Serial numbers and production dates

[MasterAtArms]

Has anyone found any information on the serial numbers of the FN rifles, and their production dates? I would very much like to ascertain the year the one i have was produced. I have already been in touch with FN, and although they did try to find some answers, they were not even able to confirm that the rifle was of their manufacture.

[Hardrada55]

This doesn't exactly speak to your question, but it may possibly give you some kind of idea. According to the article, La Carabine Automatique de Chasse Browning, by Michel Druart, in the Belgian French language magazine "Fire", between 1910 and 1921 FN made 2909 Model 1900s. Between 1921 and 1922, 182 were made; between 1922 and 1923, 206 were made; 1923-24, 320 were made; 1924-25, 173; 1925-26, 349; 1926-27, 402; 1927-28, 302; 1928-29, 29; 1929-30, 9; 1930-31, 26; 1931-32, 4; 1932-33, 1; 1933-34, 0; 1934-35, 0; 1935-36, 1; 4913 total

[MasterAtArms]

If it can be assumed that the serialization of these rifles began with #0001 (and that is a huge assumption), then mine is probably from sometime late in the 19-teens. I have serial #23XX. It could, however, be even earlier, if the production serialization started higher. I have learned now that my uncle actually inherited the rifle from my great-grandfather, and not my grandfather as I had originally believed. (My grandfather's hunting rifle, a Savage 99 in .300 Savage, is currently in my father's possesion. And it is another really sweet antique.)

I think I'm going to have to contact FN again...

[Hardrada55]

I would imagine that, considering that civilian arms production in Belgium was probably nil between 1914 and 1918, your gun was probably made pre-WWI (1914 or earlier). That does not mean it wasn't sold later, say in 1919 or 1920.

[mikenelson1]

I have a low three digit 1900 FN. Does anybody know when in 1910 production actually began?

[sighthound]

Found FN 336 in a pawn shop today, according to an earlier post in this section 2909 rifles were produced between 1910 and 1921 a little under 300 average per year, does anyone have a more detailed breakdown per year. These numbers would indicate first or second year for this old timer. A little history obtained with this indicates rifle was brought back by returning veteran of WWII ( would fit nicely in duffle bag) and pawned by grandson of veteran. Thanks, Jerry

[Hardrada55]

Did the pawn shop have the gun properly identified? i.e. did they know what they had? If they did have it properly identified, was it commensurately priced? Gee, I wish I ran into stuff like that at my local pawnshop.

[sighthound]

The gun was priced like a model 8, grandson of WWII Veteran was known to shop owner in small Idaho farming community, they knew it was of foreign manufacture and war trophy and had been used for many years for big game hunting. It has been drilled for scope mount, worm eaten buttplate, small chip at toe, dark bore but no pitting, overall very sound, certainlly not the prize Swedish gun I once had but still an FN. Interestingly, it has the rib and flip rear sight, with this low serial number the plain and rib models must have been produced concurrently. Yes, sometimes a guy falls in and comes out smelling like a rose. Jerry

[imfuncity]

Good fine Mr. Rose-smeller!! You done way-good!

[81police]

Jerry, you struck it rich. I think regardless of condition all FN's are highly collectible to us 8/81 junkies. We'd love to see pictures sometime of #336.

In regards to rifles without barrel ribs, I've documented them by serial number as high as 28XX and as low as 11XX. The very first rifles and the very last rifles, as far as I can tell, had barrel ribs. Just to give you a very vague idea of their frequency, of the 33 FN rifles I have kept track of, only 6 have been w/out barrel ribs.

[imfuncity]

My bad.
Sighthound (Jerry) sent me his FN pics to post, I got discombobulated, set them aside, and ...! Well, here they are - finally.

FN #336

FN 366-1 8x4.jpg (63.92 KiB) Viewed 14554 times

FN 366-2 8x3.jpg (55.54 KiB) Viewed 14552 times

[81police]

Jerry,

the rifle looks in great original shape, what a find!

[mikenelson1]

I noticed the comments about barrel jacket ribs and serial numbers. I have number 15X, which does have the rib. It is configured like the number 336 posted above.

[81police]

Mike,

you wouldn't happen to have pictures of your FN would you? We'd love to see it!

[Roger]

Since I'm new I really don't know where to post this reply,but has any one else noticed the resemblance of the bluing color on FN1900 's to the color on the very early Browning Auto 5 s? I've also noticed a small resemblance on early rem-8 s bluing color to post world war 2 A-5 s bluing color, which is quite distinctive.