FN Forty-Nine
A striker-fired DAO pistol with repeat-strike capability for law enforcement.
The FN Forty-Nine (also known as the FN 49) is a recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistol originally designed by FN Herstal in Belgium and built in the United States. Its name combines the two calibers it fires—.40 S&W and 9×19mm Parabellum—while also echoing the company’s initials. Introduced in 2000, the pistol was aimed at law enforcement and military buyers, but it never achieved strong commercial sales. By early 2005 it had been discontinued, having last appeared on FN’s website in late 2004. In 2003 it led to the more popular FN FNP.
The Forty-Nine uses a striker-fired system with FN’s “Repeatable Secure Striker” design, which functions as a double-action only (DAO) trigger. This means the trigger pull both cocks and releases the striker for each shot, allowing the user to re-strike a misfired cartridge by pulling the trigger again. The trigger pull is estimated at 10 pounds—heavy but reportedly consistent. The pistol has no external manual safety. Its double-stack detachable magazine holds 16 rounds in 9mm or 14 rounds in .40 S&W, with 10-round versions also available for both calibers. The frame is polymer, the slide is stainless steel, and an accessory rail under the barrel allows quick mounting of lights or laser modules. The Forty-Nine is considered easy to field strip and one of the more user-friendly pistols of its time.
- Manufacturer
- FN Herstal (developed in Belgium, manufactured in the United States)
- Introduced
- 2000
- Discontinued
- early 2005 (last appeared on company website in late 2004)
- Calibers
- .40 S&W, 9×19mm Parabellum
- Magazine capacity
- 16 rounds (9mm), 14 rounds (.40 S&W); 10-round magazines available for each caliber
- Trigger type
- Double-action only (DAO) striker-fired with Repeatable Secure Striker mechanism
- Trigger pull
- Approximately 10 lb
Lore & Background
The FN Forty-Nine was introduced in 2000 as a modern semi-automatic pistol intended for law-enforcement and military markets. It was developed by FN Herstal and manufactured in the United States. The pistol's name simultaneously references its two chamberings—.40 S&W (forty caliber) and 9×19mm Parabellum—and the manufacturer's initials (FN). Despite its design goals, the Forty-Nine did not achieve expected commercial success and was apparently discontinued in early 2005, having last appeared on the company's website in late 2004. In 2003, it gave rise to the more attractive FN FNP.
Reader's Guide
The FN Forty-Nine occupies a brief but notable place in FN Herstal's pistol lineage. It was an early attempt at a modern polymer-framed, striker-fired service pistol with a double-action only trigger, a configuration that was less common at the time. The Repeatable Secure Striker mechanism allowed the user to re-strike a misfired cartridge simply by pulling the trigger again, a feature valued in law enforcement and military contexts. The pistol's heavy but consistent 10 lb trigger pull was a trade-off for this capability. Its double-stacked magazine offered substantial capacity—16 rounds in 9mm and 14 in .40 S&W—and an accessory rail allowed mounting of lasers and flashlights. The Forty-Nine was considered easy to field strip and user-friendly for its era. However, its commercial failure led to its discontinuation after only a few years, and it was succeeded by the FN FNP in 2003. Today, the FN Forty-Nine is a relatively obscure model, remembered primarily for its innovative striker mechanism and as a precursor to later FN pistol designs.
Did You Know?
- The FN Forty-Nine's name reflects both its two chamberings (.40 S&W and 9×19mm) and the manufacturer's initials (FN).
- It uses a 'Repeatable Secure Striker' mechanism that allows re-striking a misfired cartridge by pulling the trigger again.
- The pistol was discontinued in early 2005, having last appeared on the company website in late 2004.
- In 2003, the Forty-Nine gave rise to the more attractive FN FNP.
More in Semi-Automatic Pistols, Part 3 1-24
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