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
Review: Stoeger STR-9 Thinline
The new Stoeger carry gun loses nothing—except some weight and girth. This is the Stoeger STR-9 Thinline.
5 Great Products for Your Next Hunt
These five products will help boost your chances at success in the field.
Small Calibers for Self-Defense: Addressing Common Myths & Criticisms
For decades, small cartridges like the .22 Long Rifle were derided as incapable rounds for defensive use and were even considered dangerous for the user by some. Today, those critiques deserve a second look.
New for 2026: HUXWRX Flow 9k PCC & Flow 9 M Suppressors
Continuing the legacy it first established as Operator Suppressor Systems, HUXWRX is still introducing new and mission-specific flow-through suppressors, with its latest products being the FLOW 9 M and FLOW 9k PCC.
Armed Citizen Stops Oregon Attack; NRA Reaffirms Importance of Law-Abiding Armed Citizenry
The National Rifle Association of America today issued a statement regarding yesterday’s act of violence in Oregon.
Gun of the Week: Tokarev TT-12 Pro
While there are several AR-style, semi-automatic shotguns on the market, the Tokarev TT-12 Pro has a few features you won’t find elsewhere. And it’s affordable, to boot.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
