The SAFN-49 is a self-loading rifle of Belgian origin. It was developed Dieudonné Saive for Fabrique Nationale. The name SAFN-49 stands for Saive Automatique Fabrique Nationale 1949 . The development started before World War 2 in Belgium and was completed in the UK during the final stages of the war. The SAFN-49 was not as successful as the MAS 49/56 or the M1 Garand, but sold well. It was replaced in production by the more capable FN FAL battle rifle.

The SAFN-49 is a magazine fed gas operated weapon with tilting bolt. It has a classic wooden furniture, a fixed stock and rifle type grip. During the Korean War the SAFN-49 reportedly proved to be more reliable and accurate than the M1 Garand. A number of SAFN-49 have been fitted with an optical sight for use as a sniper rifle.

The SAFN-49 is a semi-automatic weapon fed by a 10 round box magazine. It is most commonly chambered in .30-06 Spingfield, but was also produced in 7x57mm Mauser, 7.92x57mm Mauser or 7.65x53mm Argentine. The maximum effective range was claimed to be 700 meters. In Argentine service it was converted to 7.62x51mm NATO and used a 20 round magazine.

About half of the total production was for the Belgian military, which was the third out of nine nations to adopt it. The SAFN-49 was also sold to various South American nations and several other nations around the world. Nowadays the SAFN-49 is considered obsolete and all have been withdrawn from active service.