French Modelle 1935a (7.65 longue)
I have a very fine pre-WWII example of this nicely made gun. The workmanship is excellent and the gun reminds me of the Browning High-Power 9mm in some respects. The trouble is, it's chambered for the notorious 7.65 longue round, which is both ridiculously underpowered and ridiculously expensive.
Is there any way this gun can be retrofitted with a barrel that is chambered for more commonly available ammo - like .32 ACP, or even the 7.62 x 25 tokarev without spending a fortune?
Thanks for any advice!
Is there any way this gun can be retrofitted with a barrel that is chambered for more commonly available ammo - like .32 ACP, or even the 7.62 x 25 tokarev without spending a fortune?
Thanks for any advice!
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I believe those fine pistols were turned out by MAS, and I would guess that if you were to do a search starting with that (or whatever French arsenal it is marked as having been made by) you might find french aftermarket suppliers that have drop in barrels that would require fitting of the BARREL and not the frame. You might want to check under the French manufacturers Unique and GIAT...they might make drop-ins as well.
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"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
Availably of ammo has always been a problem with the French Model 35 A & S pistols.
The only viable/practicable solution that I'm aware of, is to sleeve the chamber to enable the pistol to function with 32 Auto ammo.
Years ago there was a write up in one of the gun rags by a guy who did this. He made a steel sleeve out of cut down 30 carbine cartridge.
He claimed the pistol functioned with no problems, i.e. 32 Auto ammo fed from the magazine, and was extracted/ejected after fireing.
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quote:Originally posted by CSnpsn:
" . . . very fine pre-WWII . . . ."
Except for that one small scratch where it was dropped in June, 1940? [;)][:D][}:)]
The ammo is bloody scarce and even more bloody expensive when found. Plus it hasn't been loaded since roughly about 1950. My references suggest tha one can produce casings by machining .32 S&W Long brass (removing rim, cutting extractor groove, trimming and - although it is not mentioned - quite possibly doing a bit of reaming at / below the new case mouth). In the long run, likely better to take the route you suggest if there is such a replacement part.
Good luck.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)0 -
Rufe-Snow is on the right track. I have read of sleeves being made from .30 carbine case and placed in the front of the chamber. The case remains there and the .32 ACP headspaces on the sleeve. Cut sleeve so that .32 ACP case and sleeve equals length of the original French case. When it needs to be removed reverse a bronze bristle brush in chamber and it should come out.
Bob
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MARK TWAIN0 -
I have found shaved down 32 S&W over at buffalo arms. http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4228.html
I love shooting my 1935A and have been through 3 other errors before I finally found this one that slides through and doesn't jam up! I got this gun at an auction and they kept telling me that it was a 32 and we had to do all the leg work. [8D] thought I would share the link with you all. Have a great day!0 -
quote:Originally posted by WickedWomyn
I have found shaved down 32 S&W over at buffalo arms. http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4228.html
I love shooting my 1935A and have been through 3 other errors before I finally found this one that slides through and doesn't jam up! I got this gun at an auction and they kept telling me that it was a 32 and we had to do all the leg work. [8D] thought I would share the link with you all. Have a great day!
$60 a box is way to rich for my blood, thank you. Picked up one of these French pistols awhile back. It wouldn't feed or function in any fashion with .32 ACP ammo. Only way I could get it to function was by making reloads using .32 ACP brass, with the rims turned down in a electric drill, loaded with pulled bullets from Romainian 30 Toke ammo.0 -
Sleeving may not be necessary. The .32 auto is semi-rimmed. Try it first. I have sleeved these guns and made a new follower and spacer for the rear of the magazine. You can use the 7.65 cartridge to make a spacer also. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bill DeShivs
Sleeving may not be necessary. The .32 auto is semi-rimmed. Try it first. I have sleeved these guns and made a new follower and spacer for the rear of the magazine. You can use the 7.65 cartridge to make a spacer also.
I tried shooting mine with .32 auto ammo, first thing. It would neither feed or function. The overall length of the 32 auto cartridges were to short to reliably feed through the mag. The semi-rim jambed on the loaded chamber indicator. The recoil spring was also to strong to function with the 32 ammo.
The pistol I was working on was the post W W II manufactured Model 35 S. Perhaps the earlier Model 35 A would have worked, with 32 auto ammo?0 -
35A was the one I did. 0
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