FN FNX
Polymer-framed hammer-fired pistol with extended recoil travel.
The FN FNX is a series of polymer-framed, semi-automatic pistols built by FN America in Columbia, South Carolina. FN America is the division of Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal that markets the brand as FNH USA. The FNX debuted in 2009, replacing the earlier FN FNP.
Like many centerfire pistols, the FNX uses a short recoil operating system. Its distinguishing feature is that the barrel and slide travel roughly twice as far as those on some other semi-automatic pistols before the barrel drops and unlocks. This longer travel lets the recoil spring absorb more momentum, reducing the felt recoil. The pistol uses a hammer-fired action rather than a striker-fired one, allowing it to fire in either single-action or double-action mode. Its safety mechanism is based on the M1911 design. The shooter can cock the hammer and engage the safety at the same time for a "cocked and locked" carry. Pushing the safety lever downward also functions as a decocker. To field strip the pistol, lock the slide to the rear, rotate the takedown lever ninety degrees clockwise, release the slide stop, and carefully push the slide forward off the frame. The barrel and recoil spring then separate from the slide.
All FNX models—except some law enforcement versions that are decock-only—come with ambidextrous safety/decocking levers, magazine releases, and slide stop release levers. Every variant also includes a Picatinny rail, tritium night sights, and a loaded chamber indicator on the right side.
The FNX is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.
New pistols ship in a plastic hard case with three magazines and two interchangeable backstraps. Starting in 2012, new models include four interchangeable backstraps: one installed on the handgun and three extra in the case. The backstraps come in two thicknesses and two textures—a cross-hatch pattern matching the grip sides, and horizontal lines matching the front of the grip.
As of early October 2012, the only variants of the FNX 9 and FNX 40 were cosmetic: both were available with a matte black or stainless steel slide.
The FNX 45 launched in early October 2012, offered in Black, Stainless, and Flat Dark Earth (FDE). Its magazines have twelve witness holes numbered from 4 to 15, letting the shooter more accurately gauge remaining rounds.
- Manufacturer
- FN America (FNH USA), a division of Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal
- Place of manufacture
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Introduced
- 2009
- Calibers
- 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP
- Action
- Short recoil operated, hammer fired (single action/double action)
- Safety
- Ambidextrous safety/decocking lever (based on M1911 safety), with decocker function
- Variants
- FNX 9, FNX 40, FNX 45, FNX Tactical
Lore & Background
The FNX was introduced in 2009 as the successor to the FN FNP. It is a short recoil operated pistol, but differs from many other centerfire pistols in that the barrel and slide travel up to twice the distance before the barrel drops and unlocks. This design helps reduce felt recoil by allowing the spring to absorb more momentum. The pistol is hammer fired, enabling single action or double action operation, and its safety mechanism is based on the M1911, allowing a 'cocked and locked' carry mode; the safety lever also acts as a decocker when pushed downward. Field stripping involves locking the slide to the rear, rotating the takedown lever clockwise ninety degrees, and releasing the slide stop to push the slide forward off the frame. All FNX pistols (except some law enforcement decock-only models) include ambidextrous safety/decocking levers, magazine releases, and slide stop release levers, plus a Picatinny rail, tritium night sights, and a loaded chamber indicator on the right side.
Reader's Guide
The FN FNX series represents a refinement of the polymer-framed hammer-fired pistol concept, with its extended recoil travel being a distinctive mechanical feature aimed at reducing felt recoil. Its introduction in 2009 as the successor to the FN FNP marked a continuation of FN America's production in Columbia, South Carolina. The FNX's safety system, derived from the M1911, offers users familiar manual-of-arms options including cocked-and-locked carry. The series expanded with the FNX 45 in October 2012, offering black, stainless, and flat dark earth finishes, and the FNX Tactical shortly after, adding a threaded barrel, suppressor-height sights, and an optics-ready slide. The FNX has seen adoption by law enforcement in the United States. Its design choices—ambidextrous controls, interchangeable backstraps, and multiple caliber options—positioned it as a versatile service and duty pistol, though its legacy is partly overshadowed by later FN models such as the FN 509.
Did You Know?
- The FNX barrel and slide travel up to twice the distance of some other semiautomatic pistols before separating.
- The FNX 45 magazines have 12 witness holes numbered from 4 to 15, while the original FNX 9 has holes marked 5, 10, 15, and 17.
- The FNX Tactical features suppressor-height tritium night sights with a rear yellow and front green dot.
More in Semi-Automatic Pistols, Part 3 1-24
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