History of Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal (FNH) Part 1
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 7 months ago
So do you want to learn something about history? History is where it’s at. It tells you how we got where we are, why thing are the way they are, who is who, and how things got made and done.
This is a very well-produced and well-researched video documentary on the history of FN. With it, you’ll learn how American industry (stupidly) shunned John Moses Browning and how he got connected with FN.
John Moses Browning and Eugene Stoner (we speak of these two men in reverent, hushed tones at The Captain’s Journal) are the premier firearms designers in American history. You owe it to yourself to understand why things happened the way they did with Mr. Browning and FN. By the way, FN-America is right down the road from me in Columbia, S.C., producing quality firearms to this very day. I have one.
I commend this video for your viewing today.
On September 11, 2020 at 1:42 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Herschel
Forgive me, I have not yet watched the video, but your readers may be interested to know that Fabrique National – Herstal now owns the Winchester and Browning brands and manufactures firearms under both names.
Skeptics dismiss FN-produced Winchester rifles as “not American,” but given FN’s long history with John Browning and the Browning family, it is difficult to think of another company whose stewardship would be better. I regret that Winchester and Browning are no longer American-owned, but if a foreign concern had to own them, then I for one am glad that it is Fabrique National, John Browning’s final employer (Browning died of heart-failure on 26 November, 1926, at his desk at FN, in Liège, Belgium).
As one who has had the opportunity to extensively handle and use Winchester products, both professionally and personally, I am pretty well-qualified to comment on their legendary Model 70 bolt-action.
The pre-1964 models are highly sought-after by collectors since they date to the era when Winchester made its rifles by hand according to its highest, original standards.
In the mid-1960s, in response to market pressures from less-expensive competitors, such as Remington’s Model 700 and the Savage 110, Winchester management made the fateful decision to cheapen the materials and workmanship of the Model 70 in order to compete with them – a choice which back-fired badly with their heretofore loyal customer base, both in the commercial market and with institutional customers such as the military and law-enforcement.
Winchester executives soon recognized their error, and within 3-4 years, restored the brand to its former glories, but the damage had been done to the name, and it took the company some time to regain its lost market share.
Fast-forward to today, FN has done a superb job revitalizing the Model 70 while remaining true to its most-storied features, such as controlled round feed, cold-hammer forged barrels, and the rest. The new-production Model 70’s are the equal to the storied pre-1964 models in every way, and if anything surpass them in quality of design, materials and workmanship. Most shoot sub-moa easily with high-quality ammunition, not just the top-of-the-line “Super Grade” series, but the less-expensive Sporter and other models, too. Truly superb firearms, worth every penny of their cost. The Model 70 isn’t known as the “rifleman’s rifle” for nothing!
What goes around, comes around, and today Remington is the company in trouble. It has been a few years now since I was in the retail FA industry, but when I left a few years ago, Remington’s products just weren’t up to snuff. The company was embroiled in a costly lawsuit pertaining to allegedly faulty triggers, and even their well-known and (formerly) highly-regarded Model 700 line had slipped considerably. Quality was inconsistent, their product line uninspired and the brand was losing customers.
Back in 1964, Winchester lost their Army and Marine contracts when Remington stepped into the market – and has kept their contracts with the armed forces and many police forces as well, since that time, largely on the basis of inertia, but also because Remington worked hard to give their government customers what they wanted. The Model 700 also has a vast after-market accessory reservoir, and lots of gunsmithing and other industry support as well – one reason why some shooters elect to remain with the brand despite their current troubles.
But if any of your readers are in the market for a high-quality bolt-action rifle, perhaps they ought to look at Winchester (and Browning) again. If the quality of their recent offerings is in any way typical of their products these days, Fabrique National has done the Winchester and Browning names proud.
On September 11, 2020 at 8:39 am, BRVTVS said:
@Georgiaboy61
The Browning BLR certainly has an appeal.
On September 11, 2020 at 9:40 am, blake said:
That the 1911 and Ma Deuce variants are still used in the military, even though their original design dates back a century, should be all that is needed to convince one of the genius of JMB.
On September 11, 2020 at 10:09 pm, MN Steel said:
Does FN sell spare part to mere mortals yet, or does one have to be an “only one” to rate service?