u/Fun_Assignment_269

My French standard issue sidearm lineup from WW1 to the end of state owned arms production with the closure of St Etienne is officially complete today! Okay, technically I still need a 1935S, but the general progression is complete.

This is a 1990 built PA-MAS G1S, a licensed copy of the Beretta 92FS built at St Etienne. This one, like essentially all military service 92s, had its slide and hammer pin modified to prevent slide failures from causing serious injury or death, although improper ammunition is almost certainly the root cause of documented failures rather than any real manufacturing defects (hello low serial number 1903s, fancy seeing you here).

These were primarily issued to Gendarmerie troops, although the French Air Force adopted the pistol as well, but in much smaller numbers. Some of these would later end up being used by French army troops too. Being primarily carried by the Gendarmerie, these tend to have a lot of handling wear (although this one is fairly clean) but very little mechanical wear from heavy field usage (these are French cops, not the LAPD).

The barrel on this one was manufactured at Tulle and the slide was built by Manurhin. The rest was done along with final assembly at St Etienne. Mechanically, it's almost identical to a standard 92FS except that the safety/decocker is purely a decocker. Interestingly, it still has the RFID inventory tracking tag inside the right grip.

She shoots pretty solid groups, about 2 inches left of POA, so I've got a sight pusher on the way. Otherwise, I'm absolutely thrilled with everything about it!

Popped open a recently acquired ac42 P38 to give it a once over and noticed this little crack near the F on the safety/decocker. Looked at the opposite side inside the slide and things look even worse. I don't know if this is the kind of thing that might be ok for awhile or will immediately be a problem, but I don't feel super interested in finding out the hard way. At least I can still shoot my svw45 I guess.

Got some of my French pistols out for a quick session this afternoon. From left to right: MAS Mle 1950 in 9mm, Pre war German capture SACM Mle1935A in 7.65 French Long, WW1 French issue Ruby in .32 ACP.

Unsurprisingly, the more modern Mle1950 shot the best groups, but the 1935 was surprisingly snappy and keyholed fairly often, which is a known issue with what little modern ammo exists for these. But of all 3, the Ruby was by far the most fun. It's a chunky little guy with a small round, so you can rattle off rounds as fast as you want with surprisingly good accuracy. Ultimately, none of these are duty guns and will see maybe a box a year at most, so performance isn't really important. It's just fun to shoot a piece of history sometimes.

Looking at what appears to be a legit 91/30 sniper, but I'm not an expert here. Barrel shank has the CH marking indicating a sniper barrel from the factory. Bolt matches the original receiver. Receiver appears to have been matched to the scope later, but not by the importer. Mount is not serialized, but does have some small markings. I'm inclined to think it was an original sniper rebuilt as a sniper before importing. Thoughts?

Scored a really pretty Ruby today to finally fill that hole in my French collection. It's a lot chunkier than it looks, so I've gotta imagine recoil will be non-existent. Now I need more pistols in the one true caliber...

Picked up this gorgeous, near mint looking 1962 commercial Hi Power today along with the rest of the rig for $850. It supposedly belonged to a friend of a friend who was a medevac pilot in Vietnam and carried it. Which may or may not be true and given the shape of the gun, I'm leaning towards not. But I couldn't say no to that price. I'm a sucker for a Hi Power and this one is near spotless.

Picked this guy up for tree fiddy today. Mixmaster of parts, but it has an intact crest and is very early production. Still in original M91 configuration as best I can tell. I'm not super smart on Mosins, so educate me if there's anything noteworthy that I'm missing here! Bore may or may not clean up well, but there's still decent rifling visible. Not going to be a shooter anyways, that's what the wartime Izhevsks are for.

Just got this in from Atlantic today. Condition is excellent and the instruction manual/holster is a nice bonus. Rounds out the basics of my French sidearms collection other than a WW1 era Ruby.

I've been after one of these for a long time, but haven't found one in good condition until now. Finish appears to be original with visible machining marks and all the markings are sharp, so I don't think it's been refinished. Serial prefix puts it around wartime production, but the barrel is undated, which is normal for the 1916-21 period. Lockup and timing are rock solid and I've got some 8mm Fiocchi ammo inbound (I know, watch for squibs).

Serial on this one puts it during the German occupation, likely 1942. Waffenamts are present on the barrel and frame and serials match. Bore looks absolutely mint. Came with a holster and 3 mags and after breaking it down, it looks nearly unused. I've got some Steinel French Longue on the way, so I'm psyched to put a box through it soon!

Picked these up for $75 each recently. Top is a 1916 production pattern 1907 Enfield bayonet, bottom is a beautiful condition M1905 Springfield with an M1910 canvas scabbard.

Just picked up this post war rebuild M1903A4. Has the correct mount/scope, receiver dates to '43, and barrel is a correct A4 '44 two groove that looks near new. Stock cartouche indicates post war refurb at RIA. Can't wait to get this thing out soon!

Blade is 16", manufactured in 1912.

I've been in the process of moving/buying/selling homes for the last few months and finally closed on the old place yesterday, so today I got a housewarming gift for myself. Receiver is a '43, barrel is a '44 two groove (and looks mirror perfect). Rifle was a post war rebuild based on the RIA cartouche. Came with an M73B1 on a Redfield Junior mount. Best I can tell, it's a fully original post war rearsenal job.

Anything look off here? It's 16" and dated 1912. Looks to be in great shape but I'm not a bayonet expert. Is anything off or questionable?

Non firearm and a bit more modern, but (along with an M9/M4) this would be a standard USAF helicopter pilot kit for deployed operations in Afghanistan.

1936 S/42 P08 at 7yds. The fliers are mostly from me trying and failing to shoot offhand. With a good two hand grip, it's as accurate as anything modern in my safe.

Small parts are all matching with the sole exception of the grips, sadly (unless I'm blind). Holster is a later production with a different waffenamt and tool is also stamped. Mags are not numbers matching but one has been forced. Pistol itself is in gorgeous shape and looks virtually unfired.