why is it called the Gewehr 3 (G3)?

[mtykim]

just out of bored curiosity, why is it called the G3? is there then such a thing as a G1, G2, G4, etc? and if so, why did the German then skip numbers all the way to G36?

[3two8]

G1 = FN FAL, Germany’s first choice, but they wanted a licence to produce them in Germany, which FN didn‘t want to grant
G2 = SIG 510 in 7,62x51, trial gun, didn‘t make the cut
G3 = Self explanatory
G4 = AR 10 from Artillerie Inrichtingen in the Netherlands, trial gun, didn‘t make the cut
...
Some variants not widely adopted, like the G8.
Or other rifles tested, given a number, but not adopted (like G1 and G4).
G22 = sniper rifles AI AW I’m 300 Win Mag
...
G36 = HK 50

For more info in german: https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...der_Bundeswehr

HTH