MAB Modèle D Type I Police d'Etat .32 ACP, Pre-WWII French Service Pistol, 4 in Barrel, Blued, 3 Magazines
This pre-WWII MAB Modèle D Type I is a French .32 ACP service pistol marked "POLICE D'ETAT" on the slide, indicating French State Police property. Produced circa 1938–1939, it features a blued steel finish, smooth hardwood grips, and a bright, clean bore. It comes with three 7-round magazines and spare springs, making it a well-documented example with desirable period markings.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: Good condition for its age. The bore is bright and clean.
What’s Included
- Three 7-round single-stack steel magazines
- Spare recoil spring (loose)
- Small-diameter coil spring (loose spare)
- Documentation: literature
The right-side slide is marked "POLICE D'ETAT," identifying it as French State Police property. The left-side legend reads "PISTOLET AUTOMATIQUE CAL. 7.65 / MAB BREVETE MODELE D," and a "FRANCE" country-of-origin stamp is present. These clear, period-correct markings support its 1938–1939 production timeframe.
This Type I variant uses the early disassembly system with an external latch for the knurled muzzle bushing. The design is a striker-fired, single-action, simple blowback pistol with a fixed barrel influenced by the Browning 1910/22 pattern.
Chambered in .32 ACP, it has a 4 in barrel and a 7+1 capacity fed by a single-column detachable magazine. Fixed iron sights consist of a front blade and rear notch. A frame-mounted manual thumb safety provides the primary external control.
The pistol retains a blued steel slide and frame with smooth hardwood grips, consistent with MAB production of the era. It includes three magazines along with a spare recoil spring and an additional small-diameter coil spring, plus literature, adding useful support for range or collection use.