• Mab Model D Serial Numbers
• Mab Model D 7.65
• Mab Model D Pistol Serial Numbers
• Mab Model D Grips
• Mab Brevete Model D

Wow, 'used or likely to have been used in WWII' casts a pretty wide net! It probably includes about every European pistol made after 1900, and a lot of others.

The serial number of the MAB D pistol - First serial numbers by model (until 1958) - Chart of some serial number prefix letters - Location on secondary parts of the serial number The production of. An interesting history this model; MAB stands for Manufacture d'Armes de Bayonne and was made (in.32) from 1933 till 1963. It was also made in.380. During WWII when the Germans occupied France one of the cities that the laid claim to was Bayonne, mainly for the MAB factory. Mab Model D.32 acp magazine. Posted by Unknown on Jan 21st 2020 I am well aware these are surplus magazines and I was prepared to clean them up. Both magazines were so badly crushed and bent at the feed lips they could not be inserted into the gun. The back side of. The MAB Model D was introduced in 1933, like the Browning Model 1910, the MAB Model D carries the recoil spring around its barrel. 25, Barrel Length: Approximately 2-1/8' Long, Finish: Blue, SN: CANNOT FIND A SERIAL NUMBER Markings: The end of the barrel has 10 oval shaped slots around it., Goldsby, Ok 73093; TERMS: Cash, Credit Card, In-State. Jun 07, 2012  The serial number of the MAB D pistol - First serial numbers by model (until 1958) - Chart of some serial number prefix letters - Location on secondary parts of the serial number.

The Unique model 19 was not one of the pistols produced for the French military. Production ended in 1939 when the French government diverted Unique's entire production to the model 17 in preparation for WW II. The Germans kept the model 17 in production during the German occupation of France, evenually redesigning it into the Kriegsmodel, but produced no other Unique pistols. On the other hand, just about any commercial or police pistol, as well as those already in military stocks (including reserve WW I pistols) could end up used by the French military (Free French or Vichy), German military, French resistance, etc, during WWII. Unfortuantely, other than most of those made under German control during the occupation, and a small number of French Navy pistols, these will not normally have any special markings indicating their use during the war. For example, MAB model Ds (like Unique, in 1939 all MAB production was diverted to producing the MAB model D for the French military) used by the French army can only be identified by whether their serial numbers fall in a certain range.
For a book that will 'ID all the parts, date of manufacture, etc.' for the Unique 19 -- well, I wish I could recommend such a book, but AFAIK none exists.
There is good news and bad news about Unique pistols.
The bad news is that, AFAIK, as of yet no one has produced a history of it or its pistols. In addition, in its 60 or years of existence, Unique produced a vast array of models, primarily pistols but also rifles, and I don't know of any complete list of its firearms. Even worse, many of their models are variants of a design, and since Unique rarely marked model names or numbers on pistols until after WWII, there is often a lot of confusion about which model is which.
The good news with Unique pistols is that all their pistols from 1925 through the post-WWII years are either the usual Ruby-type designs or, less frequently, the Browning 1910 design, with the model 18, 19, and 20 being the latter. If you are familiar with the Ruby-types, and with the Browning 1910 and 1922, or the MAB C and D, you should have no problem with the Unique 19.
For French pistols in general, the best books I can suggest are :
Jean Huon: 'Les Pistolets Automatiques Francais: 1890-1990' (2002)
(This is a combined reissue of two earlier volumes dating to the early 1990s, so does not include the latest information (the ability to easily share firearm information and photos over the internet has generated a huge expansion of knowledge). It is also not entirely complete. However, it may be the best single overview of French-made pistols and French and foreign pistols used by the French military (the two subjects of the two original volumes). Unfortunately, while it includes a large number of excellent B&W photos and basic information on most of the pistols, as well as brief histories of major French arms manufactuers, it does not have a lot of technical information on the pistols beyond dimensions, caliber, etc. It has a section just on Unique pistols, but little information on the model 19 (and its variants, the models 18 and 20). There is no English edition, but this book can be easily bought in the US -- but look around, since prices are extremely variable.)
Jean Huon & Eugene Medlin: 'Les armes de poing de l'armée française : 1858-2004' (2005) (French 2nd edition of the following English book.)
Eugene Medlin & Jean Huon: 'French Service Handguns 1858-2004' (2004)
(A survey of military sidearms (revolvers and pistols) used by the French military for the period covered. Includes much more detail and background than 'Les Pistolets Automatiques Francais' and includes (by necessity) the French firearms used by the Germans during the occupation of France. Also includes holsters, etc. This is currently easily available in the US, but, again, prices are variable, and it is a limited production. While Unique pistols are discussed, there is no mention of the Unique model 19 since it was never adopted by the French military.)
Eugene Medlin & Jean Huon: 'Military Handguns of France, 1858-1958' (1993)
(An earlier version of the above books, now difficult to obtain and expensive. There are also some earlier French editions.)
Jean Huon: 'Les armes de la Résistance' (2010)
(I recently ran across this on a French website, so have not read it yet, so can only go by the title and book dealer's description. No English edition.)
You might also want to look through back issues of 'Revue de la Gazette des Armes,' if you can find them. Otherwise, they are available from the publisher at: Le site de la Revue de la Gazette des Armes (the website has a complete index of articles), and often on some of the international eBay sites.
I recognise your handle from other firearm websites, so expect you are familiar with some of the international forums with French members, or Francophone sites, which can be very helpful, even invaluable. However, with a lot of these older lesser known firearms, even members in France often suffer from the same dearth of reliable information as do we.
Bill

The purpose of this article is to solve the mystery of the early Yamaha FG serial numbers, internal markings, and labels. And to be able to fairly accurately determine when they were made.

Yamaha doesn’t know exactly when the earliest FG’s were made. Everyone has been guessing for years. I’ve been collecting data and in most cases can tell when a guitar with a 6 or 7 digit serial number was made (within a month or so).

The facts presented are based on personal observations, data collected, and data donated. They don’t always agree with Yamaha’s Guitar Archive data. And there are still a few assumptions. This article will be updated as I find further information.

What got me started was a curiosity of what the early (1966-71) Japan built FG 6 & 7 digit serial numbers meant.

• I’ve read the first digit in the serial number is the year, then a 2 digit month, 2 digits for the day, and the rest is a unit number.
• That didn’t work for a few guitars I found.
• So the 6 & 7 digit serial numbers must not be related to date the guitars were built.

While the serial number is visible, although not always usable to determine the date of manufacture, there is a Date Code ink stamped on the inside of all early FG’s, except most FG-75’s. This date code will be very close to when the guitar was built. Typically 3 to 6 weeks before it’s finished.

• The date code is located on either side of the lower bout. Sometimes both or on the end block.
• The format is YY.MM.DD.
• The year isn’t the normal year we are used to. It’s the Japanese year based on the reign of the current Emperor. In this case it’s the SHOWA period, the reign of Emperor Hirohito, which started in 1926. Year 1 is 1926, therefore year 41 is 1966. 41.6.18 would be June 18, 1966.
• This date code was probably stamped when they made the sides, not when the guitar was assembled. I’ve seen a couple of guitars where the date code is partially under the kerfing.
• Some guitars did not get a serial number or it has faded over the years, so the only way to know about when the guitar was made is by this date code.
• It seems not many people in the US know about the date codes, although they must be better known in Japan.
• The date code isn’t always visible thru the sound hole.
• The best way to find it is to put a flashlight inside the guitar and use the camera on your cell phone to look around inside. Another option is a USB endoscope that is plugged into your cell phone. The visual quality isn’t as good as the cell phone camera but the length and flexibility allows you to get closer.
• I believe the date codes are in all vintage Yamaha guitars, except for most FG-75/FG-75-1’s. I’ve found them in all that I have (up to 1980) except for 2 rosewood models because the dark wood obscured the date code and my FG-75/FG-75-1’s. I’ve only found (2) FG-75 date codes, many were examined and there were no visible internal markings other than the serial number..
• There is typically a single larger number ink stamped on each of the sides. I had assumed those are detail numbers so they use the right side pieces for that model guitar, but I’ve found some inconsistencies and it’s possible they are inspection marks.
• The Date Code is typically next to one of these large numbers.

Once I discovered the internal date codes I knew I could compare known 6 & 7 digit serial number/date code sets with other serial numbers and make a good guess as to when other guitars were made. Currently I am up to 1729 serial numbers and 267 date codes. So I started searching and asking for serial numbers and date codes and putting them in a spread sheet. I also recorded the link of where I found the data, just in case I had to go back. Which I have many times, as I’ve found more changes and differences.

Finding serial numbers isn’t too hard. Search & ask. But the date codes are needed as reference points. Those are hard to find. I found a Japanese guy on Youtube who made videos of himself playing many early FG, and he mentioned the serial number and date code most of the time. He also has a website (in Japanese) dedicated to the FG-150. A few curious people I’ve asked have found date codes inside their guitars, but I can’t expect many people to go that far. When I find vintage FG’s locally on CraigsList I will ask if I can see the guitar and take pictures. But they’re very rare.

After recording serial numbers I realized I could probably figure out when the various labels changed, based on the pictures on the pages I saved the links for.

The first FG’s were built in 1966 (Green label):

• In 1966 Yamaha opened the Tenryu factory in Hamamatsu to produce the new FG series. Previously, all guitars had been made by other companies.
• The first models were the FG-150 & FG-180, starting in August 1966, until February 1967.
• They have Green labels and were made for Japan only.
• The serial numbers for the FG’s continued with the existing consecutive number system used by the Dynamic series.
• The earliest Green label serial number I have found is an FG-180 with 499751, no date code. It’s possible this one was made in July 1966.
• The latest Green label serial number I have is an FG-180 with 611587 (no date code).
• I’ve found 45 Green label serial numbers, and 18 of them have date codes.

The FG’s were first exported in 1967 (Red label):

• The Red label is identical to the green label, except for the color and the small piano changed to the familiar 3 tuning fork symbol.
• The earliest Red Label serial number & date code set I’ve found is an FG-150 with 599XXX & 41.12.2. It looks like there was a month or 2 overlap with the Green label.
• The latest Red Label 7 digit serial number I’ve found is an FG-180 with 20315XX (no date code).
• The latest date code is an FG-180 with 47.2.7 (no s/n), built in 1972.
• I’ve found Nippon Gakki Red Labels with 8 digit serial numbers ranging from an FG-180 with 10001471 (which makes no sense) & no date code, and the latest an FG-75 with 20829541 (no date code) (mid-1972). I’m assuming these were models made for Japan.
• I have found a few Red label Nippon Gakki FG’s without a visible serial number.
• I have found 2 slightly different Red labels. The early version was used for about the first 6 months. “YAMAHA GUITAR” is shorter and bolder, and the lines above and below are thicker.

Nippon Gakki FG’s after mid-1972 (Tan label):

• With the new factory in Kaohsiung Taiwan, Guitars made in Japan after mid-1972 were probably made for Japan only.
• The labels are tan and rectangular, and are marked with the model number and “Nippon Gakki”.
• They seemed to continue the 8 digit serial numbers up to mid-1973, then they changed to 5 digit numbers (YMMDD), basically the same as the export 8 digit (YMMDDUUU) numbers except there’s no unit number.
• The 5 digit serial numbers may have started for special export models, such as the FG-360, and also shared by the domestic models. Although there seem to be a few FG-360’s with 8 digit serial numbers made for export in 1973, breaking the above rule.
• The earliest Tan Label 8 digit serial number & date code set I’ve found is an FG200 with 20502098 & 47.4.6.
• The latest is an FG-360 with 30419296 (no date code).
• The earliest 5 digit Tan Label serial number is an FG-580 with 30426.
• The latest is an FG-170 with serial number 41227 & date code 49.12.7.

• I have very little data on the Nippon Gakki Black labels. I’ve seen a FG-700S with serial number 41023 & date code 49.7.6.
• I’ve also seen an Orange label Nippon Gakki with serial number 40418 & date code 49.3.7. It seems some of these were made during the time of the Tan label Nippon Gakki’s. But the next Orange label Nippon Gakki I have recorded is 51006 with no date code. And the Orange label continues beyond 1981.
• While my primary focus has been the Export models, I’ll have to watch for these more closely.

The first FG’s made in Taiwan (Red label):

• Red labels were used at the new Kaohsiung Taiwan factory from mid-1971 until late 1972.
• The labels are nearly identical to the Japan FG’s Red labels except without the words “Nippon Gakki” and the tuning fork symbol moved to next to the model number.
• The Taiwan Red Label FG’s were made for export, while the Tan Label Nippon Gakki FG’s where made for Japan.
• They initially only had serial numbers located on the neck block, 7 consecutive numbers (no relation to date), preceded with a “T”.
• The earliest I’ve found is T0008406 but I’d assume they started with T0000001.
• The earliest serial number/date code set I’ve found is T0015094 & 60.7.1 (1971).
• In mid-1972 8 digit serial numbers (YMMDDUUU) were added on the brace under the end of the fretboard.
• The first 8 digit serial numbers I’ve found are 20510248 (5/10/1972) & T0135230.
• The Taiwan made FG’s also have internal date codes, but they are based on the Minguo era, the reign of Kim II-sung, starting at his birth year of 1912, which is year 1. Therefore year 60 would be 1971.
• Some FG models were produced by both locations, with the label, serial numbers, and date codes being the only difference.
• All models have the headstock logo “YAMAHA”.

The Taiwan FG’s after late 1972 (Tan label):

• Taiwan models made from late-1972 to early-1975 have a rectangular tan label, very similar to the Nippon Gakki label of the same period.
• They have 2 sets of serial numbers. An 8 digit serial number (YMMDDUUU) is on the brace under the end of the fretboard, and a sequential 7 digit number beginning with “T” on the neck block.

Mab Model D Serial Numbers

• For the first 2 months (very late 8/72 to very early 11/72) the label was shorter than the Nippon Gakki label, with only the model number, no location. I only have 29 serial numbers with this label, ranging from 20830243 to 21107695. Oddly I’ve found 6 guitars that have 8 digit numbers 201XXXXX, but the T number but puts the guitar in the range of 210XXXXX. This error looks to have been fixed by 21014XXX. I’d assume there are some serial numbers outside this range but probably not more than 2 weeks total. These are very rare.

• Then they changed the labels to the same size as the Tan Nippon Gakki labels except they say “Made in Taiwan”.
• The earliest serial numbers I have are 21101470 (11/1/1972) & T0225201.
• The latest 30907255 (9/7/1973) & 0380306.
• In mid-1973 they dropped the “T” from the 7 digit serial number, somewhere around 30609XXX & 033XXX.

Mab Model D 7.65

• Late 1973 they were changed the location to “Made in Taiwan / Republic of China” which lasted until late 1974.
• The earliest serial numbers I have are 30901051 (9/1/1973) & 0387179.
• The latest are 40829095 (8/29/1974) & 0587267.

Mab Model D Pistol Serial Numbers

• Mid 1974 the reversed the location to “Republic of China/Made in Taiwan” which lasted until the models changed in 1975.
• The earliest serial numbers I have are 40610478 (6/10/1974) & 0539508.
• The latest are 50830182 (8/30/1975).

• The Yamaha Guitar Archive data says these models ended in 1974 but the last Tan label serial number I’ve found is 50830182 (8/30/1975).
• Initially the headstock logo was the 3 tuning forks inside of a circle, but at the beginning of November 1973“YAMAHA” was added, assumed for brand recognition.

In 1975 the Taiwan FG’s models changed (Black label):

Mab Model D Grips

• Added -1 (in small characters) after the model numbers.
• The labels where changed to black.
• The labels are shorter and wider than the Tan labels.
• The serial numbers are 8 digits on the brace under the fretboard (YYMMDDUUU) and a 7 digit number on neck block.
• The earliest serial numbers I have are 50604395 (6/19/1975) & 0716558.
• The latest are 70215483 (1/21/1977) & 1025186).
• The Yamaha Guitar Archive data says these models started in 1974 but so far I’ve found Tan label serial numbers as late as August 1975, and I haven’t found a Black label earlier than June 1975.
• All Black label Taiwan models have the headstock logo with the 3 tuning forks inside a circle with “YAMAHA” underneath.

Mab Brevete Model D

New models starting in 1977 (Oval label):

• The export (from Taiwan) models have a White oval label.
• The Japan only (Nippon Gakki) models have an Orange oval label.
• The Taiwan serial numbers are 8 digits on the brace under the fretboard and a 7 digit number on neck block.
• The earliest I have are 70130074 (1/30/1977) & 1003893.
• This serial number system continued until 2001.
• The Japan serial numbers continue to use 5 digits on the brace under the fretboard.
• All models have the headstock logo “YAMAHA”.