#FNHerstal

FNH USA – Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal, which is French for National Factory of Herstal – was founded in 1889. The company was founded for the purpose of producing 150,000 Mauser Model 89 rifles that were requested by the Belgian Government. It didn’t take long for the company to stand on its own, however, and today they are well-known and respected for designing and manufacturing quality, reliable firearms.

While I was visiting the FNH USA ProShop, Store Manager Roger Schmidt said “I have something that may interest you.” He went to his office and came back out with an FNS-9. At first glance It seemed like any regular FNS-9. Then he pointed out the engraving on the slide.

The FN FNC lies at a junction somewhere between the AR and AK, and the shooting experience it provides is a strange juxtaposition of both platforms. The ergonomics are very AR-like, but you get a bit of that lovely mechanical recoil impulse of the AK as a result of the long-stroke piston.

FN Herstal was founded back in 1889 for the purpose of manufacturing 150,000 Mausers for the Belgian government, but it didn’t take long for them to broaden their firearms horizons. In 1897 they gained the assistance of renowned designer John Browning, who helped FN with several projects, most notably the Browning GP35 ‘High Power.’ And, of course, in 2013 FN won the military contract to produce the new M4s. Even though FN has manufactured many things over the years, including motorcycles, it’s their firearms that have enabled them to make their mark here in the States, and at SHOT Show 2015 they just might be set to unveil a few new guns that will hopefully make that mark deeper than ever.