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
Tension Destroys Your Shooting Performance. Here's How to Manage It.
Whether you’re managing a lethal-force encounter, running a stage in competition or working a timed drill from concealment, performance shooting reigns king, and one of the most brutal and insidious king-slayers of all time is self-induced tension.
EchoCore Suppressors: Embracing The Silence Using Innovative Design
It’s difficult, especially for a brand-new manufacturer, to stand out in a very crowded space, but EchoCore Suppressors has accomplished just that and notched some prestigious accolades along the way.
Gun of the Week: Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway
The Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway rifle is a bolt-action, single-shot design chambered for the 5.7x28 mm FN cartridge.
The Armed Citizen® Feb. 27, 2026
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
The B22 Jaguar: Beretta's New Cutting-Edge .22
Beretta's new B22 Jaguar is a .22 Long Rifle-chambered pistol optimized for the range, competition and introducing new shooters to the sport.
Review: Daisy Smart Target System
The Daisy STS is a digital target system geared toward younger shooters and featuring an array of colorful monsters that must be dealt with using a trusty Red Ryder BB gun.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
