In 1889, Fabrique Nationale (or FN) was founded by a group of Belgian investors for the purpose of manufacturing Mauser rifles for Belgian army. This was to be accomplished under the license from Mauser, with technical assistance of Ludwig Loewe of Berlin. A few years later, in late 1890s, John Browning arrived in Europe seeking a manufacturer. Excellence & leadership Expertise, technology, innovation and passion. For 130 years, FN Herstal has been a name synonymous with excellence and global leadership, backed up by passionate and talented people worldwide. Pick a model from the left hand menu. FN maintained serial numbers for commercial pistols, military and LE guns were typically made on order. Fabrique nationale serial number lookup, fabrique nationale hi power serial numbers, fabrique nationale mauser serial numbers, fabrique nationale rifle serial. I own a FN High Power, 9MM, SN 65XX. I've got what I think is an early production post-WWII FN commercial mauser action, serial number 106XX. It has not letters or numerals in front of or behind the number which is found stamped just above the stock line on the right side of the receiver ring.

This site is being phased out and will no longer be updated after November 2015

Fabrique nationale serial number lookup service

Please see our new site at www.fnbrowning.com

The F.N. Historical Society Inc.

Currently online: (all information is copyrighted)

FN Browning 1899, 1900, 1903, 1905 - 1906 and Baby pistols: Guide to identification: See below
Beware of FN marked, Walther style, PP Pistols: See below
Popular misconceptions on FN and FN Browning Firearms: See below

Related NRA articles online: (all information is copyrighted)

Trench Sweepers; Browning & Ruby Pistols in the Great War
Originally published in American Rifleman Magazine -- Click here for NRA article
The FN Browning 1903
Originally published in American Rifleman Magazine --Click here for NRA article
Inside the Pistols of FNH USA
Originally published in American Rifleman Magazine --Click here for NRA article

Important Notes: Please do not email us unsolicited photographs of an item or gun you are trying to identify or date. Unsolicited attachments like photos will be deleted or returned unopened. Due to the increasing number of time consuming inquiries, we can only respond to select emails, time permitting.
We do NOT sell parts or firearms, please do not email us your 'Want List' or inquiries about parts as this is not our business. We deal strictly in historical information / publications. Thank you for your cooperation!

Identifying and differentiation the FN Browning Pistols:
FN Browning Model 1899 and 1900,
FN Browning 1903,
FN Browning 1905 (1906) Vest Pocket and Baby Browning pistols
FN Browning Model 1910 and Model 1922

Fabrique nationale pistol serial number lookup

Following is a guide for identifying FN Browning pistol models:

FN Browning Model 1899 vs. FN Browning Model 1900: The Model 1899 was first produced in January 1899 and closely resembles John Browning's prototype. It can be differentiated from the FN Model 1900 by the following features: There are no safety markings and no lanyard ring, the frame has small side-plates. The grips are secured with studs and nuts. The FN Browning 1900 was introduced in 1900 after Belgian military trials requested changes to the Model 1899. The Model 1900 has larger grips which are secured with screws, has French language safety markings (Feu & Sur), a lanyard ring and larger frame side-plates.

FN Browning Model 1903: The Model 1903 in 9mm Browning Long was manufactured for the military market. It was not a copy of the Colt 1903 as is often reported. FN requested a (military) handgun design from John Browning in 1901. The same prototypes were presented to Colt and FN, Colt opted to manufacture a pocket pistol while FN tried to fill a void in their line by offering the design as a military pistol.

FN Browning Model 1905 / 1906 vs. FN Baby Browning: The Model 1905 is often referred to as the Model 1906, generally in the U.S. it is known for its first patent year '1905' while in Europe, 1906 refers to FN's first manufacturing year. This model is also commonly known as the Vest Pocket model. The Baby Browning was introduced by FN in 1931, the pistol is smaller than the Vest Pocket model. The Baby Browning is a total different design from the earlier Vest Pocket pistol, parts are not interchangeable.

Beware of Walther style PP pistols that are on the U.S. market with FN - Fabrique Nationale - slide legends…

These are not FN made pistols and do not feature the typical FN quality. The PP pistols were made in one of the former Soviet countries and are available with any marking or manufacturers marking at extra cost. Somebody ordered a batch of these pistols with FN’s older legal name marked on the slide, this was done solely to mislead buyers / collectors into believing that they were getting a genuine FN made gun. FN never produced the PP and these were not made for the Belgian police as often claimed in U.S. advertising. Belgian law-enforcement agencies did not use the PP or PPK.

Popular misconceptions on FN
and FN Browning Firearms

The following misconceptions circulate in the international collector community. Here are some answers and comments that may clarify how the facts were misunderstood.

General History

FN was a German company?!

FN has always been a Belgian company, from its inception up to the World Wars. It should be noted that the company did endure a German majority take-over from 1896 to 1914. In such, the majority of shares were in hands of a German company. Majority ownership however does not mean that a company changes national identity. During both World Wars the company was sequestered and under German control.

FN was established by Loewe in Germany?!

The Belgian government (not FN) purchased the production rights for the 1889 Belgian Mauser and ceded those to FN. Loewe had no influence or control in the establishment of FN. FN engineers did purchase equipment and technical assistance from Loewe after the company was in existence. Loewe was selected after FN engineers had explored buying their machinery in the U.S. but ran into problems when U.S. manufacturers did not want to modify and make the machinery on metric specifications.

FN was crucial to the German war effort and produced many guns for the German military?!

FN was not one of the most useful bo

Fabrique Nationale Serial Number Lookup