The kbs wz. 1996 “Beryl” is a Polish 5.56mm assault rifle, designed and produced by the Łucznik Arms Factory that replaced the 7.62x39mm AKM and 5.45x39mm “Tantal” used in the Polish Armed Forces.  The Beryl was officially adopted in 1997 as the 5,56 mm karabinek szturmowy wz. 1996 (“assault carbine model 1996″).

The Beryl’s sights are basically the same ones used on the Tantal, but the rear sight on the Beryl features two cut-outs on the side for the attachment of a Picatinny-standard rail that extends over the receiver cover.

At the end of September of this year, the Polish Army placed a contract for a combined total of 5,000 modernised Beryl assault rifles and min-Beryl carbines.  The modernised version includes a new style telescoping buttstock made from synthetic material, a new pistol grip design, a new semi-transparent magazine and a new quad-rail synthetic foregrip. 

Apparently, the new weapons will also be issued with 4 different colours of paint, and a pot of paint thinner, too!