While initially a small contract delivery Egypt would eventually purchase 37,602 SAFN 1949 rifles total. The second contract was for the Egyptian government ordered on and delivered by June 10, 1949, 100 rifles chambered to fire the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge. The remaining rifles of the Venezuelan contract of 8012 rifles were sold as surplus in the United States, and are prized by US collectors, sportsmen, and hunters because of the unique features ordered by Venezuela, the general good to excellent condition of the surplus rifles and the superb accuracy of the 7x57mm Mauser cartridge. The first contract production of the SAFN 1949 rifle was delivered to Venezuela by composed of 2000 rifles in caliber 7x57mm Mauser with an additional 2012 rifles including cut-away training demonstration rifles delivered by July 31, 1949.

So FN decided to market to the non-aligned countries, who did not want to commit to Western or Soviet doctrine, which was inevitable when accepting aid. They also could get American and British weapons aid, which was inexpensive or free. The Western European nations had vast stocks of World War II firearms. FN started looking for customers, but the communist states were not an option (as they were required to buy or build soviet designs). Pre-production models for demonstration and testing were produced in 1948, making rifle ready for contract orders and mass production. The last production contract of complete rifles was ordered by Indonesia on Decemand delivered by February 19, 1961.

The contracts for the SAFN 1949 rifle started in 1948 with the first order placed by Venezuela on March 31, 1948, delivered by May 31, 1949.

Fn 49 rifle serial numbers