FN FNS
semi-automatic pistol

The FN FNS pistol is a series of striker-fired semi-automatic, polymer-framed pistols manufactured in Fredericksburg, Virginia, by FN America, a division of Fabrique Nationale Herstal.
Design
The FNS pistol is based on the FN FNX.
The FNS has similar ergonomics to the FNX but introduces a double-action, striker-fired functionality.
The FNS series of the pistols all include ambidextrous magazine releases, and slide stop release levers.
Safety
The FNS has four standard safety features:
A trigger safety, similar to that seen on a Glock, which prevents the weapon from discharging without pressure on the trigger.
A firing pin safety which prevents the striker from hitting the primer without the trigger being pulled.
A drop safety which prevents the sear from rotating to release the striker unless the trigger is pulled.
An out-of-battery safety which prevents the sear from releasing the striker if the slide is not fully forward.
As a fifth safety feature, the FNS pistols can also have an optional manual safety.
Operation
Like other FN pistols, the FNS is a short-recoil-operated pistol. It is a pre-set striker fired semi-automatic pistol, meaning the trigger system is of the hammerless short double-action-only type.
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This entry incorporates text from “FN FNS” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.