French Pistol UNIQUE.

laoshi75 · 06-24-2008, 03:08 PM

Hello Gentlemen,

Here is a photo of my pistol UNIQUE mod.D3 .22LR
It has been made by the french Manufacture of Hendaye which closed a long time ago. I would like to know if this pistol were exported to the USA. If you have information please let me know. Thank you very much. christian

Aaron · 06-24-2008, 04:05 PM

Yes, I have seen this pistol for sale in the U.S., but have not seen it in a presentation case. Incidentally, are you acquainted with this model which came with an extra long barrel and stock, and was convertible into a rifle? These are occasionally seen for sale here and bring high prices.

mauro · 06-24-2008, 04:27 PM

Christian,
I like it! Nice.
Mauro

laoshi75 · 06-25-2008, 06:55 AM

Aaron, thanks for the precision. This french manufacture made some very good guns and I am looking for all informations about the exportations. I have never seen an extra long barreled Unique pistol !! I am going to look more carefully again my documentation of the Hendaye manufacture..
Mauro, thank you ! yes, it is very nice

laoshi75 · 06-25-2008, 07:03 AM

I add a closer photo of my case, and some photos of two other Unique models.
I am looking for the holster ! do not hesitate to contact me if you have this type of holster for sale !

laoshi75 · 06-25-2008, 07:03 AM

3

laoshi75 · 06-25-2008, 07:04 AM

5

laoshi75 · 06-25-2008, 07:04 AM

6

the gunman · 06-25-2008, 07:21 AM

Hi Laoshi75 sad to say I had the holster in photo # 6 did not know what it was for . Sold at a gun show. So they are out there. Sure wish I knew who I sold it to might have been able to get it back for you.

Regards Richie

laoshi75 · 06-25-2008, 07:32 AM

Richard ....!!.....unfortunately...
this is one more evidence that this pistol has been exported to the USA..
thank you Richard, christian

Aaron · 06-25-2008, 07:12 PM

Christian, here is a page from a 1965 issue of a U.S. publication called the "Gun Digest." It shows a listing of guns available on the American market, and The Unique is included. Note the different barrel lengths available, including 9 1/8 inches.

laoshi75 · 06-26-2008, 04:53 AM

Aaron,

A really important document for me ! I think that the long barrel/carbine has been manufactured only for the export market to the USA. i am inquiring..
Very interesting, I do thank you Aaron !!
christian

John Sabato · 06-26-2008, 11:38 AM

Does anybody have an index of all the Gun Digest books. I am sure there was an article about the carbine conversion of this pistol in one of them... I just don't remember when...

Aaron,

the 9-1/8" listing is for over all length... not barrel length... (at least the way I am reading it.) The "F.I." in the writeup stands for Firearms International... who was the importer.

Ron Wood · 06-26-2008, 12:22 PM

John,
I think you are correct. I am pretty sure that the body of the pistol without the barrel is more than 4 inches, which was the shortest length advertised. It says with a 4" or 6" barrel (comma) 9 1/8" overall (doesn't say with which barrel but I believe it woud be with the 6").

Aaron · 06-26-2008, 04:43 PM

deleted.

Aaron · 06-26-2008, 04:50 PM

Also from the 1965 Gun Digest, page 270 is an illustration of the Unique convertible model:

laoshi75 · 06-26-2008, 07:11 PM

Gentlemen,

Your contributions are very interesting to me, as you can imagine. The archives of the Hendaye manufacture have disapeared or are not accessible. I would add that this pistol (the D3 and later the D4) were sold during a long time by the wellknown (in France) "Manufrance" retailer network and were very popular at that time. But I am not a shooter and I cannot have an advice about the reliability of the gun of course.
Aaron, you are right, I have seen this "combo" somewhere but I do not remember where.
Many thanks to all of you.
cv

06-24-2008, 03:08 PM	#1
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	French Pistol UNIQUE. Hello Gentlemen, Here is a photo of my pistol UNIQUE mod.D3 .22LR It has been made by the french Manufacture of Hendaye which closed a long time ago. I would like to know if this pistol were exported to the USA. If you have information please let me know. Thank you very much. christian Attached Images

06-24-2008, 04:27 PM	#3
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 350 Times in 129 Posts	Christian, I like it! Nice. Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

06-25-2008, 07:03 AM	#5
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	pix I add a closer photo of my case, and some photos of two other Unique models. I am looking for the holster ! do not hesitate to contact me if you have this type of holster for sale ! Attached Images

06-25-2008, 07:03 AM	#6
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	pic3 3 Attached Thumbnails

06-25-2008, 07:04 AM	#7
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	pic5 5 Attached Thumbnails

06-24-2008, 04:05 PM	#2
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Yes, I have seen this pistol for sale in the U.S., but have not seen it in a presentation case. Incidentally, are you acquainted with this model which came with an extra long barrel and stock, and was convertible into a rifle? These are occasionally seen for sale here and bring high prices.

06-25-2008, 06:55 AM	#4
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	Aaron, thanks for the precision. This french manufacture made some very good guns and I am looking for all informations about the exportations. I have never seen an extra long barreled Unique pistol !! I am going to look more carefully again my documentation of the Hendaye manufacture.. Mauro, thank you ! yes, it is very nice

06-25-2008, 07:04 AM	#8
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	6 6 Attached Thumbnails

06-25-2008, 07:21 AM	#9
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Hi Laoshi75 sad to say I had the holster in photo # 6 did not know what it was for . Sold at a gun show. So they are out there. Sure wish I knew who I sold it to might have been able to get it back for you. Regards Richie

06-25-2008, 07:32 AM	#10
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	Richard ....!!.....unfortunately... this is one more evidence that this pistol has been exported to the USA.. thank you Richard, christian

06-25-2008, 07:12 PM	#11
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Christian, here is a page from a 1965 issue of a U.S. publication called the "Gun Digest." It shows a listing of guns available on the American market, and The Unique is included. Note the different barrel lengths available, including 9 1/8 inches.

06-26-2008, 04:53 AM	#12
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	Aaron, A really important document for me ! I think that the long barrel/carbine has been manufactured only for the export market to the USA. i am inquiring.. Very interesting, I do thank you Aaron !! christian

06-26-2008, 11:38 AM	#13
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Does anybody have an index of all the Gun Digest books. I am sure there was an article about the carbine conversion of this pistol in one of them... I just don't remember when... Aaron, the 9-1/8" listing is for over all length... not barrel length... (at least the way I am reading it.) The "F.I." in the writeup stands for Firearms International... who was the importer. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-26-2008, 12:22 PM	#14
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	John, I think you are correct. I am pretty sure that the body of the pistol without the barrel is more than 4 inches, which was the shortest length advertised. It says with a 4" or 6" barrel (comma) 9 1/8" overall (doesn't say with which barrel but I believe it woud be with the 6"). __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

06-26-2008, 04:43 PM	#15
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	deleted.

06-26-2008, 04:50 PM	#16
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Also from the 1965 Gun Digest, page 270 is an illustration of the Unique convertible model:

06-26-2008, 07:11 PM	#17
laoshi75 User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand/France Posts: 491 Thanks: 288 Thanked 98 Times in 42 Posts	Gentlemen, Your contributions are very interesting to me, as you can imagine. The archives of the Hendaye manufacture have disapeared or are not accessible. I would add that this pistol (the D3 and later the D4) were sold during a long time by the wellknown (in France) "Manufrance" retailer network and were very popular at that time. But I am not a shooter and I cannot have an advice about the reliability of the gun of course. Aaron, you are right, I have seen this "combo" somewhere but I do not remember where. Many thanks to all of you. cv