FN & Sako: A Bolt High: Rifle 7.62 Nato: Shotguns: BPS Pump: Automatic Five (A-5) B-2000 Semi-Automatic: B-80 Semi-Automatic: BT Single Barrel Trap: Citori Over-Under: Superposed: BSS Double: Leige Over-Under. Serial numbers are stamped on the right side of the frame, just in front of the ejection port, and are also stamped on the right side of the slide and breech block. Serial numbers started at 1 and ran to 9999, after which they ran from A1 to A4500 (approximately). The finish was rust blue, with a fire blued trigger. Of FN pistol Model 1910, with serial number 583500. Jul 29, 2011 FN Model 1910/22 Serial Number Curios and Relics. In 1943 when the model 1922 was starting to be produced for more than just the Luftwaffe and other specialist units, Germany decided to restart the numbering system. Later Browning became associated with Colt and the world market was divided—with Eastern Hemisphere going to FN and Western Hemisphere to Colt. In this section, we list arms that bear the FN banner. FN-manufactured firearms produced under the Browning banner, are listed in Browning section of this book.

Make: FN Model: Browning 1900 Serial Number: 352253 Year of Manufacture: 1900-1914 Caliber:.32 ACP (7.62x17SR) Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine Markings: The left side of the slide is marked ““Fabrique-Nationale-Herstal-Liege-Browning’s-Patent”, “. / C”, Lion over “PV” and a right hand arrow.

FUSIL AUTOMATIQUE: The F.N. Modèle 1900

BY: CAMERON WOODALL

In Belgium it was known as “La Carabine Automatique Browning”, in Germany it was the “Selbstladebüchse Browning Kaliber 9mm”, but in the United States we know it simply as the F.N. 1900. If the Remington Model 8 is the grandfather of American semi-automatic sporting rifles, the F.N. 1900 is its European twin. Produced by the legendary Fabrique Nationale d’ Armes de Guerre (FN) in Belgium, this rifle officially labeled as the “Browning Patent Modèle 1900” was a near identical copy of the American made Autoloading Rifle. In Europe during the early 20^th century, the autoloading platform was seen more as a novelty than something of actual usefulness. This worked to the Modèle 1900’s advantage and disadvantage respectively. On one hand the FN encountered very little genuine competition but on the other hand its high price and yet-proven mechanics paved the way for poor sales right from the beginning. Even still, compared to other European firearms of the day, this rifle was fast shooting and elegantly built. So distinct and intriguing were these rifles that around 100 saw front-line service in aircraft with the French Aéronautique Militaire in the early days of WWI.

The story begins with John Browning who filed several long-recoil patents not just those in the United States. German Patentschrift 9996 dated Nov. 25^th 1902 is the equivalent of U.S. patent No. 659,786 filed June 6^th, 1900 for a “Recoil Operated Firearm”. The year of this patent is where the Modèle 1900 got its name even though FN didn’t manufacture the rifle until a decade later. Browning established a friendly relationship with FN in 1902 selling the exclusive rights to his long-recoil rifle (and shotgun) to FN on March 24 of the same year. FN quickly began producing Auto-5 shotguns, but by 1904 such restrictive importation tariffs had been imposed that FN negotiated with Browning to allow manufacture of his shotgun within the United States. The Remington Arms Co. was eager to work with John Browning and acquire the rights to manufacture both his autoloading shotgun and his autoloading rifle. FN was first to introduce the long-recoil shotgun, but it was Remington that first produced John Browning’s long-recoil rifle in 1906 dubbed the “Autoloading Rifle” or more known today as the Model 8.

The arrangement between FN and Remington was that the Model 8 was for sales by and large inside theUnited Statesand the Modèle 1900 would essentially pursue sales to the rest of the world. Despite the large market, the FN 1900 found its home predominately with hunters in and around Western Europe and Canada. A page from an undated FN catalog lists the country restrictions imposed on the FN 1900,

“The Browning automatic sporting rifle nr243, cal. 35, cannot, neither directly nor indirectly, be sold in France, Morocco, United States of North America, Poland, Danzig included, Ceylon Isle, Princedom of Bombay, Queensland” (p.8).

Unfortunately however, the FN 1900 didn’t experience the level of sales as the Remington Model 8. If convincing American hunters to spend their hard earned dollars on a revolutionary (and expensive!) autoloading rifle was difficult enough, doing the same for the European hunter was almost ludicrous. The autoloading rifle was just too different. A translation of the original manual reveals that the key selling points used by FN were the distinct advantages of the autoloading platform over contemporary big game rifles. One excerpt from the manual,

“In addition the gas pressure is partially employed to operate the automatic mechanism, there is a substantial reduction in recoil and therefore much less fatigue to the hunter who is able to keep his gun at ready for immediate follow- up shots.” (p. 5).

Continuing on FN hyped the Modèle 1900’s superiority to bolt-action rifles in its rate of fire and perceived recoil, and superiority to double rifles in its consistent shot placement with repeated firing and moderate cost. Regardless of any advantages the FN 1900 may have had over other rifles, its sales did not reflect this and limited production makes this rifle quite uncommon today.

FN Production

Only 4,913 Modèle 1900’s were ever manufactured. Compared to the Model 8’s production run of nearly 70,000, that’s more than 14 Model 8’s for every 1 FN 1900. According to FN catalogs, the Modèle 1900 was introduced in 1910 and officially dropped from the product line in 1929. Other sources reveal 32 rifles were sold between 1930-1936, probably clean up rifles from leftover parts.

In 1911 the U.S. equivalent price of the FN 1900 was $57, nearly double the cost of a standard “A” grade Model 8. To put it more into perspective, for $3 more than the cost of an FN 1900, the American hunter could have had an engraved Model 8D “Peerless”. Examination of existing rifles verifies that production began with serial number 1 up to 4913. Case in point is FN serial number 5, with a gorgeous, high grade European walnut stock! This rifle may be from the first day of manufacture and is indicative that production began with #1 and continued on.

FN #5 – Courtesy of the Creamer Collection

Below is a breakdown of FN production published by Fire! Magazine (1996).

It’s often wondered how did so many surviving FN’s wind up in theUnited States. The F.N.’s here today did not come from any one place. It is known that some were vet bring-backs from two World Wars and at least a few were imported by Val Browning into theU.S. Since the FN was exported toCanadamany have made their way south of the border.

Describing the F.N. 1900

Produced with the same old-world craftsmanship as the Remington, these rifles are a testament to Fabrique Nationale’s wordwide reputation for manufacturing high quality firearms. It doesn’t take a scrupulous eye to notice there were probably more hours of labor involved in producing the FN over the Remington. A close inspection and disassembly of both the FN and Remington rifles will reveal a significantly superior fit and finish with the version made in Belgium, even over 1^st year production Model 8’s.

The FN came in two versions, neither of which were a higher “grade” than the other. One version had a standard barrel jacket like the Model 8, the other a solid barrel ri

Fn Browning Model 1900 Serial Numbers