Fabrique Nationale Herstal ( French for 'National Factory Herstal'), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale , or simply FN , is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal , Belgium, and former vehicle manufacturer. It was the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe as of 2012.
18-493: FN Herstal is owned by FN Browning Group , which is in turn owned by the regional government of Wallonia . The Herstal Group also owns the Browning Arms Company and the U.S. Repeating Arms Company ( Winchester ). FN America is the U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, which was formed by the merger of FN's previous two American subsidiaries – FN Manufacturing and FNH USA. A United Kingdom based manufacturing facility, FNH UK,
36-465: A decade after Browning's death; it remained in production until 2017. The FN Manufacturing LLC plant in Columbia, South Carolina , is part of the military division of FN. It is primarily responsible for the production of U.S. military weapons, such as M16 rifles , SCARs , M249 light machine guns , M240 machine guns , and M2 machine guns . Herstal Group FN Browning Group , formerly known as
54-538: A development championed by Alexandre Galopin as managing director. FN cars were produced in Herstal from the early 1900s until 1935. Production of FN motorcycles continued until 1965, and production of trucks until 1970. In 1973, FN changed its name to reflect a diversified product line far beyond just military Small Arms and Firearms manufacturing, adopting the current name of Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal . FN Herstal also had an aerospace engines division and became
72-568: A diversified product line far beyond just military Small Arms and Firearms manufacturing, adopting the current name of Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal . FN Herstal also had an aerospace engines division and became the only aircraft engine manufacturer in Benelux . Established 1949 in Liers , it manufactured parts, and made and assembled complete engines under licence from British, French and US companies. When four European countries, including Belgium, adopted
90-508: Is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal , Belgium, and former vehicle manufacturer. It was the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe as of 2012 . FN Herstal is owned by FN Browning Group , which is in turn owned by the regional government of Wallonia . The Herstal Group also owns the Browning Arms Company and the U.S. Repeating Arms Company ( Winchester ). FN America
108-614: Is also in operation. Firearms designed and/or manufactured by FN include the S.A.W. M249, Browning Hi-Power and Five-seven pistols, the FAL , FNC , F2000 and SCAR rifles, the P90 submachine gun, the M2 Browning , MAG , Minimi and the FN Evolys machine guns; all have been commercially successful. FN Herstal's firearms are used by the armed forces of over 100 countries. FN Herstal originated in
126-409: Is the U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, which was formed by the merger of FN's previous two American subsidiaries – FN Manufacturing and FNH USA. A United Kingdom based manufacturing facility, FNH UK, is also in operation. Firearms designed and/or manufactured by FN include the S.A.W. M249, Browning Hi-Power and Five-seven pistols, the FAL , FNC , F2000 and SCAR rifles, the P90 submachine gun,
144-564: The Belgian government. FN was co-founded by the major arms makers of the Liège region, with Henri Pieper of Anciens Etablissements Pieper being the driving force and the primary shareholder of the new company. In 1897, the company entered into a long-lasting relationship with John Browning , a well-known American firearms designer. The company was an important manufacturer of motor vehicles in Belgium,
162-759: The Herstal Group , is the parent company of the small arms manufacturers FN Herstal and Browning Arms Company , which market the Browning , Winchester and FN brands. It is headquartered in Liège , Belgium with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Portugal and France. FN Browning Group is also a shareholder in the Japanese company, Miroku Co., Ltd. Since 1997, FN Browning Group has been 100% owned by
180-432: The M2 Browning , MAG , Minimi and the FN Evolys machine guns; all have been commercially successful. FN Herstal's firearms are used by the armed forces of over 100 countries. FN Herstal originated in the small city of Herstal , near Liège . The Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (French for 'National Factory of Weapons of War') was established in 1889 to manufacture 150,000 Mauser Model 89 rifles ordered by
198-543: The Walloon Region of Belgium, who purchased the remaining shares from GIAT . This article related to a manufacturing company is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Belgian company–related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . FN Herstal Fabrique Nationale Herstal ( French for 'National Factory Herstal'), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale , or simply FN ,
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#1732855366100216-524: The Ariane space programme. However, by 1987, FN Herstal had divested itself of these activities, which today are part of the Safran Group. One of Fabrique Nationale's handguns, a Model 1910 semi-automatic pistol in 9×17mm ( .380 ACP ) (serial number 19074), was one of four weapons that were taken from the assassins of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria , although it is unknown which of the four weapons fired
234-496: The F-16 fighter in 1977, FN Herstal built an entirely new plant that made parts, assembled and tested the engines for these aircraft. The FN Division Moteurs also supplied parts for the Ariane space programme. However, by 1987, FN Herstal had divested itself of these activities, which today are part of the Safran Group. One of Fabrique Nationale's handguns, a Model 1910 semi-automatic pistol in 9×17mm ( .380 ACP ) (serial number 19074),
252-571: The fatal round. Browning began the development of the GP35 "High Power" pistol, the GP standing for Grande Puissance (French for high power ), which is well-known as the Browning Hi-Power . The weapon was finalized by FN's Dieudonné Saive and did not appear until 1935, nearly a decade after Browning's death; it remained in production until 2017. The FN Manufacturing LLC plant in Columbia, South Carolina ,
270-483: The new company. In 1897, the company entered into a long-lasting relationship with John Browning , a well-known American firearms designer. The company was an important manufacturer of motor vehicles in Belgium, a development championed by Alexandre Galopin as managing director. FN cars were produced in Herstal from the early 1900s until 1935. Production of FN motorcycles continued until 1965, and production of trucks until 1970. In 1973, FN changed its name to reflect
288-438: The only aircraft engine manufacturer in Benelux . Established 1949 in Liers , it manufactured parts, and made and assembled complete engines under licence from British, French and US companies. When four European countries, including Belgium, adopted the F-16 fighter in 1977, FN Herstal built an entirely new plant that made parts, assembled and tested the engines for these aircraft. The FN Division Moteurs also supplied parts for
306-418: The small city of Herstal , near Liège . The Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (French for 'National Factory of Weapons of War') was established in 1889 to manufacture 150,000 Mauser Model 89 rifles ordered by the Belgian government. FN was co-founded by the major arms makers of the Liège region, with Henri Pieper of Anciens Etablissements Pieper being the driving force and the primary shareholder of
324-441: Was one of four weapons that were taken from the assassins of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria , although it is unknown which of the four weapons fired the fatal round. Browning began the development of the GP35 "High Power" pistol, the GP standing for Grande Puissance (French for high power ), which is well-known as the Browning Hi-Power . The weapon was finalized by FN's Dieudonné Saive and did not appear until 1935, nearly
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