Saturday, August 18, 2007

Something fell into my lap (well, for money anyways).

Manufrance Le Francais, from somewhere between 1916 and 1940. Photos link to 1200x900 images.






Started to get artsy here...

With a "spiritual relative", the Beretta 950 (ca. 1959)

To give you an idea of the size of this tiny, tiny firearm. The shell in the previous photos was a 2 3/4" 12ga. This, is of course, my left hand.

The above was the culmination of about 5 minutes of prep and 5 minutes of shooting. Impromptu lightboxes rock :)


I say somewhere between 1916 and 1939 for a few reasons. One, the machining is very fine, which is something most likely not found post-war, and I don't believe the proof marks are post-war either. Two, there are no waffenampts or other Nazi marks, which would be indicative of occupation-era weaponry (1940 to 1944). The fit and finish, as it were, I think indicates an earlier build.

Regardless, I have shot the thing... one round, function checking.

Not bad for a gun that's, by estimate, somewhere between 67 and 91 years old, and was likely brought over to the states in a WWII soldier's pocket.