FN Baby Browning (.25 ACP pocket pistol)
- Nov 25
- 1 min read
Parameter | Specification |
Cartridge | .25 ACP (6.35×16 mm SR) |
Action | Blow-back, striker-fired, single-action |
Capacity | 6 rounds |
Overall length | ~4 inches |
Height | ~2.75 inches |
Width | ~0.75 inches |
Weight | ~9.7 oz (≈ 275 g) for early model |
Sights | Fixed–blade front/notch rear |
Designer | Dieudonné Saive (for FN) |
Manufacturer | Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (Belgium) |
On Carry & Concealment:
The Baby Browning was explicitly marketed for pocket carry (in a vest pocket or inside a jacket) — its size is its major virtue.
Some accounts say special forces used it as a last-ditch weapon, concealed in wallet-holsters.
The story of the Baby Browning is intertwined with two giants of firearms design: John Moses Browning and Dieudonné Saive.
The Foundation: The FN Model 1905/1906: John M. Browning, the legendary inventor, originally designed the .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as 6.35x16mmSR) cartridge in 1905 for his FN Model 1905 (known as the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket in the US). This pistol was revolutionary, designed to fit literally into a gentleman's vest pocket. The .25 ACP was a centerfire cartridge, offering greater reliability than the rimfire alternatives of the time.
The Evolution: The Baby Browning: Following Browning's death in 1926, FN's chief designer, Dieudonné Saive (who would later perfect the Hi-Power), took the original concept and refined it. Introduced in 1931, the new pistol was even smaller, lighter, and featured a few key changes, notably the removal of the original grip safety and the addition of a more accessible thumb-operated manual safety. Though its official designation was often simply the "Browning .25 Caliber Automatic Pistol," the nickname "Baby Browning" stuck due to its incredibly compact size.
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