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
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.
President Trump Touts the NRA and National Concealed Carry Reciprocity
At the Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pa., President Donald Trump reiterated his support for the National Rifle Association as well as his support for national right-to-carry legislation.
Rifleman Review: Savage Arms Revel Classic
Offered as an affordable, rimfire, takedown design, the Savage Arms Revel line of lever-actions has expanded to include several popular chamberings, as well as a deluxe version.
A Modernized Classic: Chiappa's S.A. 1873 Black Thunder
Italian manufacturer Chiappa makes an interesting mix of historical designs, modern firearms and guns that combine both of those elements into one. In the latter category is the S.A. 1873 Black Thunder .44 Magnum revolver.
I Have This Old Gun: CZ vz.27
Pressed into Nazi service, the Czech-produced CZ vz.27 pistol was a popular GI bring-back from World War II.
Federal & Remington Awarded All Four Categories of FBI Rifle Ammunition Contract
The FBI recently awarded Federal Premium and Remington Ammunition—both members of The Kinetic Group family of firms—one of the largest law-enforcement contracts in TKG history.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
