Metric = the most common type of FAL as originally designed by FN. The metric pattern rifles have the most parts and accessories available. Mags are often in the $10 range. Some distinguishing characteristics are:
1. the pistol grip slides over a shaft that protrudes from the gripframe and is secured by a nut
2. the selector switch is usually rounded
3. the magazines have small a hook at the front that is punched right out of the mag body
4. the mag latch is narrow and at the right hand side of the magwell
5. the cocking handle is round and doesn't fold
Inch = used by Britain and her commonwealth nations. These are often called L1A1 (Australia), C1A1 (Canada), SLR (Britain). These are not nearly as common as, and more expensive than, the metric and can be distinguished by:
1. a forward folding cocking handle.
2. the pistol grip is secured by a screw that is inserted upward, through the front of the pistol grip, which is covered by a steel strip that is also part of the triggerguard
3. The magazines have a brazed-on hook at the front. These mags are far more expensive than metric, often in the $20 neighborhood.
4. The mag catch is very wide, usually as wide as the magwell itself.
5. The bolt hold open device has been disabled by shortening a pin (can usually be enabled by replacing the pin or buying a new hold open device).
6. Many have full wood furniture and look great.
Israeli/Izzy = obviously the Israeli version. These are pretty uncommon and usually demand a premium price. I'm not intimately familiar with these, but they can be identified by:
1. Short, round, and usually wood, handguards.
2. Carry handle points forward, not to the rear. This is because it has a heavy barrel, which shifts the center of gravity forward.
STG-58 = metric pattern rifle used by the Austrian army. This is the most common, metric pattern, kit on the market today. It had an integral bipod that folds into the stamped steel handguards.
[This message has been edited by Destructo6 (edited December 20, 1999).]