Pistolet Automatique Modèle Rr 1951

The country that avoids war and the country that fights but has a hard time winning have been combined. The Swiss made some excellent firearms and the French made some unique and occasionally inspiring ones. We have added the Belgian and Dutch since they are neighbors.

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1886lebel
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Pistolet Automatique Modèle Rr 1951

Post by 1886lebel » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:02 am

Pistolet Automatique Modèle Rr 1951

The Pistolet Automatique Modèle Rr 1951, which the letters Rr stood for “Grand ressort – petit ressort” literally meaning Big spring – little spring, due to the type of spring configuration used by this pistol, was manufactured by Manufacture d’Armes de Pyrénées Françaises better known by the acronym MAPF starting in 1951. MAPF was a civilian commercial company that was founded in 1923 by Mr. José Uria, initially located in the town of Béhobie, which moved to Hendaye soon afterwards. Hendaye is the most southwesterly town in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Département of Région Aquitaine confined on the edge of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrénées Mountains.

In 1928 the company started to produce a civilian type pistol based upon the Pistolet Automatique de 7 millimètre 65 genre "Ruby” but of much superior materials and workmanship that it was later adopted by the French military during the early period of World War II (1939/40) calling it the Pistolet Automatique “Unique” Modèle 17. This pistol was made up to Fall of France on June 22, 1940 and later during the German Occupation. After the departure of the German Occupation Forces and the end of the Second World War, MAPF resumed production of a new type of Unique pistol called the Pistolet Automatique “Unique” R17 for various government agencies which was basically the same as the pre-war models but with an exterior hammer.

In 1951 MAPF began to make improved versions of the “Unique” R17 based on the German Occupation Model called the Kriegsmodell (War Model), which had an exterior case hardened hammer and arched curved grip which gave a more comfortable hold in the shooters hand. There were two main versions made and the differences were the slide markings and grips. The two new pistols were called the Pistolet Automatique Modèle Rr 1951 Police and Pistolet Automatique Modèle Rr 1951.

The Modèle Rr 51 Police was marked on the left side of the slide in one lone legend line: Modèle Rr.51 Police cal. 7.65mm -9 coups, the grips were checkered black plastic with the letters 7.65mm Unique within a circle.

The Modèle Rr 51 was marked on the left side of the slide with a two line legend, the uppermost: 7.65 Court 9 Coups “Unique” and bottom in smaller lettering: Manufacture D’Armes de Pyrénées, Hendaye and the grips were of black plastic with vertical serrations with an entwined RF for République Française in a circle at the top denoting Republic of France and on latter production made pistols, 7.65mm Unique within a circle.

Both versions had a magazine capacity of 9 rounds of 7.65mm Court, 7.65mm Browning as it is called in Europe or commonly called in the United States .32 ACP. A small lanyard staple was fixed to the left side of heal of the butt for attaching a regulation lanyard. The lanyard was about 29 inches long (74.9cm) and 7/16 inch wide (1.1cm), and both ends of the lanyard was closed either by means of a brass rivet or simply sewn together. The loop end of the lanyard was intended to be attached to the waist belt. The other end had a metal snap and D-Ring which allowed it to be fastened to the staple on the heel of the butt. These were normally left in the natural leather state and not dyed.

The serial number is located below the ejection port on the right side of the frame, and the Modèle Rr 51 are often found with the original serial number milled out in the form of a rectangular hollow being replaced by another stamped number in the slot thus increasing the difficulty of determining the serial number range and numbers of these made. There is a three digit number stamped at the muzzle end of the barrel, inside of the slide over the section containing the firing pin and safety lever flat, all numbers matching the last three digits of the serial number. A magazine safety was retained from the original Pistolet Automatique “Unique” Modèle 17 which only allowed the hammer to fall when the magazine was in the weapon.

These weapons were supplied to the French National Police (Police Nationale, formely called the Sûreté Nationale), till the adoption of the Manurhin MR73 in 1973 and Manhurhin MR88 F1 Revolver in the mid 1980’s. Since 1951, the French police received more than 102,000 of these pistols with the last order in March 1998 of 640 pistols and quite a few are still being held in reseve for national emergencies.

Some of these pistols were also sent to the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية‎ … Al-Mamlakah al-Maghribīyyah) to arm the Moroccan National Police Force (Sûreté Nationale du Maroc) and Royal Military Police Force (Gendarmerie Royalé du Maroc). These were marked on the right side tang of the frame behind the grip with a Crescent over a Pole sometimes referred to as the Palm Tree by some collectors.

These pistols were normally to be carried in the same holster that the Pistolet Automatique de 7 millimètre 65 genre "Ruby” used called the Etui modèle 1916, or in other holsters that were made for other European small frame semi-automatics.

Specifications:

Overall Length: 8.3 inches (210mm)

Weight Unloaded: ……… (720 grams)

Barrel Length: 3.07 inches (78mm)

Caliber: 7.65mm Court, 7.65mm Browning, .32 ACP

Magazine Capacity: 9 rounds
Attachments
Rr51 A.JPG
This particular pistol was featured in the book Military Handguns of France 1858-1958; Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon; Excalibur Publications; 1993 edition on pages 98 and 99
This particular pistol was featured in the book Military Handguns of France 1858-1958; Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon; Excalibur Publications; 1993 edition on pages 98 and 99
Vive la République Française, le Lebel et le poilu
Verdun 1916: "Ils ne Passeront pas" "On les aura!"
Fusil d'Infanterie Modèle 1886 Modifié 1893 dit "Lebel"

Vive le Pinard !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axfM1sFqIK0
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DuncaninFrance
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Very neat

Post by DuncaninFrance » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:09 pm

That looks like a very tidy pistol. Haven't seen any over here at the club but would like to try one out!

Thanks for the info.
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
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1886lebel
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Post by 1886lebel » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:15 pm

I actually have two of these pistols

Sorry pictures of the second one are not all that good

Patrick
Attachments
Rr51 B.JPG
Rr51 B1.JPG
Vive la République Française, le Lebel et le poilu
Verdun 1916: "Ils ne Passeront pas" "On les aura!"
Fusil d'Infanterie Modèle 1886 Modifié 1893 dit "Lebel"

Vive le Pinard !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axfM1sFqIK0
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joseyclosey
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Post by joseyclosey » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:27 pm

Two nice pistols lebel, do you shoot them often? Are they easy to come by in the U.S.?

Joe
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dhtaxi
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Post by dhtaxi » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:50 pm

Very nice thanks for the info.
1886lebel
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Post by 1886lebel » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:40 pm

I just bought these about a month ago, fired them once, 50 rounds a piece, then cleaned them up and put them away for a rainy day. The Modèle Rr 1951's are fairly common and easily found here in the States especially on the East Coast. My friend Dale (vonmazur) in AL finds these all the time along with other French pistols. I actually got these two from a gunshop here in Albuquerque and knew the previous owner of them, Eugene Medlin who wrote the books Military Handguns of France 1858-1958 and Military Handguns of France 1858-2004 in which one was featured in.

Patrick
Vive la République Française, le Lebel et le poilu
Verdun 1916: "Ils ne Passeront pas" "On les aura!"
Fusil d'Infanterie Modèle 1886 Modifié 1893 dit "Lebel"

Vive le Pinard !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axfM1sFqIK0
PEdward
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Post by PEdward » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:30 pm

I have one of these with the case hardened outside hammer. Bought it at a gun show in Nashville for $14 in 1964. Serial number is 1089xx. I could take and post a picture if you are interested.

I have shot this pistol quite a bit. Works well with cast bullets. Throws empties about 20 feet to right and rear. Never knew for sure what the model was named.

Thanks
PED
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DuncaninFrance
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LET'S SEE SOME PICS PED!

Post by DuncaninFrance » Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:46 am

We NEVER say no to pictures here :D :D
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
PEdward
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Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:09 am
Location: Denver CO USA

Re: LET'S SEE SOME PICS PED!

Post by PEdward » Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:12 pm

DuncaninFrance wrote:We NEVER say no to pictures here :D :D
OK Here are some pictures.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/ ... d-pics.jpg[/pic]
PED
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