MAB Brevete P-15 Variant IV 9mm 15+1 Semi-Auto Pistol – 1981 HOWCO Import
The MAB P-15 Variant IV is a French-made, full-size 9 mm pistol notable for being the first production handgun to pair a double-stack 15-round magazine with a rotating-barrel delay system. This 1981 HOWCO-import example comes from the final production run before Manufacture d’Armes de Bayonne closed, and only about 3,000 Variant IV pistols reached the U.S. market. All-steel construction, classic blued finish, and hard-to-find status make it a desirable piece for shooters and collectors alike.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Surface scratches and finish blemishes are present, with light areas of rust and isolated pitting. The right-hand grip panel has a small crack with a chip of material missing.
What’s Included
- MAB Brevete P-15 Variant IV pistol
- One factory 15-round steel magazine
The P-15 was decades ahead of its time, introducing a service-sized 15-round magazine years before comparable designs became common. Its rotating-barrel, short-recoil system keeps the bore axis low and distributes recoil forces differently than tilt-barrel pistols, giving it a distinct mechanical character.
This Variant IV example features late-production updates such as rear slide serrations and an improved push-button magazine release. A manual thumb safety and magazine disconnect provide familiar operating controls, while the external ring hammer offers easy cocking and visual status.
All exterior components are machined steel with a deep blued finish, complemented by black phenolic grip panels bearing the MAB logo. Fixed iron sights consist of an integral front ramp blade and a dovetailed square-notch rear, maintaining the pistol’s sleek profile.
Marked with St-Étienne crown proofs and the discrete HOWCO import stamp, this pistol represents the last chapter of French commercial handgun production, giving it additional collector appeal.