FN Model 1910
FN Herstal · Pistol · Discontinued · 1910
Also known as: Browning Model 1910, Pistolet Browning Mle 1910, Pistole 621(b), FN Browning M1910
Overview
The FN Model 1910 is a blowback-operated, striker-fired semi-automatic pocket pistol designed by John Moses Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Belgium. Introduced in 1910, it represented a significant advance in compact pistol design with its innovative wraparound recoil spring that encircled the barrel rather than sitting beneath it, producing a remarkably slim profile and low bore axis. This design became the template for subsequent compact pistols including the Walther PP/PPK and the Makarov PM. Chambered in .32 ACP (7-round magazine) and .380 ACP (6-round magazine), the FN Model 1910 featured a 'triple safety' system comprising a manual safety lever, grip safety, and magazine disconnect safety. The pistol's compact dimensions, lack of protruding hammer or sharp edges, and smooth contours made it exceptionally well-suited for concealed carry by military officers, police detectives, and civilians. Over 700,000 were produced during its 73-year production run from 1910 to 1983, serving military and police forces across Europe, South America, and beyond.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 590 g (20.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 153 mm (6.02") |
| Barrel Length | 88 mm (3.46") |
| Height | 108 mm (4.25") |
| Width | 26 mm (1.02") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Trigger Pull | 27 N (6.1 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 268 m/s (879 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 165 J (122 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .32 ACP · primary — also known as 7.65x17mm Browning, 7.65mm Browning, 7.65mm Browning SR
- .380 ACP — also known as 9x17mm, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Browning Short, 9mm Corto, 9mm Browning Court, .380 Auto
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Grip Safety, Magazine Disconnect
- Features: Fixed Barrel, Wraparound Recoil Spring, Heel Magazine Release, Notch And Post Sights, Compact Design
Variants
- FN Model 1910 (.380 ACP) — Caliber
- FN Model 1922 (Model 1910/22) — Extended
- Browning Model 1955 — Commercial
- Browning Model 1971 (Model 10/71) — Modernized
Service history
Operators
- Belgian Military · adopted 1910 · as Pistolet Browning Mle 1910
- Royal Yugoslav Army · adopted 1923
- French Military
- Finnish Defence Forces
- Royal Netherlands Army
- German Wehrmacht · adopted 1940 · as Pistole 621(b)
- Peruvian Military
- Venezuelan Military
- European Police Forces
- Berlin Police (American Zone) · adopted 1948
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 704,247 · Production years: 1910-1983
Approximately 69,000 produced by 1914, 467,760 by 1939, and 704,247 total over the 73-year production run.
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Designer: John Moses Browning
Discontinued: 1983
Notes
The FN Model 1910 is perhaps most notorious as the weapon used by Gavrilo Princip to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, the event that precipitated World War I. The specific pistol was a .380 ACP variant, serial number 19074. Yugoslavia placed an order for 60,000 pistols in February 1923, with deliveries continuing into the late 1930s. During the German occupation of Belgium in WWII, production continued under Wehrmacht control and the pistol was issued as the 'Pistole 621(b)'. The FN Model 1922 (Model 1910/22) was an extended variant with a longer barrel (113mm) and slide, plus increased magazine capacity (9 rounds in .32 ACP, 8 rounds in .380 ACP), developed to meet a Yugoslav military contract. Production numbers: approximately 69,000 by 1914, 467,760 by 1939, and a total of approximately 704,247 over the full production run. Muzzle velocity and energy values listed are for the primary .32 ACP chambering with a 3.5-inch barrel.
Background
The FN Model 1910 is perhaps the most historically consequential firearm ever made. A .380 ACP variant (serial number 19074) was used by Gavrilo Princip to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on 28 June 1914, the event that triggered World War I. Its innovative wraparound recoil spring became the template for generations of compact pistols.