MAC Mle 1950
The MAC 50 (also known as MAC 1950, MAS 50 or PA modèle 1950) is a standard semi-automatic pistol of the French army and adopted in 1950. It replaced the previous series of French pistols, the Modèle 1935A and Modèle 1935S, and was produced between 1950 and 1970, with around 341,900 being created during that timeframe. It was first made by MAC (Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault) then by MAS (Manufacture d'Armes St.
MAC Mle 1950

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- Name
- MAC Mle 1950
- Field
- semi-automatic pistol
- Period
- 1950
- Region
- France
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Documentary summary
The MAC 50 (also known as MAC 1950, MAS 50 or PA modèle 1950) is a standard semi-automatic pistol of the French army and adopted in 1950. It replaced the previous series of French pistols, the Modèle 1935A and Modèle 1935S, and was produced between 1950 and 1970, with around 341,900 being created during that timeframe. It was first made by MAC (Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault) then by MAS (Manufacture d'Armes St.
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wikidata · Q835436 · wikipedia · MAC Mle 1950
In this article
Overview
Overview
Etienne - two of several government-owned arms factories in France) It is now superseded by the PAMAS G1, the French version of the Beretta 92, and since 2020 by the 5th-generation Glock 17.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — MAC Mle 1950 • Origin — French Fourth Republic / France • Type — Semi-automatic pistol • Is Ranged — yes • Wars — First Indochina War Algerian War Suez Crisis Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War Chadian Civil War Western Sahara War Chadian–Libyan conflict Shaba II Algerian Civil War First Ivorian Civil War Second Ivorian Civil War Libyan civil war (2011) Libyan civil war (2014–2020) • Design Date — 1950 • Manufacturer — Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault MAS • Production Date — 1950–1970 • Number — 341,900 • Weight — 860 g • Length — 195 mm • Part Length — 111 mm • Height — 135 mm • Cartridge — 9×19mm Parabellum • Action — Short recoil, locked breech, dropping barrel • Velocity — 315 m/s • Range — 50 m • Max Range — 1900 m • Feed — 9-round detachable box magazine • Sights — Fixed iron sights 155 mm sight radius
History
History
In Châtellerault, 221,900 were made until it was closed in 1963, with production continuing in St. Étienne, where 120,000 pistols were made by 1978. From 1953, the MAC 50 replaced the Modèle 1892 revolver, the MAS 35S, PA 35A, and other Colt 1911 models in the French armed forces, and the P38 in the CRS (riot police). It was the standard-issue sidearm for the French Gendarmerie (excluding specialised units) until its gradual replacement by the MAS G1 starting in 1989. It was also issued to the Penitentiary Service and certain branches of the National Police (DST, PJ, RG, and PAF). In 2000, fifty years after its initial introduction, the Army's MAC 50 began its phase-out and was replaced by a version of the Beretta 92, the PAMAS G1, which was previously issued to the National Gendarmerie, which now uses the SIG PRO SP2022. In 2020, the Glock 17 became the standard-issue weapon in the French armed forces and was to completely replace the remaining MAC 50s.
Design
Design
It uses the Browning system like the FN GP 35 with an integral barrel feed ramp, it is a single-action trigger with slide mounted safety that locks the firing pin so the hammer can be lowered by pressing the trigger with safety engaged. The MAC-50 is primarily based on the Modèle 1935S, for which MAC was the primary manufacturer, although it shares some characteristics with the Modèle 1935A, the design basis for the SIG P210 (SIG licensed the Modèle 1935A design from SACM in 1937).
Users
Users
• Illustration — Map with MAC-50 users in blue * • Central African Republic: Armée de Terre and Gendarmerie nationale (Central African Republic) • France • French Armed Forces • Police Nationale • Ivory Coast • Libya • Morocco • Ukraine
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
Explore 1950
The full dated record · 4 entries
1950
MAC Mle 1950 first recorded.
1950
MAC Mle 1950 is classified as a semi-automatic pistol.
1950
MAC Mle 1950 is associated with France.
1950
MAC Mle 1950 is recorded from 1950.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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- France
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.L'armement français en A.F.N. Gazette des Armes. 220. 12–16. March 1992.
- 2.Windrow, Martin. French Foreign Legion Paratroops. Osprey Publishing. 6. 56-57. 26 September 1985. 978-0-85045-629-5.
- 3.Sicard, Jacques. Les armes de Kolwezi. La Gazette des Armes. 111. 25–30. November 1982.
- 4.Mle. 1950. Modern Firearms. 22 October 2010.
- 5.PSA : GLOCK 17 Gen 5, un bon choix pour remplacer MAC 50 et PAMAS ?. TRE - Tactical Response To Efficience. 2020-01-09.
- 6.MAC 1950: Disassembly & History. Forgotten Weapons. 27 February 2017.
- 7.Algeria. World Infantry Weapons. 2015.
- 8.Berman, Eric G. The Central African Republic and Small Arms: A Regional Tinderbox. Small Arms Survey. 35, 42. December 2008. 978-2-8288-0103-8.
- 9.Wiener, Friedrich. The Armies of the NATO Nations: Organization, Concept of War, Weapons and Equipment. Herold Publishers. 425. 1987.
- 10.Anders, Holger. Identifier les sources d'approvisionnement: Les munitions de petit calibre en Côte d'Ivoire. Small Arms Survey and United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. 15. June 2014. 978-2-940-548-05-7.
- 11.Jenzen-Jones, N.R. Web Trafficking: Analysing the Online Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Libya. 83. April 2017.
- 12.Huon, Jean. Un siècle d’armement mondial. Crépin-Leblond. 1981.
- 13.Ezell, Edward. Small Arms Today. Stackpole Books. 1988. 978-0-85368-977-5.
- 14.https://armourersbench.com/2026/02/22/french-mac-1950-in-ukraine/
References
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References
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Broader subject
1- semi-automatic pistolTerminology
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MAC Mle 1950 is connected to 1 other published record in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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