Fabrique Nationale de Herstal

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Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, more often known as Fabrique Nationale and abbreviated as FN, is a Belgian firearms manufacturer. The official company name is FN Herstal.

FN originated in the city of Herstal, near Liège. The Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (French for "National Factory of Weapons of War") was established in 1889 to manufacture 150,000 Mauser rifles ordered by the Belgian Government, and remains best known as a manufacturer of firearms, although for some time (early-mid 20th century) it was the most important manufacturer of motorvehicles in Belgium: cars were produced in Herstal in the early 20th century, motorcycles were continued until 1965.

One of Fabrique Nationale's weapons, a Model 1910 semi-automatic pistol in 7.65 × 17 mm (.32 ACP) (serial number 19074) was used to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, triggering World War I.

Weapons made by FN

*FN Five-seveNâ€" modern lightweight semi-automatic pistol that uses 5.7 × 28 mm rounds
*FN Forty-Nineâ€" 9 × 19 mm semi-automatic pistol
*FN M1900â€" .32 ACP blowback semi-automatic pistol
*FN M1903â€" 9 × 20 mm SR blowback semi-automatic pistol
*FN M1906â€" .25 ACP blowback semi-automatic pistol
*FN M1910â€" semi-automatic pistol chambered for .32 ACP and .380 ACP
*FN P90â€" advanced personal defense weapon that uses 5.7 × 28 mm rounds
*FN F2000â€" modern 5.56 × 45 mm NATO bullpup assault rifle, especially as part of system with computerized sight and 40 mm smart/dumb grenade launcher
*FN FALâ€" Fusil Automatique Leger , 7.62 × 51 mm NATO battle rifle
*FN CALâ€" Carabine Automatique Legere, early 5.56 mm caliber assault rifle
*FN FNCâ€" Fabrique Nationale Carabine, 5.56 mm caliber assault rifle
*FN SCARâ€" SOF Capable Assault Rifle, modular assault/battle rifle system with dedicated versions in 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm, and capable of some other rounds
*FN Model 1949â€" a semi-automatic rifle for 7 × 57 mm Mauser, 7.65 × 53 mm Mauser, .30-06 Springfield, and 7.92 × 57 mm (8 mm Mauser)
*FN SPRâ€" a 7.62 × 51 mm bolt-action sniper rifle
*FN Minimiâ€" Mini-mitrailleuse, 5.56 × 45 mm NATO machine gun in use with several nations and known in U.S. use as the M249 SAW and Mk 46 Mod 0
*Mk 48 Mod 0â€" 7.62 × 51 mm NATO variant of the M249 machine gun
*FN MAGâ€" Mitrailleuses D'Appui General , 7.62 mm machine gun, also known as the L7 and M240 machine guns
*FN 303â€" less-lethal projectile launcher
*BRG-15â€" developmental heavy-caliber machine gun for 15.5 × 115 mm
*FN Tactical Police Shotgunâ€" 12-gauge shotgun with 8-shell magazine
*FN FNP-9â€" 9 × 19 mm pistol

FN also owns the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (Winchester) and the Browning Arms Company (an American gun company founded by John Moses Browning's family).

The British .303 Browning aircraft machine gun introduced in the late 1930s and used in World War II was actually a license-built FN Browning design, not a "Colt-Browning" as often referred-to.

FN and John Moses Browning also jointly developed the Browning GP35 'High Power' (sometimes written as Hi-Power) pistol, the GP standing for Grande Puissance or "high power" in French.

See also

*List of modern armament manufacturers

External links

* FN Herstal website
* Browning International website
* FN FiveseveN Discussion Forum