History of WWI Primer 056: Belgian FN 1903 Documentary

[@robertbean8116]

Interesting fun factoid (may or may not be true) this is the first pistol owend by his divine holiness the Dali Lama (free Tibet) . He was given it and instructed in its use by an officer of the Tzar by the name of Mannerhime. This would have occurred about 1906. Mannerhime would go on to become a famous Finnish Field Marshall , the Dali lama (same soul new incarnation) is with us still.

[@SebastianSzukalski]

I have no idea why C&R does not have 10X as many subscribers as they do. This channel is amazing, in terms of content, presentation, and production quality.

[@windogendoors7566]

It is possibly the best channel to get accurate, non-biased information. Love it.

[@Candrsenal]

It is long and I talk a lot

[@borkwoof696]

Sebastian Szukalski because most people aren't as interested in military history as they claim to be

[@wierdalien1]

Hagen most people dont claim to care

[@spokanesurvivaltrainingand5797]

intelligent people have longer attention spans.

[@johnclemens5720]

Have a Swedish M 07, converted to 380 ACP, works 100% with 380 ACP ammo, big heavy shoots like a 22LR, extremely accurate, great gun!

[@JackDo-lu8ux]

Seaman Jack Do reporting for R&R Sargent Othias! I'm now a bit more than six months into my service in the Navy. Thanks for keeping the show up! I try to watch your episodes every now and then. Thanks again for all the hard work done to keep this channel afloat. A Real Korean Navy Sailor, Jack.

[@jeronimomurruni]

"John Browning had pushed the limits of the blowback action". I can hear Hi-Point laughing

[@Candrsenal]

they just added mass. slide weight to power this is nuts

[@taofledermaus]

It makes me think, what OTHER machines that are over 100 years old that haven't changed very much in their design that we still use today?

[@Candrsenal]

hats

[@andersbendsen5931]

Sails?

[@baker90338]

Spoons.

[@wierdalien1]

TAOFLEDERMAUS knives

[@trekaddict]

.50 BMG. And the basic design of the Ma Deuce, while not quite there, is close.

[@ToastytheG]

1903 hammerless is by far the coolest gun in my collection. Cadillac of pocket pistols.

[@Z09SS]

The other guns are right behind you. They can hear you!

[@Candrsenal]

dang

[@brandongarcia4681]

They get jealous sometimes!

[@AK_Respecter]

"The length feels great, the narrowness feel amazing." - Othias (2017)

[@LYLEWOLD]

lol

[@TheIndianalain]

Thank you for playing "La Brabançonne", the Belgian anthem during the firing sequence! Excellent video as usual!

[@orangypteco8858]

By the way Mr Marston, this is for you.

[@TheBiggestIron]

Orangy Pteco you completed my day man. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

[@tsycho1619]

Was hoping to find a RDR reference. Had to scroll only 3 seconds. Thanks, fella.

[@stacy3]

Orangy Pteco i came from rd guns

[@mattlf9120]

Shoves the muzzle into his gut.

[@이동연-c6d]

This FN M1903 pistol is legal and popular in Canada because the Colt M1903 is prohibited. That mean is illegal to carry it.

[@Candrsenal]

That e2 law is so weird

[@이동연-c6d]

C&Rsenal I know! It's crazy you know!

[@ryanbrown5905]

I don't know what worse. Having rewatched the entire series in a week or kinda fancying doing it again.

[@RaiderCat12]

> Looks like the Colt 1903 so much that they often get confused, except the pocket hammerless is more famous just because it’s completely American or whatever > Was made in a cartridge that was later forgotten > Evolved into the Tokarev and the Hi-Power, both more famous > Was adopted by just one country and just for a decade or two Yeah, I can see why this gun is so overlooked. Still doesn’t mean this isn’t unfair.

[@deltavee2]

Stick around? Been watching in sequence from the start every night on a royal binge which is not COVID inspired because this is just that good! And I'm retired. Now on to possibly the best looking revolver of all time, the Chamelot-Delvigne. Thank you from the Great White North.

[@jamesneedham5799]

This truly is a fabulous channel, the research and knowledge is probably beyond parallel in circles producing content as accessible as this. Excellent stuff!

[@Candrsenal]

Thank you

[@TheBiggestIron]

One of my favorite handguns of the era, anybody remember it in Red Dead Redemption?

[@aaronsejas6442]

- TheNuttyGunNut - I literally thought it was a 1911 but then I took a look at it, researched it and I got interested in the gun

[@thelegate8636]

- TheNuttyGunNut - That game gave me an obsession with the Krag, the Borchardt C93, and this FN. Recently bought a Krag, so I'm a third of the way there.

[@TheBiggestIron]

Carolus Rex I know exactly how you feel. That game got me deeper into "forgoten weapons" of the era. Watching Cowboys with autoloaders so cool, then knowing how it could have been possible. The death of the West Was a truly interesting time.

[@charlesinglin]

If I recall, in one of John Wayne's later westerns, set in the 1890's, one of the characters has an early semi-auto pistol.

[@charlesinglin]

Found it. "Big Jake." It's supposed to be 1909 and it's a movie prop "Bergmann 1911".

[@jacktheaviator4938]

These first Browning blowback pistols may have worked like a charm, but they are definitely the most awkward looking pocket pistols ever made. That slide extension on the back above the hand is just uncouth.

[@ZGryphon]

I've suspected it for years, and seeing Othais disassemble this one confirmed it for me: the Tokarev is this pistol with a proper locking system added. Ol' Fedor T even kept that infuriatingly overlong recoil spring that wants to jump out of the bottom and get kinked the instant the slide comes forward. :)

[@lookythat2]

The Tok is the marriage of this pistol (FN 1903), tilting barrel locking system, and the cartridge of the C96 Mauser (well, almost). You can almost hear somebody telling T what he'd like in a pistol (oh, and the trigger group/hammer assembly from the Spanish pistols, if memory serves). And the Tok is still a viable pistol, even with its limitations, IMHO.

[@JonManProductions]

I knew the 1895 wasn't going to be next (considering O-san said so last time), nice to see a pistol episode again. Best bedtime stories on a early Tuesday morning.

[@JonManProductions]

I have a feeling though next episode is either a 1911, an MG of somekind, or another odd-ball.

[@evanabrams1873]

You don't actually need to take the bushing out to remove the slide. I have an m/07 and find it much easier to take the slide off then remove the bushing after it no longer has spring tension retaining it.

[@Candrsenal]

True. Old 1911 habits

[@beardannyboy]

Cool to see the evolution of browning pistols. I was looking for the roots of the tokarev tt-33. Thanks for the lead about the toggle link.

[@Jason-c1b3r]

Seeing this episode makes me think Hi Point could have been granted a military contract for WW1 had they been in business

[@aussiebloke609]

I know Mae isn't a fan of the magazine heel release, but it made sense for the time. Generally one was issued a limited number of magazines, so dumping them on the ground to be trampled underfoot wasn't acceptable. The heel release means the mag is either drawn out by hand, or it pops straight into the hand operating the release, so you can drop it into your pocket for later reloading without having to grub around in the mud to find the damn thing first (and probably so there's less chance of damage to the mag from being stepped on before you get around to bending down and picking it up.) I've never had a problem with the heel release (admittedly, it was a 1910 FN32 - but it's the same release system as far as I can tell), but I've always had a very limited number of mags, so I sure didn't want to lose or damage one. These days, it seems they're pretty much disposable, but priorities (and budgets) were rather different back then.

[@FiveStringCommando]

Great video. I am kind of surprised that y'all didn't mention it's smaller American cousin, the Colt 1903/1908 Hammerless in any capacity.

[@Bayan1905]

I had one, was a bringback from somewhere, no import marks and was in some old guy's sock drawer. Mine was made in 1907 and was still in the old 9mm Browning Long. Shot wonderfully, wished I had still kept it.

[@ewhays]

Great video. As for the recoil. Maybe the spring is more of a .380 spring, since it was re-barreled.

[@Candrsenal]

That has been suggested but the spring looked uncut. Will look further into it in the future

[@ludditeneaderthal]

Lol, I actually heard the difference on her first shot, that yippy crack. I remember a Colt pocket in .380 that was similar, though a little higher pitched. Maybe that slide shape and that interrupted lug just resonate nicely for 9s? It really is more the pocket model Colt cad'd up 25% in a couple dimensions, lol. Can hardly wait for your historical perspective moments on the parallel rulers, the trials guns, and the decade of tweaking, tinkering, and improving that turned a very 19th century design into the template of modern military pistol. Shhh, don't mention the model, save the surprise. As ALWAYS (seriously), exemplary episode!!

[@rssvss]

The noise of a 1903 is like fingers on a chalkboard to me. and i think it is well above par for a pistol. i have no idea why either. lol

[@lordDenis16]

Love the new map guys! Great addition! :D

[@Candrsenal]

thanks

[@gunsbeersmemes]

FINALLY ANOTHER VIDEO! Because they were used in rear echelon, any chance we'll see a Krag-Jørgensen video?

[@gunsbeersmemes]

D3faulted1 Ah, cool! Thanks, D3faulted1!

[@Ashcrash82]

I know I'm late to the party, but I actually just picked up a Husqvarna m/07 last week, and have done some digging into these guns a little. I believe the pistols that were imported and barrel sleeved to .380 also had their recoil springs shortened slightly. If the one Mae shot simply had its barrel replaced with a NOS 9x20, it may have had the weaker recoil spring in it, which she noted seemed a little weak.

[@insertjjs]

Love the series. I feel depressed every other Tuesday because I know that there isn't a new episode and thus that Tuesday isn't as good. I can't wait for my c&r tshirts.

[@Candrsenal]

Just load up on markisms

[@tangero3462]

I first read that as marxisms and was really confused

[@jimvandemoter6961]

Mark has been a great addition to this channel. He's truly an old school craftsman. He does incredible work, and is a lot of fun to watch. A real character in the best way.

[@MadBaronFlys]

Was Mae even talking? I could not keep my eyes off that M1907 carbine just above her head... *drools...* A holy grail in our own time.

[@NeptuneBluez]

Johnny B is the man! Will you do a review of the FN GP 35 someday? I do have a feeling that a 1911 episode is on its way. Yeah! Mae and Othais, great work as usual. Keep'em coming.

[@LifeStyle-uh1ns]

Strong recoil and desire to tighten up recoil spring? Maybe the recoil spring weakened a bit over the century?

[@Hopolit1]

I love it, where can I buy one? Husqvarna made around 94000 of those babies from 1917-1940.

[@swagner58]

May's comments about the proportions between the grip and the slide confirmed what I was thinking when was looking at it earlier in the video. I hate to say it, it looks almost like a Hi-Point (if not as extreme). I wonder what the weight of the slide is compared to a pistol of similar power with a locking breech, that's how Hi-Point gets away with straight blow-back 9mm and 45s, having that mammoth zinc slide.

[@UnkyNik]

I've got an original Swedish contract example ser.9666, which also has a rack no. of 'A1 No.266'. Meaning the contract started with ser.9401. I'm with you guys in that it is my fave WWI pistol and I love taking it to the range. It also has Swedish army markings on the back of the slide which I need your help in deciphering: H-C. C.J. under the Swedish crown. If you know what these initials stand for, I will be forever in your debt. Keep up the great work!

[@Ashcrash82]

Initials of the inspectors for the Swedish military. www.gotavapen.se/gota/m07/pist07_3.htm is a great resource for these.

[@feldweible]

Looks an awful lot like the Tokarev T33. Which I love.

[@deepbludreams]

Considering the TT33 is basicly a Colt 1903 that's mixed with a 1911, that'd be why the TT looks so familer.

[@MEGALODONGERS]

Another thing to note is that the German Dreyse M1907 was designed heavily after JMB's FN M1900. Many firearm manufacturers loved JMB's designs so much that they really couldn't wait for the patents to expire, if not actually try to dodge them (in the case of the Dreyse pistol).

[@slowpokebr549]

Is that Mae singing at 18:00 ?

[@snowwhite7677]

It's hard to tell which was J Browning better at? Business or Gun Design? Imagine how difficult International Business was back then, and keeping these Patents straight, and keeping these Corporations from constantly suing each other...

[@andrewmoore7022]

Well with Browning designs there was a pretty clear cut deal on who would sell them and where.

[@mefirst5427]

You should do a side by side review of the Tokarev and FN 1903

[@JakeBrownx]

Most beautiful handgun of all time in my opinion

[@russellthompson8414]

If you ever happen to be in the area, Ogden Utah has a Browning museum at the union station. Not exactly research level stuff, but a nice little museum.

[@haboob308]

Uploaded on my birthday! It was more or less the worst day of my life, then this popped up and all was put to right!

[@Candrsenal]

happy birthday

[@mofal1703]

I got 10 service stars with this gun in Battlefeild 1 so I know it as good as Othius lol

[@nicholasford4820]

Haven't been in my gun safe in a bit, but I have an Ottoman 1903 and I swear the markings are different than shown here. Is there more than one variation on that?

[@Candrsenal]

You want ne to research becore you confirm?

[@nicholasford4820]

C&Rsenal Course not, was just posting from work. Pulled mine out and it's definitely different. The marking on the right of the slide is the same but has a 4 digit number to its left. The top of the slide is totally different, a tughra with no number.

[@nicholasford4820]

Don't think I can post pictures here but could send them via email or Facebook if you're interested.

[@pauldwigans4193]

@@Candrsenal I bought the 9mm barrel and the ammo to match. Is there special tooling to replace the .380 barrel? I can't get the gun to function when I switched out the 380 barrel for the original 9mm barrel.

[@d.mangham5204]

@@pauldwigans4193, Old post I know, but in case you've still got it & the issue remains...mine was a simple swap-out of barrel and recoil spring. The .380 barrel just has a bushing installed into an original 9mm barrel's chamber to convert it, and MILSURP imports just snipped a few coils off the original recoil spring. Message me if you still need more info, but in any case I'd be interested to know what malfunctions you were experiencing.

[@jefffradsham2297]

It is really impressive to see how much of Browning's technology is still in use today! and you know how hard the world tried to do better.

[@amateurshooter927]

Just got home from second shift, great timing guys! Thanks for the upload!

[@timblack6422]

Your research is second to none

[@MechanizedFantasy]

Mmmm, midnight gun history video. Delightful!

[@00jeepxj61]

i have beer, pizza, othias and mae... tis a good night!

[@CommunistRaccoonDog]

Possibly one of my favorite pistols. Nice job as always guys.

[@theoldenfield4106]

And I thought the Winchester '95 was next! Still, good to see Johnny B's legacy in this pistol development.

[@VinnyS9143101982]

I'm on episode 31. There are a few episodes after 31 that I've seen but I'm trying to go down the list. See yo guys on here in maybe a week

[@Candrsenal]

godspeed

[@VinnyS9143101982]

I actually didn't see you until you appeared on the Great War. But I'm amazed at how much content you have. One person you can talk to about Mil Surps is Eric from IraqVeteran8888. He has probably the finest privately owned Mil Surp collection in the country.

[@joemitchell877]

WELL DONE ; AS ALWAYS ..! HUGE FAN & ADMIRE JOHN M BROWNING .. I HAD NICKEL PLATED 1903 32 ACP.. EXCELLENT " pocket carry / purse Gun

[@deepbludreams]

Does this mean the messiah born in the year of our lord 1911 will be a coming episode?

[@Isildun9]

keith moore I think he's referring to the Colt-Browning 1911 as the Messiah. Ian is still Gun Jesus, Hallowed be His Name.

[@yoshiobermeyer2867]

Just another great episode, thanx guys!!

[@codypanek]

That shorty Mosin behind Mae at 27:50... can't wait for that thing to spit flame :D

[@jamesgillis5429]

In 20 years I expect your children to do a similar type of series

[@thurin84]

great episode! i always enjoy the chemistry. its like tales of the gun with your goofy gun friends.

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

Fun fact: in the 1981 novel License Renewed, this gun is the pistol of choice of James Bond when his Walther ppk was banned by MI6

[@therideneverends1697]

Mea (or Mai not sure how to spell it) has that early 1900s shooting stance nailed!

[@Mikkemeister]

My club got a p/07 (Husqvarna) that I have been messing a bit with. At first it had a tendency to fire one shot then the trigger got suck. Then it started going full auto because the firing pin got stuck. After a total disassembly, cleaning and relubing the second problem was gone,no more burrps thankfully, but the first problem still happened occasionally. Btw, it's a real bitch to disassemble the firing mechanism, and worse to reassemble! Another member could bring it to a military gunsmith to take a look at it, and after that it worked for about a magazine. :( I did make another try to figure it out, but I think it's down to needing new springs an possibly other parts. It seems like the hammer gets stuck, probably to over travel in recoil. It works just fine when cycled by hand, but when firing the hammer gets stuck.

[@Mikkemeister]

Apart from the problems I kind of like it. Despite its size it feels sleek and smooth. Trigger isn't great but not disastrous, sights are small but not hopeless. Recoil is noticeable but not painful. And when it runs away from you it's really not fun.

[@Jesses001]

A 110gr projectile traveling at 1100fps is very respectable. That is heavier and faster then a 9mm Makarov. I am impressed Browning was able to get that much power into a simple blow back that was not something obnoxiously big and heavy. Just remember, the Hi-Point pistols are that ugly and bulky because they are simple blow back and need that mass. I am not all that surprised that it is such and advanced pistol for the time though. I mean, Browning. If browning designed it, most likely it is highly advanced.

[@Jarastlad]

Release just in time for the Belgians ! Thanks for the great video, as usual, there's a lot I learnt. If only it was easier to get your hands on firearms here ...

[@maxheadspace2975]

Excellent work as always. Are you still posting videos to Full 30?

[@Candrsenal]

Nope. They can't seem to handle larger videos and uploading became a HUGE problem.

[@stephen9869]

Dammit. Why did I watch that TFB TV thing on this gun only yesterday......well at least I only saw the first few minutes.

[@ayarzeev8237]

How many people stay up to midnight to see what the next gun will be?

[@nindger4270]

Beautiful thing to live in Europe in this instance, I get up in the morning and then I have a new C&R episode to watch. :D

[@arno838]

haha i feel you

[@jimvandemoter6961]

I'm at my reloading bench, decapping and resizing a couple hundred rounds of brass and watching a new C&Rsenal video. It's a good day. ;D

[@zombiedestoryer8981]

i was but i had a long day

[@CommunistRaccoonDog]

Stayed up till 3:00 am for the new vid

[@stevejew6345]

Ahh something to listen to while at work

[@kirkmooneyham]

Watching this video, I have only one question: where do you guys get that old ammo? Does some company still make short runs of it, or do you have to use existing brass in some other longer caliber and trim it before handloading?

[@danielkorladis7869]

hand loads IIRC

[@d.mangham5204]

Some Swedish MILSURP ammo still bounces around (Target Sports has it in-stock 26 SEP 2024), plus Norma white box, and Prvi Partizan (PPU) still manufactures it. If you reload, just buy PPU 9mmBL brass or trim .38 Super Auto cases to length and use any 100-130g cast or jacketed projectile suitable for .38 SPL, .380 ACP, or 9mm Luger. My favorite is a Hornady XTPHP 110g .357", loaded to about 1100 fps to duplicate the originally-adopted Swedish Army load. Shoots straight and hits hard, totally reliable.

[@horacegentleman3296]

It's a lot easier to unlock the barrel from the frame first when taking it down.

[@herrcobblermachen]

@4:01 reminds me a lot of the potato digger. would have been wild to see that thing shoot @15:48 Astra 400 takedown flashbacks

[@chefemilj]

Thanks for the history

[@patrickl7229]

So 1903 Pocket Hammerless is next?

[@pirate5019]

I guess you can say, this video was pretty, "FN" awesome!

[@rons511]

I happen to have a smaller / shorter slide version that was shot only seven times by an old timer who gifted it to me .

[@GinSoakedBoy]

Way late to the party. Love that piece. Great vid as usual.

[@thendnjedi1388]

I really love this pistol, I love the pocket model colt made but it’s too small for me this one seems it will fit my hand better if I only I had a million bucks or born where this gun was the new thing.

[@rickcreel9557]

You and Mae rock

[@flavortown3781]

that old bright blue is so pretty

[@snipersl270]

Given how the pistol felt to shoot and run the slide, what are the chances they put in a 380 appropriate mainspring when they changed the barrel from 9mm long?

[@viktordtz2080]

The national belgian anthem on old record during fire test, nice idea ;)...

[@deanokken8960]

Please do an episode on the RSC-17!

[@GIR9595]

Sherlock Holmes seeing as there's one literally right behind him I'm guessing they'll get to it

[@Redtails_gaming]

I don't understand 30% of the stuff you say about guns, but what I do understand is that it's quality 😁

[@Candrsenal]

Do me a solid and keep a list. Send it over after each episode and maybe I can craft some intros

[@DissectingTitanic]

C&Rsenal As a gun newbie, it would be incredibly helpful if you could just make a quick video going over some gun terms and explaining how they work.

[@maciejpociecha6357]

C&Rsenal definitely need an episode on ammo... By this stage of the series, terms like headspace, "necking down," etc etc, are pretty clear, but someone jumping in might have bits go over their head; for a part of your audience, you are the first introduction to firearms. Lot of the stuff Americans take for granted, e.g. Buckshot vs birdshit, in pistol ammo bigger number (usually) = bigger round vs reverse in shotgun ammo, might not be obvious to people who came to the series via an interest in history. (On a personal note, I had no idea I was interested in firearms history, till I stumbled on yours and Ian's channels. So, thanks heaps... much appreciated.) A primer primer episode on ammunition would be awesome, especially if you could line up the different types next to each other, in and out of their cases. (Personally, I'm really curious about what the deal was with semi-smokeless ammo; is it it's own thing, or are they processing black powder differently so it burns more fully? What different types were there? I know it was a brief period, but the catchup efforts just fascinate me.)

[@Vehrec]

'The Anatomy of Guns', for those on more of the historical side of things, who might know what a trigger and a slide are, but more detailed components are the realm of engineering wizardry?

[@DissectingTitanic]

That would be excellent, Vehrec. I get so confused when he explains the different type of cartridges, all the different components connected to the trigger and what not, actions, etc. It would be so helpful Othias if you made a little guide for us rookies and explained the terms and such.

[@surtofgods8265]

I know this is years late but, when discussing where the guns could be marketed. When saying "Britain" does that include British territories or just the isles?

[@RonJohn63]

9:52 Suede?

[@jumrobe]

I see the visible rifles on the wall behind Othias keep changing. I see that 1895 Winchester and RSC 1917.

[@Mildcat743]

Squint and its a Tokarev

[@tangero3462]

The missing link? You mean missing _swinging_ link? *buhdum tiss* I'll show myself out

[@FirstnameLastname-do1px]

I've never clicked a video so fast in my life...

[@newhuskytwenty]

Pushing the limits of a blowback action with that caliber, less powerful than the 9 mm Luger? What about the Astra 400 and its 9 mm Largo (9 x 23 mm)

[@tombogan03884]

One reason for it's obsurity may be the caliber that isn't used by anything else. Even the conversion to .380 would have been little help since .32 was the big name then, .380 didn't come into it's own till later.

[@nickwilson1476]

Excellent animation!!

[@ShogunMongol]

WHY AT 12?!?!

[@ВячеславСкопюк]

8 AM here

[@Candrsenal]

Tuesday

[@piatpotatopeon8305]

I spilt some water while doing the dishes during this episode.

[@69shovlhed89]

i bought a Husqvarna that had a damaged slide. a supplier sent me a nickel plated slide from an FN 1903, and i was able to fit the slide to the frame, but I'm trying to figure out when the slide was made. it has 39044 stamped inside it. the frame is mid 1920's; I seems the Husqvarnas are cheap but the FNs are rarer and people want a lot more for them.

[@MCG55555]

Is this FN 1903 day? Mike at TFB TV released a video on this too.

[@Zaaphod]

Do they ship those shirts in Europe? I want one sooo bad!

[@Candrsenal]

yes

[@SonOfTheDawn515]

My 1910 needs that same force on its grip safety. WW2 bring back. Given to me by friend of the family. Dual kanji marked.