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
Gun of the Week: Taylor's & Co. TC73
The Taylor's Firearms TC73 has classic lines and a classic appearance, but unlike other lever-actions, this one has a few unique features.
The Armed Citizen® June 26, 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 U.S. Supreme Court’s Wolford v. Lopez Decision is Striking
In Wolford v. Lopez, the Supreme Court ruled that “Hawaii’s law prohibiting licensed concealed-carry permit holders from carrying handguns on private property open to the public without the property owner’s express authorization violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.”
The Fighting Shotgun: Myths, Legends & Facts
For a host of reasons, the Winchester Model 1897 "trench gun" probably never really made it into combat on the Western Front. But, the fact remains that Americans have always revered the shotgun as the ultimate fight-stopper.
Leupold Celebrates USA 250th With Limited-Edition "Mark 250" Riflescope Package
Leupold has commissioned a Limited-Edition Mark 250 Riflescope Package to commemorate the United States semiquincentennial, and it is now available exclusively through Scheels.
A Successful Friends of the NRA Dinner at Compton Hunting & Fishing Club
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the Compton Hunting & Fishing Club in Southern California hosted another outstanding Friends of the NRA dinner.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
