The Firearm Blog

According to MarineSniper8541 @ AR15.com (without any collaborating evidence) the limited edition run of FN SCAR 16S rifles with their gold colored upper receivers was in fact a botched run that came out the wrong color. The marketing department then decided to sell them as a limited edition.

Apparently, the initial factory run of SCAR upper receivers went to anodizing and came back way too “gold” for FN’s specs. (Look at all advertisments, videos and such for the actual FN spec color of the upper, the upper and lower should pretty much match). It has been described to me that the anodizing of parts in FDE is tricky and can come out very “gold” looking if the process isn’t done correctly.

So anyways, FN gets its first commercial run of uppers back from anodizing and they are very “gold”. FN decides to go ahead and sell this huge batch of “gold” uppers and to call it a limited edition so that they can sell them without having to have them blasted and re-anodized…HAHA!

The next production run will be in the correct color for the uppers. So in a nutshell, the people paying $4500 for a “limited edition” are getting rifles that were actually screwed up and made in the wrong color. Smart move on FN’s part. They took a botched run of uppers and turned them into a “gold” mine. No pun intended.

Limited Edition SCAR.


Standard color scheme

This is just a rumor, and is not confirmed. If it is true it was a stoke of genius by the marketing department. I actually like the gold look a lot.

Many thanks to Jay for the link.

As a child I was taught the concept of inflation with this analogy:

If Joe has 1000 oranges and you really really want one how much would you pay? If Joe has 1 orange and you really really want it how much would you be willing to pay?

I never forgot the story of the guy with oranges that “I really really wanted”. Anyway, here is a modified version of the story:

If Joe has 1000 SCAR 16s rifles and you really really want one how much would you pay? If Joe has 1 SCAR 16s rifle and you really really want it how much would you be willing to pay? Answer: $9500

Checkout this gunbroker auction

Michael Bane commented that while the SCAR is cool, 10 AR-15s are a much better!

Jason emailed me photos of his SCAR 16S (5.56×45mm). He must have been one of the lucky few to get hold of one of the initial limited production run. Click to expand the photos.

A big thanks to Jason for taking the time to take the photos.

More photos after the jump. Continue Reading »

You better sell your first born, get a second job and start saving: the SCAR-L 16S has an MSRP of $2,696.56.

FNH SCAR 16S (actual photo, not the military version)

itstock posted the information at fnforum.net:

They are now available, and allocated to certain distributors at a set number. The MSRP that FN states is still 100% correct at $2,696.56, and EXPECT TO PAY THIS. Your dealer does not have much wiggle room!

They come in FDE with 16″ barrels, and either a 10 or 30 round mag.

If you want one, GO ORDER IT NOW! There will not be a large run as of now, and dealers are ordering for themselves to sell on GB and the like! !

Also, the SCAR-H has not been released in any way, no pricing, and no order information.

It sort of make the civilian Steyr AUG SA seem cheap at a mere $2295.00!

The SCAR-H referred to above is the 7.62mm NATO (.308 Win.) model.

Thanks to Raif for the tip.

Good news, the civilian semi-automatic SCAR will be launched next year (2009).

Both versions will be available: the .223/5.56mm SCAR 16S (civilian equivalent of the SCAR-Light) and the .308/7.62×51mm (civilian equivalent of the SCAR-Heavy).

SCAR-Light carbine (14″ barrel). The civilian model will have a longer barrel.

I have emailed FNH USA for pricing details but they have not yet got back to me.

From the press release:

Experience the civilian-legal semi-auto only version of the rifle chosen by U.S. Special Operations Command as its first new rifle since the early 1960’s. The SCAR 16S is chambered in 5.56X45mm NATO (223 Rem.) while the SCAR 17S fires the 7.62X51mm NATO (308 Win.) cartridge. The innovative gas-operated, short stroke piston system reduces fouling for greater reliability. The side folding polymer stock is fully adjustable for comb height and length of pull and is colored authentic USSOCOM Flat Dark Earth. Both 10 and 30-round detachable box magazines(DBM) are available, and the ambidextrous operating controls instantly adapt the SCAR S-Series to any user.

Unfortunately they will not come with this …

UPDATE:

Photo of SCAR 16S: