In the 1990s large quantities of surplus MAS 49/56s were imported. Many were re-arsenaled and are in excellent condition. The F serial number prefix was made between 1956 and 1958. G series were made between 1958 and 1960. The H series was made between 1961 and 1963.
To the right of the serial number may be ‘P’ stamp followed by a square with two numbers in it. That stamp indicates re-arsenaling. Most re-arsenal dates were in the 1980s and early 1990s.