FB Onyks

Lore & Background

Work on the Onyks began in 1989 at the Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy state research institute in Radom, and technical specifications were confirmed that same year. Production approval for the first prototypes was given in 1990, and these were evaluated the following year in military qualification tests. An order for an initial pre-production batch was placed in 1993, to be manufactured at the Łucznik Arms Factory in Radom. The carbine was created by a team led by B. Szpaderski, with chief engineers K. Styczyński and E. Wysocki. Despite these steps, the Onyks remained a prototype and never advanced past the research and development stage.

The Onyks shares the same design layout, operating system, locking mechanism, and ammunition as the Tantal rifle. Its barrel is reduced in length by 216 mm (8.5 in) and fitted with a different muzzle device that reduces muzzle flash and can mount rifle grenades. The bolt carrier is borrowed from the wz. 1988 but with a shortened gas piston rod, and the gas cylinder and upper heatguard are reduced for the short gas system. The rear sight is a newly designed open-type flip sight with settings for 100–200 m and 400 m, and the front sight is adjustable. The carbine can be fitted with tritium night sights similar to those of the wz. 88 Tantal. It uses a wooden or synthetic handguard designed specifically for the Onyks.

The Onyks is supplied with three spare magazines, four 15-round stripper clips, a magazine guide, cleaning kit, cleaning rod (stored in the maintenance kit, unlike the Tantal), sling, accessory pouch, and oil bottle. Unlike the Tantal, it is not compatible with a bayonet, bipod, or the 40 mm wz. 1974 underslung grenade launcher.

Reader's Guide

The Onyks represents a Polish attempt to create a compact personal defense weapon for specialized roles such as airborne infantry, police, special operations, and vehicle crews. Its development paralleled that of the Tantal rifle, but the Onyks never entered full production, remaining a prototype. The weapon's design closely follows the Tantal's internal mechanism while adapting the barrel, gas system, and sighting arrangement for a shorter profile. Its muzzle device serves both flash suppression and rifle grenade launching, a dual role unusual for a carbine of its size. The Onyks saw limited field use: it was employed by FUNCINPEC forces during the 1997 Cambodian coup d'état and formerly by Poland's SPAP (Special Police Anti-Terrorist Unit). Its legacy is that of a niche prototype that, while not adopted widely, demonstrated the adaptation of the Tantal platform to compact configurations. The Onyks remains a footnote in Polish small arms history, overshadowed by the more successful Tantal and later designs.

Did You Know?

• Its barrel is 216 mm (8.5 in) shorter than that of the Tantal rifle.
• The Onyks can mount and launch rifle grenades using its muzzle device.