Fabrique Nationale Five-seveN

Fabrique Nationale Five Seven Stories

The Fabrique Nationale FN Five-seveN is a self-loading, semi-automatic pistol for the military, security and civilian markets. The system claims to be able to neutralize the protection of Kevlar armor that enemies or criminals might come into contact with. This is partly because the pistol uses FN's unique 5.7mm cartridge (hence the pistol's name) and can accommodate various magazine counts and attachable accessories (including tactical lights and silencers).

The 5.7mm high velocity cartridge has excellent penetration and range.

What makes the 57 unique in the pistol arena is that it uses a 5.7x28mm cartridge. The cartridge was designed and developed by Fabrique Nationale during the design and development of the FN 57 pistol and the FN P90 submachine gun - both sharing the same cartridge type.

The new cartridge could serve their guns well by allowing for a higher ammo count (due to its lighter weight) and less recoil (which would theoretically improve the operator's accuracy). In its original form in the 1980s, the cartridge was known as the SS90, but improvements in its design led to the new designation SS190 in 1994. The military SS190 looks heavier and shorter than its predecessor and is designed to be used against Kevlar-based protection. Despite the obvious changes to the SS190, this 5.7x28mm cartridge is still half the weight of the standard 9x19 Parabellum type popular on other pistols.

It should be noted that the 5.7mm cartridge is longer than a typical pistol cartridge, resulting in a wider magazine and pistol grip - although it is said to still feel comfortable in the hand.

The FN 57 works by delayed recoil and is fed from a detachable magazine with 10, 20 or 30 rounds. A 20-round magazine is standard, while a 10-round magazine is offered where larger-capacity magazines are not legal.

The 30-round magazine is recognizable when inserted into the 5-7N because it extends nearly 2 inches from the bottom of the pistol grip. The pistol grip also alerts the operator to the amount of ammunition remaining by using four viewing holes. The pistol itself is relatively light at 4.4 lbs and features adjustable and fixed sights during production - a square notch in the rear and a vertical front post.

Muzzle velocity is listed as 2,133 feet per second and varies by ammunition type. The valid range is up to 55 yards (although there are variables). The 57 can be disassembled in the field into four main components, including bolts, eyelets, grips and magazines.

The structure is mostly polymer, but the polymer-covered steel slides are a distinguishing feature.

Five-sevenN is sold in at least four different forms, the first three models are no longer available. The original model became a basic five-seven with just a double-action trigger. There is no manual safety lock built into the design (this is controlled by a trigger action on the firing pin) and the sight is fixed. The Five Seven Tactical is based on the original model, but with a single-action trigger and manual safety of the dexterous nature. The third production model was the Five Seven IOM ("Individual Officer Model"), which became the first civilian market model.

The M1913 accessory rail was also introduced, along with an adjustable rear sight. A magazine safety system is incorporated into the design, allowing firing only when a magazine is installed in the pistol. Starting in 2005, the IOM model was replaced by the USG model.

The current production model of the FN 57 is the 57 USG ("United States Government"). The trigger guard has been revised and fitted with a larger magazine release. The grip patterns are noticeably different. As of 2009, the USG version used fixed sights.

As of this writing, FN 57 operators include those from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Libya, Mexico and Peru, Poland, Singapore and the United States of America. For the United States, one of the security elements that use the unique FN Five Seven is the U.S.

Secret Service.

Five Seven is the target of several armament issues closely related to the capabilities of weapons and their special ammunition. Attempts to regulate availability in the United States have largely failed.

U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hassan reportedly used an FN 57 during a rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 13 people (one of them pregnant) and injuring 30 others.

The production of Five-sevenN started in 1998 under the brand name FN Herstal.

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