My Dad, a WWII Army officer/vet, took this 32 cal semi auto hammerless pistol off a Japanese officer in the liberation of the Phillipines during WWII.
He gave it to me with the original capture papers.
It says AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL 765 and just below that "UNIQUE" stamped into the left hand side of the slide. On the left rear upper corner of the frame just to the rear of the grip's corner are 3 symbols. (1) A small crowned crest with an X in the middle, (2)the letters P.V., and (3) what appears to be a lion (or a horse) with a long tail standing on it's hind legs. The same lion in on the rear of the barrel as well. The right hand side of the frame bears the number 28766. I assume this is the serial number. The grips were sanded down by an idiot who didn't know the value.
But you can still make out an Eagle in a circle at the top, a crown in a circle in the middle, and appear to be a standing figure with a golf club or bat in an oval at the bottom.
Could this be a pre-occupation pistol?
I would be interested to know what this pistol is as to manufacture, date, value, etc.
I would also like to find the original or reproduction grips. I've searched a few sites but nothing like these. Not sure if they are the OEM grips or should they be the plastic ones common to WWII French Uniques
One thing I've noticed is that unlike the field strip instructions, common to this type of pistol, I can't get the slide to move forward far enough to be removed. Something is holding it back. I removed the barrel, pulled the safety latch, etc. But it shots just fne.
I have attached 3 pics. Not very clear but hope it helps.
Thanks, Gerry
It says AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL 765 and just below that "UNIQUE" stamped into the left hand side of the slide. On the left rear upper corner of the frame just to the rear of the grip's corner are 3 symbols. (1) A small crowned crest with an X in the middle, (2)the letters P.V., and (3) what appears to be a lion (or a horse) with a long tail standing on it's hind legs. The same lion in on the rear of the barrel as well. The right hand side of the frame bears the number 28766. I assume this is the serial number. The grips were sanded down by an idiot who didn't know the value.
Could this be a pre-occupation pistol?
I would be interested to know what this pistol is as to manufacture, date, value, etc.
I would also like to find the original or reproduction grips. I've searched a few sites but nothing like these. Not sure if they are the OEM grips or should they be the plastic ones common to WWII French Uniques
One thing I've noticed is that unlike the field strip instructions, common to this type of pistol, I can't get the slide to move forward far enough to be removed. Something is holding it back. I removed the barrel, pulled the safety latch, etc. But it shots just fne.
I have attached 3 pics. Not very clear but hope it helps.
Thanks, Gerry