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Winning Bid US $578 First bid $400 Quantity 1 # of bids 6 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-05-07 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

St. Etienne, Model: MLE 1916 Berthier. Cal: 8x50mmR Lebel Ball N, MFG: 1917, S/N: FT10444, bolt action rifle, 31 3/4'' barrel.

HISTORY: At the outbreak of WW1, France like all the other countries was in need of more infantry rifles. Production of the new Lebel rifles stopped in 1904 since they made enough to equip the whole army at the time. They already had factories making the Berthier rifle for the colonial troops so they converted the Berthier into a infantry rifle with a longer barrel & making it mount the Lebel bayonet. These would stand side by side with the Lebel as France mainline infantry rifle. This one is a later update with a larger 5 shot magazine instead of the older 3, this rifle can take both 3-shot & 5-shot clips though. This gun is also marked ''N'' on the chamber. This means it was modified to use the new Ball N cartridge. This new cartridge was tailored to long range, heavy machine guns having a heavier bullet & more powder. This results in more chamber pressure & the chambers of older rifles had to be modified to safely fire this new cartridge. The cartridge was developed in 1932 & all weapons still French inventory from 1934 to 1939, with the old chamber was modified to the ball N chamber & marked ''N'' on the barrel or receiver. Firing Ball N ammo out of a non ''N'' marked gun is unsafe & shouldnt be done. A ball N marked gun is safe to fire any 8mm Lebel out of.

CONDITION: The straight wrist walnut stock is very good with some small nicks, dings, & scratches from use/age. The upper handguard has a 1 1/4'' crack on the barrel band extension. The S/N is stamped into left cheek of stock. The metal has an arsenal re-blue with spots of roughness/cleaned pitting under the finish. The finish on the barrel rates 80% with full coverage but has scratches spots of thinning. The top of the barrel is starting to haze/tone brown with deep blue around the stock line. The receiver finish rates 75% with spots thinning & toning brown & scratches. The magazine has heavy pitting scars. the left side of the receiver is marked with a small ''F'' proof, ''ST. ETIENNE MLE M.16. the top of the receiver band is marked ''N''. The left rear of the barrel is marked ''ST'', ''C'' in circle, ''M'' in circle, & the S/N. the right rear of the barrel is marked ''MA'', ''S'', ''1917''. S/N matching bolt & trigger guard. The bore is very good. its bright with some roughness. The barrel holds a large block front sight with a groove cut in the top. The rear sight is a stepped base/ladder, deep square notch sight. These are the war time designed larger sights for quicker target acquisition over the older post sights. These started showing up on rifles late 1914 to early 1915. The stock carries a steel buttplate, left in the white. Buttplate has scattered light patina. The rifle has a rear bottom mounted sling swivel, & a left side forward sling ring. Rifle comes with a period correct black leather sling, & a Lebel ''Rosalie'' bayonet with sheath. Bayonet has no quillon & a brass handle. S/N matching sheath to bayonet, does not match rifle. A beautiful example of a WW1 French infantry rifle. FFL or C&R Req. - Value: 800 to 1600

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Price

St. Etienne, Model: MLE 1916 Berthier. Cal: 8x50mmR Lebel Ball N... Item # 4463 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $578

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