Thread: Fabrique Nationale, Herstal, Belgium...

I've been posting bits and bobs of my EU trip in the Here and Now thread, but felt my day here in proper gun-making country, Liege, warranted a section of its own. Since getting here this morning, I've tried to visit the liège musée d armes, but it was closed today, just my luck, but it's open in the morning, according to the lady running the gun shop next door. So I cruised down the road the Browning International, in Herstal, where I never made it past the staunch receptionist with a severe hairdo and a stern expression. In response to my "Hi, I'm a visitor from New Zealand with a small collection of FN Brownings and wondered if I could have a look around, maybe grab a few photos please?", said "No, it is absolutely forbidden." "Oh, of course, how about the old FN Factory, could I get a picture taken of me outside the gates, because they have a certain historical significance?". "Fabrique Nationale? No you cannot."....

Well I wasn't going to leave it at that. So I cruised the back streets of Herstal and managed to find Rue John Moses Browning, obviously named after the great man himself...


Then I found the arse end of the factory, and sneaked a shot out the back of the car of the piles of barrel steel, no shortage of that here...



Here's a shot of the matriarch's castle, I got before I went in and introduced myself...


And finally, after prepping the iPhone, I managed a sneak drive-by video of the factory entrance. The wrought iron pillars on either side of the gates have F and N in white on them.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VOdN_xQ5Mu0

Ray.