FN M1905

Lore & Background

The FN Model 1905/1906 is a downsized version of the FN Model 1903, with the return spring beneath the barrel and a spring-loaded striker inside the breechblock replacing the hammer. Early production pistols (approximately 100,000 units) had no manual safety; later examples added a manual catch plus grip and magazine safeties, marketed as the 'Triple Safety Model'. The pistol was produced with either a blued or nickel-plated finish, the latter being prized among collectors.

The design is virtually identical to the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket, which was based on the same John Browning prototype. This was the only case in which both FN and Colt put the same design into production without significant modification. The FN Model 1906 also inspired FN's later Baby Browning design, a nickname that eventually became an official designation for a different Browning design.

Numerous copies were produced internationally, including the Chilean F.M.G. (or F.M.E.), the Czechoslovak Duo (also sold as Ideal, Jaga, and Singer), French models such as the Audax and MAB Model A, German copies like the Bergmann Taschenpistole and Dreyse 6.35mm Model 1907, Italian Galesi models, and a wide array of Spanish copies including the Astra 1924, Astra 200, Alkar, and many others.

Reader's Guide

The FN Model 1905/1906 holds a significant place in firearms history as the design that established the pocket automatic pistol as a viable and popular category. Its compact size, reliable operation, and the .25 ACP cartridge made it suitable for concealed carry, and its commercial success prompted decades of imitation. The fact that both FN and Colt produced essentially identical versions of Browning's prototype—the only such instance in their history—underscores the design's inherent quality and market appeal.

The pistol's influence extended through numerous unlicensed copies, particularly from Spanish manufacturers in Eibar, who produced a vast array of variants for European and North American markets. These copies ranged from close clones to modified versions with different safety arrangements, grip sizes, and markings. The design also served as the foundation for FN's own Baby Browning, which modernized the concept by removing the grip safety. Production of the original model continued until 1959, a remarkable 53-year run that testifies to its enduring utility and popularity.

Did You Know?

• The design is virtually identical to the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket, the only case where both FN and Colt put the same Browning design into production without significant modification.
• Spanish gunmakers in the Eibar region produced a large variety of unlicensed copies of this pistol.