by Dr.EUGENE SOCKUT
The post-Sinai Campaign period saw another modernization of Israeli military small arms. The 8mm Mauser 98 was relegated to a second line position, replaced by the new Belgian 7.62 NATO FN FAL assault rifle. First produced in belgium, these were later made in Israel under contract from FN. in time most of the Mauser 98 irfles were rebarreled to the 7.62 NATO caliber. Bolt action rifles are still favored by many Israeli soldiers because of their greater accuracy.
Officially, the Italian Beretta 1951 9mm semi-auto postol is the standard Israeli army handgun, but few are in service. Handguns are low-rated in Israeli military thinking; the Uzi SMG is portable enough to replace them, they feel. Handguns such as the 38 Enfield revolver, the 455 Webley revolver, as well as the Colt 45 auto postol are in common use among Israeli officers. The Israeli Police seem interested in the 9mm Colt Commander.
In the 1950s Israel manufactured a few revolvers resembling the Smith and Wesson Military and Police Model. These used the rimless 9mm Parabellum cartridges in half-moon clips quite like those used in Colt and S&W 1917 revolvers chamberred for the 45 ACP loads. These revolvers served to demonstrate the level of quality production that Israeli Military Industries had achieved. Most were distributed as special presentation pieces.
