Le Francais 7.65

johnwill · June 1, 2002, 10:54 AM

I'm looking to find out when a gun that doesn't appear in many publications was manufactured, the Le Francais in 7.65mm. I just picked this one up, it's mint and appears practically brand new. I'm just curious when they were manufactured...

C.R.Sam · June 1, 2002, 08:57 PM

Stab...

¿ Le Francais Policeman Model Automatic. .32 ACP cal, double action, 7 shot, 3½" barrel, finned barrel, blue, fixed sights, rubber grips. Mfg 1950s. ??? Fjestad.

Reasoning...32 automatic is known in Europe as the 7.65 Browning........................COTW.

Caliber, hinged barrel, finned barrel.

Cant tell dimensions from pic.

Made for European market and not for export to U.S. ?

Twas a stab.

Sam

johnwill · June 2, 2002, 01:21 PM

I couldn't find any evidence that this one is the policeman model, those were supposed to be made in 1913-1914. A.B. Zhuk's book does have a picture of my gun and calls it the Policeman, so you may be right. I haven't found any other reference to this specific gun in my books. I did find the gun at French Guns at Guns World, but they just call it the 7.65, and don't refer to it as the Policeman. I also have the 6.35mm gun that is "Type Policeman", illustrated below.

The 7.65mm Le Francais guns are very poorly represented in many gun books, that's why I'm still trolling for information.

I believe this gun was probably made in the 50's or 60's, but I'm not sure. If this is the one that's referred to in the Blue Book, my $450 for a mint example wasn't all that bad!

Perhaps Fjestad knew what he was talking about, I assumed that was a different pistol, but perhaps I assume too much.

Le Francais "Policeman" in 6.35mm

C.R.Sam · June 2, 2002, 01:55 PM

What is the barrel length on your mystry piece ??

I was suprised to not find yours in Pistolettes etc by Josserand.

I enjoy having things that others can't identify.
Not good to have things that I can't identify.

Worse is havin things that I can't even figure out the purpose or function.

Sam

johnwill · June 2, 2002, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Pistolettes etc by Josserand.

I don't happen to have that book, so I didn't even look there. I'm quote impressed by the Zhuk book, it's come through before when the information seemed to be nowhere else. I guess I'll have to accept that this is the "Policeman", which actually makes me feel pretty good about how well I did on the deal.

It's interesting that the 6.35 one I have actually says "TYPE POLICEMAN" on it, but the 7.65 model has nothing like this on it...

C.R.Sam · June 14, 2002, 08:59 PM

Johnwill.......you get positive ID on it yet ?.......Sam

**Mike Irwin** · June 14, 2002, 09:12 PM

I can tell him that it's positively ugly!

C.R.Sam · June 14, 2002, 10:26 PM

That's cold.

johnwill · June 16, 2002, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Johnwill.......you get positive ID on it yet ?

Yep, even though it doesn't say it on the gun, it's the Policeman. I'm pretty pleased with the deal, anytime I can get it for half the Blue Book value, I'll take it.

FWIW, I wouldn't take Mike's comments to heart, he thinks that Glocks are beautiful.

**Mike Irwin** · June 16, 2002, 09:24 PM

"I wouldn't take Mike's comments to heart, he thinks that Glocks are beautiful."

Where the hell did you ever come up with that?

Haven't you learned anything about me in the what, 6 or 7 years that you and I have been posting to the same boards?

I started out on Compuserve Firearms Forum almost 10 years ago, now... Geez. I didn't realize that it had been that long.

C.R.Sam · June 16, 2002, 10:30 PM

John, thanks for the report back. Darn, feels good to get an odd one right once in a while.

Did you know that Mr. Irwin has a full sized bust of Gaston Glock on his piano ?

Sam

**Mike Irwin** · June 16, 2002, 10:52 PM

Better be careful, Sam, or it's going to be joined by a very very lifelike bust of CR Sam...

C.R.Sam · June 17, 2002, 12:35 AM

johnwill · June 17, 2002, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Haven't you learned anything about me in the what, 6 or 7 years that you and I have been posting to the same boards?

Yep, I learned how to get a quick rise out of you with a single sentence!

**Mike Irwin** · June 17, 2002, 03:17 PM

That's not a rise, John.

That's a slightly raised eyebrow.

Nothing more.

You'll know you've gotten a rise out of me when just as you walk out to your car in the morning, the Sidewinder turns it into a smoking crater.

June 1, 2002, 10:54 AM	#1
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	Le Francais 7.65 I'm looking to find out when a gun that doesn't appear in many publications was manufactured, the Le Francais in 7.65mm. I just picked this one up, it's mint and appears practically brand new. I'm just curious when they were manufactured... __________________ I collect old pistols, got any?

June 2, 2002, 01:21 PM	#3
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I couldn't find any evidence that this one is the policeman model, those were supposed to be made in 1913-1914. A.B. Zhuk's book does have a picture of my gun and calls it the Policeman, so you may be right. I haven't found any other reference to this specific gun in my books. I did find the gun at French Guns at Guns World, but they just call it the 7.65, and don't refer to it as the Policeman. I also have the 6.35mm gun that is "Type Policeman", illustrated below. The 7.65mm Le Francais guns are very poorly represented in many gun books, that's why I'm still trolling for information. I believe this gun was probably made in the 50's or 60's, but I'm not sure. If this is the one that's referred to in the Blue Book, my $450 for a mint example wasn't all that bad! Perhaps Fjestad knew what he was talking about, I assumed that was a different pistol, but perhaps I assume too much. Le Francais "Policeman" in 6.35mm __________________ I collect old pistols, got any? Last edited by johnwill; June 2, 2002 at 01:42 PM.

June 14, 2002, 09:12 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I can tell him that it's positively ugly! __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 16, 2002, 09:24 PM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"I wouldn't take Mike's comments to heart, he thinks that Glocks are beautiful." Where the hell did you ever come up with that? Haven't you learned anything about me in the what, 6 or 7 years that you and I have been posting to the same boards? I started out on Compuserve Firearms Forum almost 10 years ago, now... Geez. I didn't realize that it had been that long. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 16, 2002, 10:52 PM	#12
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Better be careful, Sam, or it's going to be joined by a very very lifelike bust of CR Sam... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 1, 2002, 08:57 PM	#2
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Stab... ¿ Le Francais Policeman Model Automatic. .32 ACP cal, double action, 7 shot, 3½" barrel, finned barrel, blue, fixed sights, rubber grips. Mfg 1950s. ??? Fjestad. Reasoning...32 automatic is known in Europe as the 7.65 Browning........................COTW. Caliber, hinged barrel, finned barrel. Cant tell dimensions from pic. Made for European market and not for export to U.S. ? Twas a stab. Sam

June 2, 2002, 01:55 PM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	What is the barrel length on your mystry piece ?? I was suprised to not find yours in Pistolettes etc by Josserand. I enjoy having things that others can't identify. Not good to have things that I can't identify. Worse is havin things that I can't even figure out the purpose or function. Sam

June 14, 2002, 08:59 PM	#6
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Johnwill.......you get positive ID on it yet ?.......Sam

June 14, 2002, 10:26 PM	#8
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	That's cold.

June 16, 2002, 10:30 PM	#11
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	John, thanks for the report back. Darn, feels good to get an odd one right once in a while. Did you know that Mr. Irwin has a full sized bust of Gaston Glock on his piano ? Sam

June 17, 2002, 12:35 AM	#13
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858

June 17, 2002, 03:17 PM	#15
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	That's not a rise, John. That's a slightly raised eyebrow. Nothing more. You'll know you've gotten a rise out of me when just as you walk out to your car in the morning, the Sidewinder turns it into a smoking crater. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.