THE HISTORY OF FN
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED IN 135+ YEARS, WE’VE PUT INTO EVERY FN.
FN was founded, quite literally, to create firearms.
In 1889, Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre was formed to produce 150,000 Mauser rifles for the Belgian government from our state-of-the-art production facility in Herstal, Belgium. The first rifles were assembled on New Year’s Eve 1891.
FN soon expanded into ammunition, delivering millions of rounds globally. In 1896, the company restructured to diversify into areas that filled any gaps in the “slow” years. One particularly successful endeavor was manufacturing bicycles, which led to the most important partnership in the history of our company.
THE FATHER OF MODERN FIREARMS
In 1897, FN sales manager Hart O. Berg traveled to America to learn about bicycle technology developments. While in Hartford, Connecticut, he ran into a past coworker, one John Moses Browning, who was still working with Colt, and wanted help manufacturing a new self-loading pistol.
Seeing the potential FN became partners with Browning in firearm manufacturing that very same year, on July 17, 1897—a partnership that would last 30 years. FN helped Browning create the world’s first commercially successful self-loading pistol: the .32 ACP Model 1899. The firearm was known simply as le Pistolet Browning or the Browning Pistol, and it could be said that this pistol saved the FN company financially.
Soon after, the Belgian military chose the compact model of the .32 ACP Model 1899 as its standard pistol. They requested modifications, such as increased frame size, grip plates and a lanyard loop, which were implemented into the venerable Model 1900, of which FN produced more than 700,000 (mostly to civilians).
In 1903, FN manufactured the Browning-designed Auto-5, the world’s first mass-produced semi-automatic shotgun, and the Model 1903 pistol. At this time, John Moses Browning made frequent visits to the FN Herstal facility—26 round trips in total, all by boat—to oversee production and work with the FN design team.
“A drop of genius in a barrel of sweat.” – John Moses Browning
THE PASSING OF A LEGEND
On November 26, 1926, while at his FN Herstal workbench designing what would eventually become the High Power semi-automatic pistol, John Moses Browning had a heart attack and passed away. His body was laid in the FN boardroom, and the plant was immediately stopped so employees could pay their respects to Le Maître (French for “The Master”)—the man who changed not only FN but the firearm industry.
John Moses Browning died doing what he loved. He was the mind, and we were the body, and FN is forever grateful for his partnership.
TRANSFORMATIVE FIREARMS
In 1927, FN started producing the legendary Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), which helped transform the firing power of the U.S. military in World War II. We also started production on the “Baby” Browning in 1932, a .25 ACP pocket pistol for personal protection developed by our renowned chief designer, Dieudonné Saive (pronounced Dee-u-don-aye Save), who was John Moses Browning’s protégé.
In 1934, Dieudonné Saive completed the design of the High Power, which John Moses Browning had started, and FN began production. Why call it the “High Power?” Because its 13-round capacity was almost twice that of other comparable designs and came with the industry’s first double-stack magazine.
WORLD WAR II
The German occupation of Belgium began on May 28, 1940. The night before, the design plans for the FN High Power were smuggled out of the Herstal plant and eventually taken to Canada. There, FN continued to build firearms for the Allies by partnering with John Inglis and Company. During World War II, both FN factories were forced to build firearms under occupation; however, numerous firearms were subtly missing parts or damaged.
POST-WAR & COLD WAR
FN came back online after the war; and soon after, in 1947, FN chief designer Dieudonné Saive created the first prototype of the FN FAL or Fusil Automatique Léger (Light Automatic Rifle). The Canadian Army would be the first to adopt it in 1954, followed by 100 other countries.
The FN FAL soon earned the nickname “The Right Arm of the Free World.”
AMERICAN-MADE CRAFTSMANSHIP
To help support growing U.S. military contracts, as well as connect with the consumer market, FN opened its second manufacturing plant in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1981. The plant’s main purpose was to produce the FN MAG® (M240) for the U.S. Army.
IN 1988, the U.S. Army adopted the FN MINIMI, designated as the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). Production began at the FN Columbia plant in 1991.
THE 5.7 PLATFORM
In 1990, NATO came with a request to the firearms industry: create a replacement cartridge for the 9mm Luger for personal defense weapons and pistols. NATO required great range and accuracy as well as better terminal ballistics.
To solve the problem, FN followed its proven path to success: design the ammunition and the firearm simultaneously. Thus, we created the proprietary 5.7x28mm cartridge from the ground up. We also created two entirely new firearms for this cartridge: the FN P90® in 1990 and its companion sidearm, the FN Five-seveN® in 2004.
Since its introduction, the 5.7x28mm system has been adopted by 50+ NATO nations. In fact, 5.7x28mm is now standardized by SAAMI and all firearms chambered in 5.7x28mm will be marked 5.7×28 FN. The 5.7xmm NATO was actually FN’s third NATO-standardized caliber, following the 7.62 NATO (MAG-58) and 5.56 NATO (FN CAL).
THE SCAR LEGEND BEGINS
In 2003, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) issued a solicitation to replace their aging M4 carbines and M16 riles with a more modern and versatile weapon system. They wanted a platform designed around two different calibers yet maintain a high commonality of parts.
The winner of this solicitation in 2004 was the FN SCAR® (designated as the MK 16 and MK 17, along with the MK 13 Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module). The SCAR was then delivered to all branches of the USSOCOM, including the Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, Marine Forces Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT; REINVENTING TACTICAL
A natural transition from supporting NATO is helping those who serve and protect. Many law enforcement divisions adopted the FN 5.7x28mm platform, and in 2006, FN designed the FNP series of duty pistols for the 2007 U.S. Joint Combat Pistol Program then transitioned the platform to the specific needs of LE, followed by the FNP-45 duty pistol in 2008 (which heavily influenced the FNX™-45).
The FNX™-45 Tactical launched in 2012 and reinvented the “tactical” pistol category, offering an aggressive grip, interchangeable backstraps (before they were cool) and a threaded barrel—all stock. Oh, it also came in FDE.
FN TURNS 125; THE INNOVATION CONTINUES
In 2014, FN celebrated its 125th anniversary and also introduced the FN 15® Rifle and FN 15® Carbine to the commercial markets. FN then launched the FNS™ Compact, a subcompact pistol ideal for concealed carry or backup gun use and multiple variants of the FN 15® modern sporting rifle in 2015.
In 2016, FN sent a pistol to the U.S. Army’s proposal for a new Modular Handgun System (MHS)—the FN 509®, based upon the FN FNS™-9 design and tested to one million rounds—while also researching what law enforcement wanted in a duty gun. The result of both initiatives is today’s FN 509®: one that fits any hand, offers superior textured grip and ambidextrous ergonomics and comes with a cold hammer-forged barrel with a polished chamber and feed ramp.
FN 509® — TESTED TO ONE MILLION ROUNDS
LAPD PARTNERSHIP & OUR FIRST RIMFIRE SERIES
In 2021, the LAPD chose the FN 509® MRD LE as its official duty sidearm after a 20,000-round endurance test. With zero failures.
FN also introduced its FNX™-45 pistol series (highlighted by the popular FNX™-45 Tactical) and FN 502® series, which carried over the form factor and ergonomics of the FN 509 series, but with a single-action trigger instead of striker-fired and .22 LR caliber.
FN GOES QUIET
To create a seamless, unmatched shooting experience with the FN 509® Tactical, we couldn’t find the ideal suppressor system that upheld our rigorous quality standards. So in 2022, our engineers created one: the FN Rush® 9Ti 9mm suppressor.
One year later, FN created our first rimfire suppressor optimized specifically for the FN 502® Tactical: the FN Catch 22™ Ti.
BIG BORE POPULARITY GROWS–FN ANSWERS
In 2023, FN expanded its striker-fired tactical pistol line by introducing two big bore options: the FN 510® (10mm) and FN 545® (.45 ACP). Both firearms were based around the design of our popular FN 509® system.
FN LAUNCHES THE ULTIMATE CONCEALED-CARRY PISTOL
The problem with many micro compact pistols on the market is that they sacrifice trigger and ergonomics for size. FN’s answer to the ultimate concealed-carry pistol was to create an internal hammer-fired pistol: the FN Reflex®. It set the new standard in 2023 with a light and crisp, 5 lb, single-action-only trigger, optics-ready capabilities and cold hammer-forged barrel for enduring accuracy in a micro compact pistol.
