They are built on HK machinery using HK blueprints and under the supervision of HK engineers. Parts from any of these manufacturers are almost universally interchangeable with guns from other countries, including German built guns.
However, even with that level of quality, the licensed manufactured guns get lumped together with guns made by Omega, Century, PTR, etc as "clones". Unless it has the magical Teutonic fairy dust sprinkled on it, it's just a clone.
Now, contrast that with the FAL. Built of course by FN in Belgium (who ironically wouldn't let the Germans build them in Germany, which is how we got the G3) but also licensed to multiple countries for military production.
The difference with FAL guru's is that they do not lump all of the licensed made guns together as "clones". They have a third category where they refer to the licensed guns as "contract" guns.
An example of this would be the pre-ban Springfield Armory imported SAR-48. It was built by Imbel in Brazil under license from FN. Imbel manufacturing was so good that at one point FN contracted with Imbel to produce spare parts. The SAR-48 was 100% Imbel built and FAL users refer to it as a "contract" firearm.
Where FAL users do use the "clone" moniker is with the parts kit built guns and with commercial producers such as DSA. Many parts kits are built using Imbel upper receivers, but even if they are paired up with a Imbel parts kit, it's still considered a clone.
I would think there are examples of this in AK circles as well?
1911 guys? Is a war era Remington Rand a clone or do you call it something else?
-E-
For example the HK G3, 33, and MP-5. These firearms are of course manufactured by HK in Germany, but are also licensed for manufacture in other countries such as Turkey, Greece, Pakistan, and Portugal. They are built on HK machinery using HK blueprints and under the supervision of HK engineers. Parts from any of these manufacturers are almost universally interchangeable with guns from other countries, including German built guns.
However, even with that level of quality, the licensed manufactured guns get lumped together with guns made by Omega, Century, PTR, etc as "clones". Unless it has the magical Teutonic fairy dust sprinkled on it, it's just a clone.
Now, contrast that with the FAL. Built of course by FN in Belgium (who ironically wouldn't let the Germans build them in Germany, which is how we got the G3) but also licensed to multiple countries for military production.
The difference with FAL guru's is that they do not lump all of the licensed made guns together as "clones". They have a third category where they refer to the licensed guns as "contract" guns.
An example of this would be the pre-ban Springfield Armory imported SAR-48. It was built by Imbel in Brazil under license from FN. Imbel manufacturing was so good that at one point FN contracted with Imbel to produce spare parts. The SAR-48 was 100% Imbel built and FAL users refer to it as a "contract" firearm.
Where FAL users do use the "clone" moniker is with the parts kit built guns and with commercial producers such as DSA. Many parts kits are built using Imbel upper receivers, but even if they are paired up with a Imbel parts kit, it's still considered a clone.
I would think there are examples of this in AK circles as well?
1911 guys? Is a war era Remington Rand a clone or do you call it something else?
-E-
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