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French MAC model 1950 value question

mrmike08075
http://www.GunBroker.com/item/707514030

French MAC model 1950 value question

My gun is identical to the one in the above referenced link

My gun retains most of its grey finish (the one in the link has almost none)

My gun is (as the one in the link) one of the Vietnamese warlord buyback import guns (I know the whole less than 900 with this background story)

This is the 2nd auction in the last 12 months of one of these

One brought $1100.00

This one seems to be getting actual bids at or near $1000.00 (update - the gun in the link finished at $1200.00 / wow!)

Here is the puzzling aspect for my gun

My gun is marked "2REP" (authenticated)

I am looking for educated / informed opinions of the value on my piece - the unit markings obviously make it rare and collectable and desirable

Anybody care to offer an opinion

Or comments...

Mike
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Had one years ago. Very uncommon and desirable, to a military handgun collector. Although very good externally, the barrel on mine looked like a sewer. Had it relined.

    Never was aware of it's back story? Vis a vis, the Viet Nam, warlord. Mine Wasn't unit marked, and I never heard or saw, any others with unit markings.. How can you be so sure, that yours, with the "2 REP". Hasn't been "improved"?
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  • mrmike08075
    Short answer

    When south Vietnam was putting together it's armed forces under one common command structure at the beginning of US involvement (after the French were gone)...

    There were warlords with private armies that were rolled into / incorporated into the official unified single command structure south Vietnam armed forces...

    These troops were issued the same TOE as the other troops - reequipped with like arms and uniforms...

    The arms and equipment they had before was "bought back" and many of the guns ended up in the US

    That's my shorthand flawed understanding

    When I acquired my pistol I was carrying it on the gunshow circuit

    There was a noted author of books on French military firearms at several shows who was selling and signing his books.

    I bought 2 of the books and had them signed - he examined the gun and his opinion was that the unit marking was authentic

    And deciphered it for me - as I had no clue

    It's all in my file in one of the filing cabinets - I am unable to dig it out right now - the warlord backstory was explained here as well in this forum a long time ago by an expert

    Hope this helps clear things up

    My bore is frosted a bit but the rifling is superb

    Mike
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  • gunnut505
    2Rep is a unit of the French Foreign Legion with "etrangers"(furriners) as soldiers.
    Second Regiment de Etrangers Paras
    When the frogs got their butts kicked badly and were exfil'ing like crazy, the Foreign Legion was there to help with security, that weapon was part of issue kit at the time, and may have made its' way into Charlie's hands, then yours.
    Makes for a cool backstory, regardless.

    Didn't want to let my edit count against your 10 post limit, but have you thought about contacting the nice (we were there, just ask us) folks at Soldier of Fortune to see if anyone has recollections about the gun, the 2REPs customary insignia/markings, or coagulation of the Warlord backstory? I'm betting SOMEONE over there can scrape enough info together to allow you to estimate its' worth.
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  • mrmike08075
    Rufe - thanks for the help you have provided so far.

    Gunnut - yes French foreign legion airborne unit with quite a history and reputation - elite troops

    It's funny - no one will offer an opinion or guess as to value - I assume because the unit markings make this pistol a unicorn made from unobtainium

    And I have going zero auction history of a firearm with a legion provenance

    I did email some pics and a missive to the only contact I have left at RIA - who I collaborated with in the past on appraisals and descriptions and history of firearms up for auction

    In the gunshop days I placed about a dozen pistols with them / with him that had belonged to perfido Diaz that did quite well when auctioned and after doing some work for them / with him we have stayed in touch and we correspond and I still offer my opinion

    He of course wants to auction it - he says it would have a prominent place in the catalog and feels it would spark a feeding frenzy of bidding by collectors

    I about choked on his pre auction estimate

    I have about a dozen French pieces including this pistol and it's .32 French long predecessor

    When I bought this gun - I have a penchant for oddball orphans - there was little interest and it had a poor rep - and values were in the basement

    It hard to believe that some of the guns I acquired - ones that you could not give away - are now quietly become highly collectable and are hitting record highs when auctioned

    I am still hoping a few of you will offer up a guesstimate on value

    I am not holding anybody responsible or looking to hold them to it I simply trust your opinions greatly and value your input very highly

    Mike
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  • rufe-snow
    The "2 REP" marking, is the proverbial elephant in the room, vis a vis your pistol. As far as I'm concerned.

    To put it mildly, it would add very substantial value. If it can be authenticated? Which is the crux of the matter.

    If you could get a letter, from the author of the books on french firearms. Stating in his opinion that the marking is genuine, it would go a long way. In substantiating it's authenticity.
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