Fabrique Nationale Mauser 98 Clones
In the mid 1930s right up to WW2; Venezula ordered several variants of the Mauser 98 from FN, with an initial order of 16,500 Short Rifles/Carbines in 1934-1935; semi-known variants purchased were:
FN Model 1924
FN Model 1930
All were in the 7x57mm Mauser Chambering.
Fabrique Nationale FN49
4,000 of these were purchased in 1948 and 4,000 more in 1951. This was the first major sale of FN49 rifles ever made; and they were chambered for the 7x57mm Mauser round.
Fabrique Nationale FAL
In 1953, the Venezulan Army wanted 5,000 more FN49's but was told by FN that the FN49 was no longer being manufactured. FN instead offered a new design which was known by several names in different languages:
English: LAR (Light Automatic Rifle)
French: FAL (Fusil Automatique Leger)
Spanish: FAL (Fusil Automatico Liviano)
Venezula wanted the FAL in their 'standard' 7x57mm Mauser chambering, but FN refused to make unique receivers that could chamber the longer mauser; and offered them in:
British .280/30 (aka 7mm FN Short)
American T65A3 (aka 7.62 NATO)
Two prototypes (one in .280 British and one in 7.62 NATO) were sent, and after trials, Venezula and FN negotiated a compromise cartridge.
The compromise was 7x49mm “Second Optimum”. This cartridge was 140 grains at 2,750 fps and was basically a long .280 bullet in a shortened T65A3 case to keep the overall length of the round within that of 7.62 NATO.
On 30 November 1954, Venezula ordered 5,000 rifles in two variants; the 50-00 Automatic Rifle (FAL) and the 50-42 Heavy Barreled Automatic Rifle (FAP -- Fusil Automatico Pesado).
In 1961, a second batch of 50-00 Automatic Rifles (FAL) were ordered in 7.62 NATO, along with a contract to convert all previous Automatic Rifles chambered in 7x49mm to 7.62 NATO.
In 1974, a batch of 10,000 50-63 Para Automatic Rifles with folding stocks were purchased.
Kalashnikov AK-103
In May 2005, the Chavez government completed the purchase of 100,000 AK-103/AK-104 rifles chambered in 7.62x39mm along with 74 million rounds of ammunition.
Later in 2006, a contract was signed for factories in Venezula to produce both the AK-103/104 family of rifles (at 25,000 rifles a year) and 7.62x39mm ammo (at 50 million rounds/year).
The rifle factory may FINALLY actually enter operation some time in 2019. No idea on the ammo factory.
Sources:
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/arm...nezuelan-coup/
(check out the comments too)
http://tass.com/defense/997625