Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very hard to find FN Minimi LMG Military issue non-functional RUBBER DUCK training and parade rifle. This is an actual military issue trainer designed to be the correct weight and size of an FN Mimini, which was adopted by the U.S. Military as the M249 SAW. These were usually made from a mixture of original worn out parts and molded rubber. From what we can tell, the barrel, front sight, and gas regulator are original, and this assembly is molded into the hard rubber / resin that makes up the rest of the rifle. The carry handle has been welded directly to the barrel, and the bipod is definitely a fabricated item.

The configuration of this example does not exactly match any known configuration that the U.S. military used. It is marked on the left side of the rubber receiver with the original FN style markings next to the FN HERSTAL Logo:

FABRIQUE NATIONAL HERSTALL
B0897
FN. 037274

The right side of the receiver has U.S. markings, though we are not sure whether they are from the gun that was molded, or whether they identify it as a training item:

U.S. MACHINE G
DAAA09-85-G-
NSN 1005 - 01 127
SERIAL NO-018274

It comes complete with a replicated belt box on the bottom, and a 10 round section of disintegrating belt, that is fitted with dummy rounds (deactivated blanks). It does show signs of use, but certainly looks the business. Would like great hanging from a wall!

The FN Minimi (short for French: Mini Mitrailleuse; "mini machine gun") is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun, also classified as a squad automatic weapon developed by Ernest Vervier for FN Herstal. Introduced in the late 1970s, it is in service in more than 75 countries. The weapon is manufactured at the FN facility in Herstal and their U.S. subsidiary FN Manufacturing LLC.

The Minimi fires from an open bolt. It is an air-cooled, gas operated long-stroke piston weapon that is capable of fully automatic fire only. It can be belt fed or fired from a magazine. The Minimi is configured in several variants: the Standard model as a platoon or squad support weapon, the shortened Para version for paratroopers and the Vehicle model as secondary armament for fighting vehicles.

The Minimi uses a gas-actuated long-stroke piston system. The barrel is locked with a rotary bolt, equipped with two massive locking lugs, forced into battery by a helical camming guide in the bolt carrier. Upon firing, the piston is forced to the rear by expanding propellant gases bled through a port in the barrel near the muzzle end. The piston rod acts against the bolt carrier, which begins its rearward motion guided on two rails welded to the receiver walls, while the bolt itself remains locked. This sequence provides a slight delay that ensures chamber pressure has dropped to a safe level by the time a cam in the bolt carrier rotates and unlocks the bolt, increasing extraction reliability as the empty cartridge casing has had the time to cool down and contract, exerting less friction against the chamber walls.

The Minimi fires from an open bolt, which reduces the danger of a round cooking off after extended periods of continuous fire, since a cartridge is only momentarily introduced into the chamber prior to ignition, and the movement of the bolt and bolt carrier forces air through the chamber and barrel after each shot, ventilating the barrel and removing heat. Gas escaping the gas cylinder is directed upward, avoiding kicking up dust and debris that would reveal the shooter's position