Fabrique Nationale sold 32,225 boxlocks, 15,572 sidelocks and 2,191 hammer guns in the pre-war era. Post-war sales were sparse, with only 4,002 boxlocks and 3,702 sidelocks sold up until 1956. In comparison, FN produced more than 700,000 Auto-5 shotguns in the same 1946 to 1955 period, and side-by-side sales were less than one percent of those of the Auto-5.

None of the early FN-made side-by-sides were imported into the United States, and shotguns such as the Browning BSS were introduced in the 1970s, but they were primarily manufactured by Miroku in Japan.

Lack of information has had an influence on the collectability of the early FN shotguns, as they are uncommon in the United States and are usually valued only as curiosities. Collectors praise the quality, but a lack of high-grade guns limits interest with high-end collectors. Some field-grade guns were engraved long after leaving the factory, but they can easily be identified by looking at the factory engraving on the screws, which rarely matches the engraving on the rest of the gun. Factory-engraved shotguns have uniform patterns and engraving themes throughout the gun.

Collectability and values of standard field-grade guns is determined by overall condition, but also by the presence and condition of the original horn buttplate. Any modification or replacement of the buttplate will result in a significant loss of collector value.

Special thanks to Adam Firestone for his contributions to this article.