A physician I work with has a French(?) Unique pistol, cal 32ACP. Haven't seen it myself, but he says it was a WW2 bringback or was bought shortly thereafter. Problem is, the magazine has been lost down thru the years. I told him I'd post a request to help me find him a replacement. Were there variations I need to know of before helping him further? Who online might have magazines to fit? Any education provided would be appreciated. Thanks,
Searching for magazine for "Unique" .32 ACP...
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I'd post this on Harley Nolden's Firearms Institute forum below, along with a description of all stamps on the pistol, description of grips, etc.
The French company M.A.P.F. did make pistols called Unique.
JT
The French company M.A.P.F. did make pistols called Unique.
JT
Hi Toolmaker,
Go to www.gunbroker.com. You will find one there eventually. Also a FUN place to window shop.
Kevin
Go to www.gunbroker.com. You will find one there eventually. Also a FUN place to window shop.
Kevin
There were several variations of .32ACP Unique pistols made by Manufacture d'Armes de Pyrenees of Hendaye in France. They are all based, to a greater or lesser extent, on Browning designs and because the pocket-style Brownings had the magazine-release in the heel of the butt, a nine-shot magazine won't work in a gun designed for a seven-shot magazine, or vice-versa.
The first of the Browning M1906 copies in .32ACP, was the Model 15 with a six-shot magazine. The Model 16 was the same, but had a seven-shot magazine. The Model 17 was again broadly similar, but had a nine-shot mag.
The Model 18 was based on the Browning M1910 with a six-shot mag. The Model 19 was the same except with a seven-shot mag. The Model 20 was the same but (you guessed it) took a nine-shot mag.
During the war, when the Germans took over production, they put the Model 17 (with the nine-shot mag) back into production with the grips marked "7.65mm 9 SCHUSS" and about 50,000 were made. They later modified this with a more rounded back to the butt and an external hammer to form the "Kriegsmodell". Some have German military acceptance marks, some do not. The nine-round mags should be interchangeable.
After the war things get a little more complicated, so since it was a WW2-era gun, I won't go into it (breaths a sigh of relief
).
In summary then - you'll need to know the magazine capacity of the gun in question. I suggest finding out the model number and asking around some of the antiques and militaria websites. I don't think you're likely to find parts in a regular gun store, though.
Best of luck!
The first of the Browning M1906 copies in .32ACP, was the Model 15 with a six-shot magazine. The Model 16 was the same, but had a seven-shot magazine. The Model 17 was again broadly similar, but had a nine-shot mag.
The Model 18 was based on the Browning M1910 with a six-shot mag. The Model 19 was the same except with a seven-shot mag. The Model 20 was the same but (you guessed it) took a nine-shot mag.
During the war, when the Germans took over production, they put the Model 17 (with the nine-shot mag) back into production with the grips marked "7.65mm 9 SCHUSS" and about 50,000 were made. They later modified this with a more rounded back to the butt and an external hammer to form the "Kriegsmodell". Some have German military acceptance marks, some do not. The nine-round mags should be interchangeable.
After the war things get a little more complicated, so since it was a WW2-era gun, I won't go into it (breaths a sigh of relief
).In summary then - you'll need to know the magazine capacity of the gun in question. I suggest finding out the model number and asking around some of the antiques and militaria websites. I don't think you're likely to find parts in a regular gun store, though.
Best of luck!
If you follow Kevin Quinlan's link to Gunbroker, item #39093747 is a good example of a post-war version of the "Kriegsmodell". I guess that the parts are out there if you look hard enough!
Wow this is helpful. I think I will direct him to this thread and let him thoroughly check out his particular model to see which one it is. I'd hate to direct him to an incorrect magazine. Thanks to each and every one of you who took time to help me out.
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