At the beginning of WW2 the French government was procuring handguns from some of their local factories to offset the shortages in the Military supply. The Company of Manufacture d’Armes des Pyrennes Francaises (MAPF) was supplying the Unique Model 17 (M17), which was a copy of the Ruby type pistol that the French had bought from Spain during the handgun shortages of WW1.
The original version of the Unique M17 carried a three-line legend that included the factory name and factory address. The later part of the French military contract consisted of only a one-line legend that stated “7.65 COURT 9 COUPS “UNIQUE”.
When the Germans took control of the MAPF factory in 1940 there was no doubt French contract pistol parts still in inventory. We are unsure when German production began at the factory. It may have started soon after the occupation or it could have started in response to pistol losses that occurred during the invasion of Russia.
It appears that the Germans started their Unique M17 serial number range at 21000 as no examples below that serial have been recorded. This may be a result of dropping the first digit (4) of the French pistols which were near 420000. The first examples to come out of the factory were made up of captured French contract parts. They still carry the French single line legend and are marked under the serial number with Waffenamt WaA251. These pistols will still have the French style safety lever and the early ones will carry the “bullseye” grips. For now, these must be considered a scarce variation as only three are reported.
In Jan’s Axis Pistols, on page 96 is his serial number 21121, which is the earliest Nazi M17 reported. The one below is serial number 21413. There is also one reported in the 247XX range. It may never be known exactly how many of this variation were assembled. If we look at those reported, we can see that there were very few. Since there are some of the standard Nazi two line legend examples before serial number 247XX there must exist some overlap of the variations. It is probably safe to say 3000 or less of these Nazi single line legend pistols were made. This would possibly make this variation as scarce as the Nazi occupation Unique 16 pistols.
For further information on the Unique pistols, please see Jan’s Axis Pistols and the new French Service Handguns 1858-2004 by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon.
PS: We are still looking for any Unique pistol serial numbers! Any models! Please contact me with a short description of markings and the complete serial number...tell your friends.
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u.jpg
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Download Attachment: u1.jpg
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Download Attachment: u2.jpg
94.59 KB
The original version of the Unique M17 carried a three-line legend that included the factory name and factory address. The later part of the French military contract consisted of only a one-line legend that stated “7.65 COURT 9 COUPS “UNIQUE”.
When the Germans took control of the MAPF factory in 1940 there was no doubt French contract pistol parts still in inventory. We are unsure when German production began at the factory. It may have started soon after the occupation or it could have started in response to pistol losses that occurred during the invasion of Russia.
It appears that the Germans started their Unique M17 serial number range at 21000 as no examples below that serial have been recorded. This may be a result of dropping the first digit (4) of the French pistols which were near 420000. The first examples to come out of the factory were made up of captured French contract parts. They still carry the French single line legend and are marked under the serial number with Waffenamt WaA251. These pistols will still have the French style safety lever and the early ones will carry the “bullseye” grips. For now, these must be considered a scarce variation as only three are reported.
In Jan’s Axis Pistols, on page 96 is his serial number 21121, which is the earliest Nazi M17 reported. The one below is serial number 21413. There is also one reported in the 247XX range. It may never be known exactly how many of this variation were assembled. If we look at those reported, we can see that there were very few. Since there are some of the standard Nazi two line legend examples before serial number 247XX there must exist some overlap of the variations. It is probably safe to say 3000 or less of these Nazi single line legend pistols were made. This would possibly make this variation as scarce as the Nazi occupation Unique 16 pistols.
For further information on the Unique pistols, please see Jan’s Axis Pistols and the new French Service Handguns 1858-2004 by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon.
PS: We are still looking for any Unique pistol serial numbers! Any models! Please contact me with a short description of markings and the complete serial number...tell your friends.
Download Attachment:
u.jpg77.92 KB
Download Attachment:
u1.jpg85.39 KB
Download Attachment:
u2.jpg94.59 KB
UniqueR.JPG
UniqueL.JPG
UniqueMag2.JPG
UniqueBbl2.JPG
