Of course, it was an FN pistol in the hands of the Black Hand that ignited the Great War in the first place. In this installment of the Handguns of World War I, we look at the Fabrique Nationale pistols, including, the Model 1900 and Model 1903 pistols, used by the Belgian Army during World War I. How good were they? Here’s a hint: They were designed by John Moses Browning. If the Belgians were squared away on handguns, the same could not be said of the French. The standard French sidearm at the start of the war was the anemic 8 mm Modele 1895 double-action revolver. While the French dug the Modele 1873 (made more famous by Brendan Frazier in “The Mummy”) out of mothballs for use in the trenches, France relied on Spanish-made Ruby pistols for more firepower. And firepower is a relative term—these were .32 ACP copies of the Browning 1903. Know what a Ruby is? Better watch this.
For more American Rifleman TV segments, go to americanrifleman.org/artv.
Handguns of The Great War: Belgium and France
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
The Norinco TU-33/40: A Rimfire Mauser Lookalike from China
The Norinco TU-33/40 is, at a glance, a copy of a Mauser 98k with a few choice details that give away the fact that it’s not a big-bore World War II workhorse.
AI Tools Enter the Used-Gun Market
Companies that deal in the used-gun market are not shy about sharing the advantages their AI-driven tools and services.
Standing Guard | Standing on the Line for Freedom
This past August marks 46 years since I raised my right hand and was commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps. In the summer of 1980, I entered active duty with a firm sense of civic duty and a deep desire to serve our great nation. Like so many who wear the uniform, I was ready to contribute directly to the defense of freedom.
Making Baschieri & Pellagri Shotshells
Italy is known for its many makers of fine-quality shotguns, but what many might not known is that Italy is also home to one of the industry's top manufacturers of shotshells for hunting and sporting use: Baschieri & Pellagri.
Rifleman Interview: Volquartsen Firearms
Several of Volquartsen’s excellent rimfire firearms were on display at “Plinkapalooza” earlier this year.
Army Purchases EOTECH Electro-Optics
EOTECH recently announced that the U.S. Army had purchased 14,000 of its lasers, holographic optics and magnifiers for use on the military's M7, XM8 and M250 platforms.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
