The FN Forty-Nine (also FN 49) is a recoil operated,

locked breech Locked breech is the design of a breech-reloading firearm's action. This is important in understanding how a self-reloading firearm works. In the simplest terms, the locked breech is one way to slow down the opening of the breech of a self-reloa ...

semi-automatic pistol A semi-automatic pistol (also called a self-loading pistol, autopistol, or autoloading pistol) is a repeating firearm, repeating handgun that automatically ejects and loads cartridge (firearms), cartridges in its chamber (firearms), chamber afte ...

developed by the Belgian company

FN Herstal , trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale, or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium, and former vehicle manufacturer. It was the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe . FN ...

, and manufactured in the United States. The name of the pistol reflects its two chamberings, .40 S&W (''forty'' caliber) and

9×19mm Parabellum The 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO or simply 9mm) is a Rim (firearms)#Rimless, rimless, Centerfire ammunition, centerfire, tapered cartridge (firearms), firearms cartridge. Originally designed by Austrian firearm designer ...

, while also matching the manufacturer's initials (FN).

Overview

The FN Forty-Nine was designed to be a modern semi-automatic pistol with modern pistol chambering, intended for

law-enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...

and military markets. Introduced in 2000, the 49 pistol was apparently discontinued in early 2005, having last appeared on the company's website in late 2004. The Forty Nine did not meet the expected commercial success, and in 2003 gave rise to the more attractive FN FNP.

Design

The 49 is

striker-fired A firing pin or striker is a part of the firing mechanism of a firearm that impacts the primer in the base of a cartridge and causes it to fire. In firearms terminology, a striker is a particular type of firing pin where a compressed sprin ...

and uses FN's "Repeatable Secure Striker" mechanism. This means that unlike many other striker-fired pistols, the Forty-Nine operates on a

double-action Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. * Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. There is no single-action ...

only (DAO) trigger mechanism, meaning that the hammer is cocked by the trigger pull before every shot. This allows the user to re-strike a misfired cartridge simply by pulling the trigger again. The trigger pull is est. 10lb which, while heavy, is reportedly very consistent.Leroy Thompson, "Combat Handguns" p.64 The double-stacked detachable

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

holds sixteen rounds in

9mm This is a list of firearm cartridges that have bullets in the to caliber In guns, particularly firearms, but not #As a measurement of length, artillery, where a different definition may apply, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviate ...

caliber and fourteen in .40 S&W; 10-round magazines are also available for each caliber. There is no external (manual)

safety Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings The word 'safety' entered the English language in the 1 ...

. The frame is constructed of polymer and the slide of stainless steel. An accessory rail under the barrel allows for quick and easy mounting of laser aiming modules and flashlights. FN Forty-Nine is considered easy to field strip and one of the more user-friendly pistols of its era.

Notes

References

{{FN Herstal firearms 9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols .40 S&W semi-automatic pistols Forty-Nine Semi-automatic pistols of Belgium Semi-automatic pistols of the United States Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2000