The Untold History of FN Herstal Firearms

Chad Reimer

FN Herstal firearms have long been some of the most popular military firearms on the planet. The FN Fal is probably one of the best examples of the FN innovative design, which had made its way into more than a dozen militaries and special operations. Now the FN Herstal name is gaining praise for close quarters combat rifles like the FN P90 and the FN SCAR. Both of these firearms have distinct characteristics, which make them ideal for various applications. In the beginning, FN Herstal firearms were clones of the German-designed Mauser rifles, and the company later produced a Browning Arms designed pistol called the 1910, which stayed in production until the early 1980s.

The FN SCAR has been getting a good amount of credit since FN’s press release; it takes standard AR-15 magazines and has a vastly improved, piston-driven operating design. The FN SCAR uses the piston to reduce required maintenance, unlike the AR-15 which is gas-operated and needs to be cleaned much more often. These rifles should be available within the next year or so. Already the buzz of the FN SCAR has been positive, particularly in the AR15 community, which is sure to make this another successful FN designed weapons system.

The FN P90 is well-known by the general public for its sleek look and oddly shaped bullpup design. The operation of these firearms is closed bolt; blowback operated, and has a fraction of the felt recoil when compared with any other submachine gun on the market. According to FN Herstal, the P90 carbine reduces recoil by two-thirds of the standard 9mm cartridge. Because of this new round, the Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings to all their officers regarding the ballistic and penetrating power of these firearms. FN Herstal firearms also have made a number of appearances on television and movies, making their futuristic look something of a Hollywood legend.

The secret to the reduction of felt recoil is the 5.7x28mm cartridge, which offers one of the most feared bullets in history, making most bulletproof vests useless to the superior ballistics of this particular round. The FN five-Seven is also chambered in this aggressive round, making this pistol a must-have for special operations and elite law enforcement units. Aside from being chambered in this new round, the pistol also holds twenty-round magazines, making them ideal weapons for combat scenarios.

After over a century of producing firearms, the FN Herstal product line is still pushing the bounds of firearms technology and making the entire industry rethink what is possible. During my experience with the FN Herstal weapons systems, I found them to be reliable, smooth, and comfortable, despite the awkward appearances. For these reasons I believe the FN Herstal name is sure to have another century of firearms production to cater to the needs of elite units around the world. So when you are looking for precision and innovation, I would highly recommend to any of my customers or acquaintances to check out the FN Herstal firearms; I believe these are some of the best buys in the firearms industry.

Have An Opinion? Add It Here