Name : FN Model 1910
AKA : Pistole Modell 626 (B) = WW2 German Military Designation
Caliber : 7.65x17mm Browning (.32 ACP), 9x18mm Short (.380 ACP)
Capacity : 7 Rounds (7.65mm)
Weight : 21.25oz or 600g
Length : 6in or 152mm
Action : Blowback operated, Single Action, Semi automatic
Origin : Belgium
Designed by world famous firearms designer John Moses Browning the FN model 1910 was a popular and well liked defensive arm found in many arsenals during the first part of the 20th Century. John Browning made regular trips between the two major manufacturers of his designs, namely Colt for the U.S. market and Fabrique Nationale of Belgium for the European market. Browning approached Colt to make his new pistol design that was to become the Model 1910, but Colt was not interested, perhaps due to the success of the Colt Model 1903. Fabrique Nationale no doubt saw considerable potential for the design and the pistol went into production eventually arming much of Europe.
Though first produced in 1910 this pistol did not come into widespread availability until 1912. John Browning's first financially rewarding venture into the defensive pistol field was also made by FN in the Model 1900, an unusual pistol in that the recoil spring was located above the barrel, it was a sturdy and reliable defensive pistol. Combined the models 1900, 1903, 1906 and the 1910 had been sold in excess of one million by 1914, making vast fortunes for the large firearm distributors in Europe.
The 1910 has a smooth overall appearance and semi-compact feel about it, this is due to a small trend that was started with this pistol, the recoil spring is positioned around the barrel instead of a traditional plunger or guide rod, making the pistol smaller than some of its contemporaries. The pistol's safety is nothing special in the respect it is simply pushed up into a notch in the slide to put the weapon on safe, and the pistol also sports a grip safety. The sights on the pistol pictured are of non-snagging type and are a groove that runs in the top of the slide, and though not target shooter material they are adequate for defensive purposes. Some Model 1910's did have windage adjustable rear sights that are retained via a wedge base that are slid into traditional slide cut outs.
A variant of this pistol appeared in 1922 this model was known as the Model 1910/22 after a Serbian Army requested that the 1910 have a longer barrel and slightly improved ammunition capacity thus FN lengthened the barrel and simply attached a large retaining ring in front of the slide and increased the magazine capacity for an extra 2 rounds. The Serbian Army happy with these improvements made a large order. During World War Two the German Army having occupied Belgium had FN make Model 1910s and 1910/22s for the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht. The 1910 went out of production in 1983 and was widely copied by many arms manufacturers around the world. Popular with civilian shooters it was also big in European Law Enforcement with some police forces choosing to keep it in front line service until 1985. In the James Bond movie "Dr. No" the 1910 is used as a stand-in for a Walther PPK due to the movie makers having issues adapting the PPK to fire blanks, though the change over went un-noticed by much of the movie going audience.
INTERESTING FACT : It is said that the great war may have been started by the pistol but it was the rifle that fought it. Well the 1910 has an interesting part in that fact - it was that pistol in the hands of Gavrilo Princip, who shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the precursor to World War One.
PRO's : Compact and Easy to Use, Kinda accurate, Collectable,
CON's : Magazine disconnect safety, some have rough trigger pulls.
COOL FACTOR : 7/10
