Technical Specifications
Calibre 7.65 Browning or .32 ACP
Overall Lenght 155 mm
Overall Height  
Overall Width  
Weight 785 g
Line of sight  
Barrel 82 mm
Trigger wright  
Magazine Capacity 9 shots
Produced From 1928 to 19??
Kriegsmodell from 1940 to 1945

From forum:
They were called Pistolet Automatique “Unique” Modèle 17 and made by Manufacture d’Armes de Pyrénées Françaises better known by the acronym MAPF. There were three distinct models …

1. The first model, the civilian model, had a three line legend on the left side of the slide … line 1, Manufacture d’Armes des Pyrénées Hendaye … line 2, La Veritable Pistolet Français ‘Unique’ … line 3, Marque Deposee Cal. 7.65mm S.F.M. The slide on the right side was left blank. The grips were of black plastic with “Unique” across the top and a circled lion at the bottom. These had a lanyard staple set in the lower left rear of the grip frame. The serial number was located on the right side of the frame tang at the rear. A small number of these, perhaps about as many as 2,000, were purchased by the French military in 39 and 40. The biggest distinguishing feature to tell if it did go to the military is the safety rivet on the left side of the slide that is located in front and above the the safety lever on the frame that prevented the moving of the safety when holstering of the weapon.

2. Next was the “contract” model … This has a single line legend on the left side of the slide … 7.65 Court 9 Coups “Unique”. 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. There were a few that had a bullseye symbol in the upper part of the grip. The serial number was located on the right side of the frame tang. There were approximately 18,000 to 21,000 of these delivered to the military before the Armistice of 22 June, 1940. Serial numbers ended at about 57,000.

3. The last type is the German Occupation Model called the Kriegsmodell (War Model). This model had an exterior case hardened hammer and arched curved grip which gave a more comfortable hold in the shooters hand. The left side of the slide had a two legend line … line 1, 7.65 Court 9 Coups “Unique” … line 2 in smaller lettering; Manufacture D’Armes de Pyrénées, Hendaye. These pistols were marked with the Waffenamt Eagle WaA251 and latter WaAD30. The Waffenamt was located on the right tang below the serial number. The grips were black plastic with vertical serrations with 7.65mm 9 Schuss within a circle. Approximately 20,000 of these were made and serail number was ended at 77,000.

Unique Model 17 – France
Unique M17 pistols were made by Manufacture D’Armes Des Pyrenees of Hendaye. After the Germans occupied France, the German Heereswaffenamt improved the model with an external hammer and a curved grip frame and it was known as the Unique “Kriegsmodell”. The M17 is a very rudimentary single action, semi-automatic, blowback operated design with no positive locking of the breech and a slide which does not remain to the rear after the last cartridge is fired. The safety is a thumb lever on the upper left side of the frame which is pushed down to fire and up for safe. The safety is also used in disassembly and assembly. There is also a magazine safety which prevents the pistol from being fired unless a magazine is inserted. The magazine release catch is located at the base of the frame to the rear of the magazine well and a there is a lanyard ring on the lower left side of the frame above the magazine release catch. The serial number is located on the right side of the frame above the trigger, with the last three digits of the serial number stamped on the inside rear of the slide and beneath the barrel near the muzzle. German military acceptance stamps (eagle over WaD20) on the Kriegsmodell is located on the upper right side of the frame to the rear of the right grip with a military test proof (eagle over swastika in a circle) at the right side of the barrel near the muzzle. Over 25,000 of the Kriegsmodell were produced prior to the liberation of France in 1944 of which around 36,000 were produced. Only 18,000 were made before the War.

From: http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/frenchautos.html
Manufacture d’Armes des Pyrennees Francaises (MAPF) had been producing a Ruby type pistol since 1928. This was the Unique 17. A French Ministry of War letter states that 18,000 of the Unique 17 pistols were procured before the surrender on 22 June 1940. As with the Manufacture d’Armes de Bayonne (MAB) Model D, the German military kept the Unique 17 in production with no changes to the design. Around 36,000 of the Unique 17 were produced for the German military. Later in the war, the Germans had the pistol modified with an external hammer and a curved grip frame. This was designated the Kriegsmodell and 20,000 were produced.

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