King Arms FN Herstal FAL StG 58 Carbine AEG

If the soul-less domination of M4 and AK platforms in the Airsoft market has got you down, the King Arms FN Herstal FAL StG 58 Carbine AEG will get you fired up again! A full metal build replicating the FN Herstal FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) in Carbine form, known as the "right arm of the free world", this replica is on point as far as the details are concerned, the perfect addition to a classic firearm replica collection.

The FAL originated in 1946, designed to fire the 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge used by the legendary STG-44 Sturmgewehr. Following a tug of war between European NATO countries and the US across the pond, the FAL ended up chambered in 7.62 x51mm, which later became the NATO standard cartridge.

The FAL went on to be adopted by the British Army and Commonwealth Nations in licensed-built form, known as the L1A1 SLR, along with several NATO and NATO-aligned nations who adopted the Belgian-manufactured "metric pattern" FAL. This variant replicates the StG 58, the FAL variant issued to the Austrian Armed Forces, with its recognisable slim ribbed handguard. If you don't need modern luxuries like M-LOK or ambidextrous controls to get the job done in-game, you'll be a pig in *beep* with the King Arms FN Herstal FAL StG 58 Carbine AEG in your hands!

Starting at the front, we can find a FAL flash hider flawlessly replicated, mounted to the 18-inch alloy outer barrel's 14mm CCW male threading. While the flash hider is the correct device for the FAL, you can mount a tracer unit or suppressor if the mission requires, thanks to the common 14mm CCW barrel threads.

Following the barrel back, we come to our first sling point, made from steel with a rotary mount which allows for plenty of flexibility in carry methods. Being made from steel ensures you'll never need to worry about the strength of the sling point, and its contrasting gun metal grey finish adds visual interest and realism to the externals overall.

Next up, we reach the detailed mock gas block of the FAL StG 58 Carbine, a perfect match for the real thing, complete with a movable gas adjuster behind the front iron sight. In real steel form, the gas adjuster allows gas channelled back into the action to be varied, allowing rifle grenades to be launched from the barrel using a blank cartridge. In Airsoft terms, this piece does not provide a function other than to complete the realistic FAL build.

The front iron sight is protected on either side with alloy wings, ensuring an accidental bump or scrape in the thick of it doesn't render your aiming device useless. The front sight post itself is made from steel and adjustable using the included adjustment tool. The rear sight included in the box allows for both windage and elevation adjustment.

Moving rearwards, we come to the handguard, a ribbed design which perfectly matches the look of the real StG 58 handguard, made from high-density polymer. The ribbed handguard was also found on the G1, the FAL variant which competed against the G3 to become Germany's Cold War battle rifle. On the bottom, we can see recesses moulded in to allow a FAL bipod to be fitted and 3 additional ports for barrel cooling. If you're the techy type, you could probably mount a 20mm rail here with the right bits, but the purists won't be happy!

The receiver itself is comprised of two parts: an alloy lower receiver finished in black and a steel receiver top cover finished in gunmetal grey. The charging handle track is located on the left side of the receiver, a remarkably modern location for a rifle designed in the 1940s, though the handle itself is included separately in the box. Installation simply requires that the charging handle be screwed onto the threaded protrusion on the left side of the receiver, and doesn't require tools. The handle is made from steel and also finished in gunmetal, adding further to the realistic look of King Arms' FAL StG 58, mirroring the varied finish found on real FAL rifles.

The FAL pistol grip is a remarkably ergonomic design for its time, with rounded edges and a backstrap which comfortably supports the web of the hand when held. The trigger guard, however, is a different story, made from stamped steel but rather tight for gloved shooters. If you wear thick gloves in-game, we recommend skipping them when running the FAL, or cutting the trigger finger off if you're not too attached to your gloves.

Just above the pistol grip on the left side, we can find the 3-position fire selector switch, offering 3 modes of fire: SAFE, SEMI and FULL AUTO. The selector is a prominent design and remarkably easy and fast to change modes with, ideal for skirmishers who run a realistic "sights off, safety on" doctrine in-game. Each fire mode is realistically denoted with engraved markings, with an S for safe, R for repetition (semi-auto) and an F for fully automatic. It may be an old dog, but this old dog taught a lot of the new dogs the new tricks!

To the rear of the fire selector, we can find a moulded-in protrusion which mimics the disassembly lever of the real FAL, which, in real steel form, allows the receiver to be split to access the bolt carrier group. On the King Arms replica, this lever is non-functional, but given the version 3 gearbox inside, it would have been borderline impossible to have this work like the real thing. Thankfully, this is the only compromise on this overall very realistic FAL replica.

Over on the right side, we can find the mock bolt carrier, complete with "sand cuts" on the outside. These cuts were added to mid and late production FALs to improve reliability in sandy environments, allowing sand caught on the bolt to drop through the receiver and out through the magazine well.

Behind the mock bolt carrier, we can find the adjuster of the Rotary HOP-up unit, accessible with the charging handle held back. The HOP-up allows you to tune the amount of backspin applied to your projectiles and set the FAL up for different ammo weights, seeking the flattest possible trajectory.

At the top rear of the receiver, we can find the dovetail for the included rear iron sight; an aperture-style sight set on a tangent base to provide elevation adjustment. To install the sight, simply slide it on from the left side with the aperture at the rear, then attach the included screw to secure it in place. To adjust for elevation, press the button on the right side of the sight base and slide it back and forth until you find the sweet spot. To adjust windage, loosen the screws on each side of the rear sight dovetail and slide it side to side until set, then tighten the screws down.

Bringing up the tail end of the FAL StG 58, we have a fixed stock made from high-density polymer, perfectly matching the iconic shape of the real thing. At the bottom of the stock, we can find our rear sling point, made from steel and ideally suited to a two-point sling. At the rear, we have a grippy rubber butt plate for superb wet-weather traction, and inside, we have the expansive battery compartment, offering plenty of space for a whopping battery which will last all day.

To access the battery compartment, simply push the butt plate downwards, and it should pop right off. Inside, you'll find a Mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you mount your choice of battery. We recommend a 7.4V 2600mAh LiPo battery in Crane configuration, but there is plenty of space inside to accommodate various battery shapes.

Inside, the FAL StG 58 is based around a reinforced version3 gearbox with Tokyo Marui-spec internal parts, making upgrade potential practically unlimited. The gearset is an 18:1 ratio example made from steel, running on 7mm solid steel bushings to improve strength and extend lifespan. The piston is a full-rack example made from POM polymer with a single steel tooth, and the compression components are made from POM polymer with O-rings to reduce the chance of air leaks developing.

A beast of a replica front to back with all the details we expect and plenty of upgrade potential, the StG 58 is a rare sight to see on a skirmish site, ideal for skirmishers who want a primary which stands out. If you're working on a mercenary loadout but don't want to run an AK or AR, the King Arms FN Herstal FAL StG 58 Carbine AEG is the curveball primary you need, but also makes a fantastic collectors' piece for those with an eye for the details!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Steel trim parts - Sling points, receiver top cover & charging handle
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• FAL Flash hider pre-installed - Multi-port design from the OG FAL
• Sling points front and rear - Front point on the barrel, rear on the stock
• Ribbed handguard - A close match for the real steel StG 58 handguard
• Detailed mock gas block with adjuster - A perfect match for the real deal, no details skipped
• Adjustable aperture iron sights - Adjustable elevation via tangent, windage by screws
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible with the charging handle held back
• Mock bolt carrier with sand cuts - Perfectly replicates the later FAL variants
• 3-Position fire selector switch - SAFE (S) - SEMI (R) - AUTO (A) configuration
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Remarkably comfortable for its era of design
• Fixed stock with Rubber butt plate - Provides a comfortable cheek weld with extra grip
• Rear wired: Mini-tamiya connector - Recommended Battery: 7.4V 2600mAh LiPo in Crane Config.
• Reinforced Version 3 Gearbox:
  • 18:1 Steel Gears
  • Polymer full-rack piston with a single steel tooth
  • 7mm Steel bushings
• Compatible with King Arms FAL AEG Magazines - NOT compatible with CA/JG SA58 or Ares SLR mags

Package Includes

• King Arms FN Herstal FAL Carbine AEG
  • 90rnd Low-cap magazine
  • Rear sight
  • Charging handle
  • Front sight adjustment tool