Le Français (pistol)
First pistol to function solely in double action.
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The Le Français is a semi-automatic pistol developed by Manufrance (La Manufacture Française d'Armes et de Cycles de Saint Etienne). It is notable for being the first pistol to function solely in double action, with a double-action-only trigger and a tip-up barrel for loading.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Manufrance (La Manufacture Française d'Armes et de Cycles de Saint Etienne)
- Developer
- Etienne Mimard
- Patent date
- August 6, 1913
- Patent number
- 472.505
- Production period
- 1913 to 1969
- Calibres
- 6.35 mm/.25 ACP
- 7.65 mm/.32 ACP
- 9 mm (0.354 in) Browning Long
- .22 LR
- Action
- Double action only (DAO); selective mode DAO/SA on Champion model
Facts from the source article.
Background
Development of the Le Français began in 1912 under Etienne Mimard, head of Manufrance. The patent for the first model (Modèle E) was obtained on August 6, 1913, with number 472.505, and sales started in 1914 under the name 'Le Français'. The pistol was produced from 1913 until 1969 in a variety of calibres.
The pistol is loaded through a tip-up barrel; after the first shot, it loads from the magazine. However, the first shot can only be loaded into the barrel because there is no way to manually pull back the slide. The trigger is double action only, making it the first pistol to function solely in double action.
The Le Français was mainly sold in France, primarily to the general public but also to some officers of the French Army during the Phony War, and to the French municipal police. Various models were produced, including the Modèle E, Franco, manumodèle, Type Policeman, Type francais-Champion (with selective DAO/SA), Type ARMEE (in 9 mm Browning Long), Type Français civil, Type Français 50, and Type Français 7,65.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Le Français (pistol) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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