MAB Model A

The MAB Model A is a semi-automatic pistol with a calibre of 6.35 mm (.25 ACP), made in France.

One of the excuisit features of MAB - Model A "Brequette" light hand gun is that the rear end of the grip has a press activated lock. This feature ensures that the firing mechanism does not operate unless the grip lock is depressed against the palm of the operator's hand, thereby eliminating chances of accidental firing of the weapon.

MAB Model A "Brequette" is equipped with internal firing hammer mechanism with no externally visible hammer.

MAB A

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After the first Eibar Type of 1921, in Jänner 1925 the pistol MAB A in the blued version appeared on the market. A nickel plated model followed in November 1929.

The concept of this pistol is like the predecessor model. It is equipped with plastik grips in the contour of the frame, with the company’s logo MAB on them. The slide now has vertical serrations, finer and numerous than on the preceding model. A palm safety was placed and the safety lever was placed at the rear end now, and got an extension to the front with a nose, which fixes the slide in the closed or open position. Like the other MAB-pistols, it got unlocked breech system.

During period of production the pistol MAB A got some smaller modifications that possibly allow an assignment to the production-date. Trigger and the extractor were first milled out of in steel and have been replaced later on with prefabricated parts from drawn sheet metal. The modification of the extractor took place since May 30th, 1948 on all arms, which numbers are higher than 65.000. Furthermore, there are hints that beginning with March 22nd, 1954 the grooves of the barrels of all MAB pistols were made without milling.

The production of the MAB A ended in September 1964.

During the German occupation in World War II between 1941 and 1944 according to books 1.130 pistols MAB A were supplied to German authorities. The serial numbers of these pieces are between 107.900 and 109.240.

In the United States, MAB-Pistols were imported and traded by the "Winfield Arms Corporation" in Los Angeles under their name. Early models were marked on the right side with "Made in France for WAC", in later years, the pistols got completely new names for the American market, like for example "Le Defendeur".

Technical data

SYSTEM: blowback inertial system with firing pin

CARTRIDGES: 6

CALIBER: .25 ACP

BARREL LENGTH: 53 mm, 6 grooves right hand twisting

WEIGHT EMPTY: 380 g

TOTAL LENGTH: 117 mm

TOTAL HEIGHT: 79 mm

TOTAL WIDTH: 24 mm

TRIGGER: Single Action

SIGHT: fix

SAFETY: grip-, magazine- and lever-safety

FINISH: blued

HANDLE: hard rubber

Back "Manufacture d'armes de Bayonne"

MAB Model B

MAB B

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The Model B appeared on the market in August 1932. It had even smaller dimensions than the preceeding models and cannot deny the image of the Walther Modell 9.

The receiver got a similar shape as the Model A, but now the barrel is fix mounted, and the slide is open at the top.

The production of the MAB B ended in 1949. There are no reports about numbers produced, but they were not few.

Technical Data

SYSTEM: blowback inertial system with firing pin.

CARTRIDGES : 5.

CALIBER : .25 ACP.

BARREL LENGTH : 50 mm , 6 grooves right hand twisting.

WEIGHT EMPTY : 305 g.

TOTAL LENGTH : 105 mm.

TOTAL HEIGHT : 74 mm.

TOTAL WIDTH : 22 mm.

TRIGGER : Single Action.

SIGHT : fix.

SAFETY : grip- and lever-safety.

FINISH : blued.

HANDLE : hard rubber.

Manufacture d'armes de Bayonne

A LITTLE HISTORYWhile the VP .25 auto and the BABY were intended as personal or “last ditch” defense arms, they are only marginally effective in lethality because of their minuscule caliber and light projectiles. Both models are surprisingly accurate in the hands of an experienced shooter, but their chief value lies not in their power but in the sense of security they bring to their owners.

In today’s restricted market, both are considered collectibles, the FN BABY and the .25 Browning version being more sought after than the FN Vest Pocket. The charm of the BABY/.25 Browning lies in its sleek lines, beautiful finish and precision workmanship. It is possible to find in American pawnshops and gun stores some of the early and countless foreign copies of the Browning Vest Pocket, but the original FN guns and the BABY models are rarely seen for sale in any variation.

Production of the BABY 6.35 mm was transferred to the Manufacture d’Armes de Bayonne, France (“MAB”), an FN subsidiary, in November 1979. Units made at Bayonne were proofed by an inspector from the French arms facility at St. Etienne and bear the crown St. Etienne proof on the face (muzzle end) of the slide. The only other marks observed on a 1980 example are the two words FABRIQUE NATIONALE on the left side of the slide and the serial number in the usual place on the left side of the frame just above the trigger guard.

FN catalogs of 1979-1981 illustrate only the standard blued model, although we have been told that some of the satin chrome units were available on special order. In 1982, FN announced a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, chrome plated with Renaissance (Type III) engraving and selected figured walnut grips. These pistols carried the serial number 1/1000, 2/2000, etc., on the underside of the frame ahead of the trigger guard. Serial numbers are in the 1979 (RN) series. This model appeared in the 1983 FN catalog as the BABY DELUXE.

Although the sales of the little pistol were reported as about 16,000 in 1983, the MAB plant was shut down, halting production of the BABY 6.35 mm pistol at 527,482 units. At about the same time FN received an offer from an American company, Precision Small Parts, Inc. of Charlottesville, Virginia, to purchase manufacture and sales rights for a version of the BABY to be made in this country. Agreement was reached for PSP to buy the remaining spare parts, and to make two models of the BABY, a standard, FN-marked model for export and a new variation to be called the “PSP 25/22” for sale in this country. It was advertised in a PSP flyer in 1985 as “…the most advanced and versatile small caliber automatic pistol on the market today.” The new name reflects a major change in design, one that many BABY devotees have advocated for years, that is the capability to change from .25 to .22 short caliber. This can be done with the PSP pistol without tools merely by switching barrels, firing pins and magazines.

References