Civillian variant of the MAS50 training pistol?

[Leonardj]

I managed to find this interesting variant of the French MAS 50 training pistol several years ago, and despite my best efforts thus far, have still not found another like it. Most published information that I had found to date offers the same description, in particular the details regarding the markings and the grips. Could this particular pistol be one of the rumored "civillian" versions of the MAS 50?

In this pic of the LHS of this particular gun, two things become immediately obvious. The lack of the factory markings that are usually stamped into the frame just below the barrel, and the unusual coloration of the grips - a semi-opaque tortoise shell effect.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u.../CMAS50-01.jpg

The stamped markings normally seen on the LHS can be seen in this pic borrowed from the internet. The attribution URL for the pic has been noted in the picture.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u.../DSC00714b.jpg

There are two possibilities for the lack of these markings on my specimen that come to mind - that it may have been arbitrarily missed by the stamping operation, or that the marketing people at the time thought that a "civilian" version of the gun should not have the military manufacturer's name on the gun.

The RHS of this specimen is marked in the usual fashion with "CAL 4mm5 - Mlb 1950" and further forward, almost directly beneath the front sight area, the serial number.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u.../CMAS50-02.jpg

The grip panels appear to be authentic, factory parts, except for being molded in the two tone colour, instead of just plain black.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u.../CMAS50-05.jpg

I would be most interested in hearing from anyone that may have seen a similar variant to this particular gun. Pictures and serial numbers would be especially appreciated for documenting just how many of these variants are known to exist.

[frakor]

Hello Leonard,

I have got 2 pics in my personal archive from a similar (or maybe the same?) pistol.
These pics are not mine but I borrowed them from the net.






------------------------------
Frank

p.s.
You have mail

[Leonardj]

Hello Leonard,

I have got 2 pics in my personal archive from a similar (or maybe the same?) pistol.
These pics are not mine but I borrowed them from the net.






------------------------------
Frank

p.s.
You have mail

Hi Frank.
Those are indeed pics of my gun, which were posted to a couple of the forums that I frequented back in 2004/2005.

Mail? Nothing in my PM inbox here.
Did you mean to my e-mail addy?