FN SCAR serial numbered upper

[Animal Mother]

This month American Rifleman has an interesting writeup on the FN SCAR, one thing that was interesting is that the lower receiver for the FN SCAR looks almost exactly like an AR-15 lower, however, for the FN SCAR the serial numbered part is actually the upper receiver as opposed to the AR-15's serial numbered lower receiver.

Why would FN make the upper receiver the serial numbered part, when one of the primary reasons for the the mass appeal of the AR platform is the fact that with one serial numbered lower, you can interchange an endless number of upper receivers to better match the task at hand? Seems like a poor business decision to chose the upper receiver for the S/N if you want mass appeal unless I'm missing something.

 

[rcmodel]

FN wants to sell complete guns for three grand, not uppers?
FN doesn't want after-market parts suppliers selling parts for thier guns?
FN thinks the SCAR is so perfect no one would dare consider changing one in any way?

IMO: FN couldn't give a sxxx about mass appeal.

rc

 

[Robert]

The upper on my FAL carries the serial number as well so this must not be a new thing for FN.

 

[Badger Arms]

whoa, whoa, the FRAME on the M-16 is where the magazine, fire control group, and stock go. Different rifle. On HK G3 rifles, the identical situation to the SCAR is true where the stock and barrel both attach to the serial numbered part.

No, the Black Helicopters are not shooting invisible lasers into your guns weakening the metal structure. You would THINK that having a user-swapable barrel completely negates any 'advantages' of having the trigger group the serial numbered article.

 

[JohnBT]

"Seems like a poor business decision to chose the upper receiver for the S/N if you want mass appeal unless I'm missing something."

Maybe they were more interested in building a working rifle than in imitating the AR or 10/22 swap-a-part gun kits.

John

 

[Animal Mother]

Maybe they were more interested in building a working rifle than in imitating the AR or 10/22 swap-a-part gun kits.

True. But hey, there's a lot of money in the AR and 10/22 game.

 

[lipadj46]

I really do not see the problem or why it is a bad business decision.

 

[LegalAlien]

Considering that the SCAR lower is manufactured from Polymer and not metal, to me it would also make logical sense to not mark the polymer with a SN - would be too easy to remove.
Marking the metal upper with the SN is a more logical and permanent choice for the most important indentification.

 

[rcmodel]

Tell that to Glock, Springfield, S&W, and a whole host of other plastic frame pistol makers.

rc

 

[LegalAlien]

Tell that to Glock, Springfield, S&W, and a whole host of other plastic frame pistol makers

Maybe FN just put a little more thought into the process than Glock, Springfield, S&W and whole lot of other plastic (read polymer) frame pistol makers

 

[HorseSoldier]

Why would FN make the upper receiver the serial numbered part, when one of the primary reasons for the the mass appeal of the AR platform is the fact that with one serial numbered lower, you can interchange an endless number of upper receivers to better match the task at hand?

You can change barrel length and caliber on the SCAR by switching out the barrels and bolts sort of like the LMT Monolithic Rail Platform, so on the SCAR it doesn't really matter where the serial number is located.

 

[Quiet]

FN (FAL, CAL, FNC, SCAR) designed rifles = serial number on upper reciever.

 

[RyanM]

Maybe FN just put a little more thought into the process than Glock, Springfield, S&W and whole lot of other plastic (read polymer) frame pistol makers

Poly guns have metal plates embedded in them with the SN on them. Duh.

 

[Eightball]

Perhaps FN will make different polymer trigger groups/magwells/caliber sets for the SCAR to compete with the Masada. Also, keep in mind that the SCAR-H shares a large part of parts commonality, perhaps that making a polymer magwell bit made economic sense for them due to the same reason?

Also allows them to easily produce civilian vs. select fire versions, it would seem.