Help With Info on a Unique 22 Cal L.R.

[brandoncra]

My father has a "Unique(Brand Name)" Cal 22 L.R. Semi Automatic Pistol. The Serial Number is 4769XX. Its says Made in France on the top of the barrel. Fixed Sights. On one side of the gun it reads "Manufacture D'Armes DES pypenies hendaye(I think that is what it reads)? I believe it has a 9 round clip. Seems to be a blue finish. Could someone please give us the history behind this gun, its estimated value and if this is a widely owned handgun.
Thanks,

 

[SDC]

Unique made a WHOLE BUNCH of assorted 22 pistols; do you have a barrel length?

 

[Jim K]

Manufacture d'Armes des Pyrenees - MAP - was a private company, not a French government establishment.

Those guns were imported back around 1950 and were also sold by Sears as their Model 51. They are good guns and well made with two exceptions. The first is that they should not be dry fired. The firing pin is made so that a small amount of dry firing won't hurt, but any extended dry firing will damage the chamber edge.

The second and really big problem is the grips. Most of them were made out of a kind of gold brown plastic that looked great, but shrinks over time. Today most of those grips are distorted and useless, and I know of no source of replacements.

The company moved to Patin, France, then to Erding, Germany. AFAIK they are still in business, making high quality target rifles, but they have no parts or support for those pistols.
In good shape, with good grips, those guns usually bring around $200-250.

Jim

 

[brandoncra]

I believe the barrel length is approx 3".

 

[brandoncra]

Jim

Thanks for the info. You said Model 51. After re-looking at the gun, I did notice a "52" stamped on the gun, and the barrel is approximately 3". Does that change anything you said above?
Thanks so much for the info

 

[Jim K]

Nope, my goof. The gun was also called the Model 51, but the ones imported here were marked 52. I should have looked at mine before writing that reply. If seeking parts, use the Model 52 designation.

Jim

 

[gyvel]

The second and really big problem is the grips. Most of them were made out of a kind of gold brown plastic that looked great, but shrinks over time. Today most of those grips are distorted and useless, and I know of no source of replacements.

LOL I own several Unique Model 52s and they are great shooters, but always wondered what the heck kind of plastic the French used to make those grips.

FYI, If you ever look for a replacement mag, the Model 52 and the Sears/J.C. Higgins mags DO NOT interchange. There is a length difference of about 3/32", and, while they look almost identical, they're not. Always look for mags that say "Unique" on the floorplate.