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
Searching For The Perfect Single-Action Revolver
Bitten by the cowboy handgun bug early on—and influenced by no less an innovator than Elmer Keith—the author finds that, in the search for the ultimate single-action revolver, perfection is an elusive target.
The Armed Citizen® Dec. 15, 2025
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
Auto-Ordnance Remembers Iwo Jima Fallen With Special M1 Carbine
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Auto-Ordnance teamed up with Altered Arsenal to create a specially crafted version of the M1 carbine.
![Auto[47]](/media/121jogez/auto-47.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=770&height=430&rnd=134090788010670000&quality=60)
![Auto[47]](/media/121jogez/auto-47.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=150&height=150&rnd=134090788010670000&quality=60)
Preview: The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s And Assembly Guide
Scott Duff Publications is renowned for its authoritative titles containing detailed information on iconic military and commercial firearms.
Henry Introduces Two New Special Products Division Rifles: The CRUSR & PREDATOR
Henry Repeating Arms' Special Products Division expanded its offerings with two new rifles in the fall of 2025, the CRUSR and PREDATOR lever-actions.
Preview: Duracell 3000L Tri-Power Lantern
The company renowned for its Coppertop batteries now offers a high-tech take on traditional camp illumination.
Interests
#SundayGunday: Spartan Precision Standing Stability Solutions | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- St. Louis County Police Department Adopts Springfield Armory Echelon Pistol | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- Azimuth Technology Surpasses Major Gun-Parts Manufacturing Milestones | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- U.S. Army Purchasing Additional Mossberg 590A1 Pump-Action Shotguns | An Official Journal Of The NRA
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
