Le Français (pistol)
The Le Français pistol, made by Manufrance, was produced from 1913 until 1969 and was chambered in a variety of calibers. It was mainly sold in France, primarily to the public but also to some officers of the French Army (during the Phony War), and to France's municipal police. In 1912, Etienne Mimard, the Head of Manufrance (La Manufacture Française d'Armes et de Cycles de Saint Etienne) started development of the handgun. He obtained the patent for the first model (Modèle E) on August 6, 1913, with n° 472.505. Sales started in 1914 with the name "Le Français".
Description
It is loaded through a tip-up barrel and after this first round, another loads from the magazine. The first shot can only be loaded into the barrel since there is no way to manually pull back the slide, which is certainly atypical. The trigger is double action only. The pistol was the first to function solely in double action.
- Manufrance "Le Français" modèle E (France – Pistol DAO in 1913 – 6.35 mm/.25 ACP)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Franco (France – Pistol DAO – 6.35 mm/.25 ACP)
- Manufrance "Le Français" manumodèle (France – Pistol DAO – 6.35 mm/.25 ACP)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Type Policeman (France – Pistol DAO – 6.35 mm/.25 ACP)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Type francais-Champion (France – Pistol Selective mode DAO /SA – .25 ACP or .22LR)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Type ARMEE (France – Pistol DAO – 9 mm Browning Long)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Type Français civil (France – Pistol DAO – 7.65 mm/.32 ACP)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Type Français 50 (France – Pistol DAO – 7.65 mm/.32 ACP)
- Manufrance "Le Français" Type Français 7,65 (France – Pistol DAO – 7.65 mm/.32 ACP)
References
- Henrotin, Gerard – French LE FRANCAIS pistols explained – HLebooks.com, 2011.
