American Rifleman’s Mark Keefe got the enviable opportunity to handle the earliest FN prototype of the SCAR-L rifle. The rifle sports an aluminum lower, looking very much like that of the FNC from which it was derived, and a 3D printed prototype stock.

Given that this is the first prototype, it’s amazing how little the rifle has changed from then until now. Very few details appear to have changed, besides the construction of the lower and the change from additive to molded fabrication with the buttstock. Also, the weapon appears to be in excellent shape for having been an evaluation gun; this weapon has fired tens of thousands of rounds, but still looks like it could fire many more without a problem.