With interest in the 5.7x28mm round and firearms chambered in it increasing seemingly every year, we thought we’d take another look at where it all started, the FN America Five-seveN pistol. Developed in the late 1990s to accompany FN’s space-gun P90 and semi-automatic PS90, the Five-seveN offered 20 round capacity at a time when 13 to 15 rounds was the norm. Scarcity of ammunition and price are arguably the biggest reason the Five-seveN never really took off, but in the past five years we’ve seen an explosion in firearms chambered in 5.7 mm, which has ignited interest in the origin-of-species from FN.

The modern Five-seveN is a tad on the larger side for a concealed-carry pistol. Overall length is 8.2 inches, with a 4.8-inch barrel. Height is 5.7 inches, width is 1.4 inches and weight without a magazine inserted is 21 ounces. The dimensions put the Five-seveN about equal with a Government model 1911; however, the weight is a completely different story—the Five-seveN is the same weight as a Glock G19. Which is more important for concealed carry? That’s pretty much up to the individual; many people can and do carry full-size 1911s concealed, so it’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility.

Newer to the Five-seveN line is the Mk3, which include an optics-ready version, the MRD. Unlike the FN 509 series that offers a multitude of optic fits using spacers and shims, the Five-seveN has two polymer plates that adapt the pistol’s cut for the RMR and DeltaPoint Pro footprint, while the Burris Fastfire is a direct-attach option. Since it’s cut for powered optics, suppressor-height sights are included, so most red-dot sights should allow a lower-third co-witness for those interested in redundant systems. The Five-seveN is hammer-fired, comes with a manual safety and has texturing designed to mimic that of the FN 509.