Help - Caliber & Model ????

US623

I need your help! I am a novice w/ guns. I has received a semi-auto pistol from my father and would like to know model and caliber.
I will try to describe pistol.

First, I will tell you what I do know. It is smaller than a 9mm and
larger than a .22caliber pistol.

Description
Condition : excellent
8" in Length
Black
top is box shaped
single stack clip ?
Markings :Mle 1935A (le is underlined)
next to that it reads: Wa A25 or Wa 425 (small print / curved)
next to that it reads : B3536A(B is script print)
below that it reads : S.A.S.M.

These are the only markings on the pistol.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

My father received the pistol from his brother twenty years ago. His brother is deceased.

Der Gebirgsjager

You have a Model 1935A French military pistol, caliber 7.65 mm Long. The ammo is kind of hard to come by, and expensive when you find it.

US623

Thanks for your input. Is there any value to the pistol?

Der Gebirgsjager

Your pistol's value depends greatly on it's condition. The current "Blue Book" value runs from $90 for one in 60% conditon (percentage of original finish remaining) to $195 in 100% condition. The good news is that your gun was made during the Nazi occupation of France during WW II (that's what the WA markings represent--these are German inspection/acceptance marks) and because of that you can add 50% to the value. So, for example, if your pistol is in 90% condition it's value is approximately $125 + $62.50 for a total of $187.50. Values can vary depending on what part of the country you live in; and often a military collector is willing to pay more for a very nice specimen. If you intend to keep the pistol and shoot it you can obtain ammunition from: Old Western Scrounger Inc., 12924 Hwy. A-12, Montague, CA 96064, 530-459-5445. Hold onto your hat--it's about $47 for a box of 50 rounds, Stock No. 2707, known by it's American designation of .32 French Long. The only consolation is that, if you pick up the brass, it's reloadable. You may possibly find military surplus ammo on this site's auction at a lower price, but it will probably be corrosive and not reloadable. There are some ammunition collectors/dealers that contribute to this forum (Iconoclast comes to mind) and an appeal to them might get you a better deal on some ammo. Because of this ammo problem these pistols are not in wide use, although many of them were imported back in the "good old days" of surplus. It is a good pistol, and was one of the first to have the slide run on rails inside the frame.