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Winning Bid US $420 First bid $400 Quantity 1 # of bids 2 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Manufacture d.armes Chatellerault (France), Model: Mousqueton (musketoon) Mle 1892/M16 Berthier, Cal. 8 x 50mmR Lebel, MFG: 1916-20s, S/N: BC 33354, Semi-auto rifle, 17 3/4'' barrel.

HISTORY: The Berthier was designed as a replacement for the aging single shot black powder Gras rifle that was being used by Mounted security forces, cavalry units, artillery units, & in colonial service. The French had the Lebel in the new smokeless 8mm round, but it had a tube magazine that ran the length of the barrel, therefore cutting them down created a problem with capacity. The new rifle was designed by Andre Virgile Paul Marie Berthier, a French civilian engineer in the Algerian railways. It used a three shot Mannlicher end-bloc clip, greatly increasing reload speed, particular convenience for cavalry and other mounted troops. The Lebel had to be single loaded instead of loading all at once, giving the Berthier a faster fire rate over the whole length of a battle, even though the Lebel held eight Rds., while the Berthier held three. The smaller capacity was chosen over the typical five rounds after field testing, where the cavalry expressed a preference for a non-protruding magazine that did not interfere with the balance or handling of the rifle. It was adopted on March 12, 1890 & designated the MLE 1890. The cavalry loved the carbine, & another version would be made specially for the Artillery troops which added a bayonet lug & changed the forend of the stock, this would be the MLE 1892. The MLE 1892 would be made clear to 1917, until production of its upgrade the MLE 1916 could start in May of 1917. The MLE 1916 added a five shot magazine & a handguard from the many complaints of use with front line troops. Production of both the 1890 calvary & 1892 Artillery would stop & the MLE 1916 Mousqueton would replace both. Older models would also be updated with the newer parts once they got sent back to a arsenal for repair, leading to rifles with a mix of parts & markings. The MLE 1892/M16 carbines were the only model of Berthier produced after WW1 with all other being discontinued, it would made till 1938. This gun is Ball N marked. 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 older weapons still French inventory from 1934 to 1939 were 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 & shouldn't be done. A ball N marked gun is safe to fire N & Non-N 8mm Lebel out of.

CONDITION: The straight wrist walnut stock is very good with some scuffs, nicks, & scratches from use/age. Stock has no visible large cracks or chips. The right cheek of the stock has a heavily faded roundel acceptance cartouche that's illegible. The Buttplate is proud to the wood at the toe. The S/N is stamped into left cheek of stock. The metal has an arsenal re-blue with a few small spots of roughness/dings under the finish. The finish on the barrel rates 95% with light thinning & a few scratches. The receiver finish rates 97% with light thinning. The magazine & trigger guard have toned to a mix of gunmetal gray & brown patina. other metal parts are a mix of remaining blue & brown patina. The left side of the receiver is marked ''CHATELLERAULT'', marking is faded & partially gone from the arsenal re-blue, ''M16'', & inspectors initials ''PK''. The top of the receiver band is marked ''N''. The left rear of the barrel is marked ''ST'', ''A'' in circle, ''B'' in circle, & the S/N. the right rear of the barrel is marked ''MA C 1933'' (means it was made at Chatellerault in 1933). The top middle of the barrel is marked ''N''. the bottom of the magazine hole cover is stamped with a small ''MAC'' in a rectangle. S/N matching bolt & trigger guard. The bore is very good. Its bright & shiny with a couple spots of 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 rust & roughness. The rifle has a rear bottom mounted sling swivel, & a left side forward sling ring. A nice example of a Interwar period French Artillery Carbine. FFL or C&R Req - Value: 800 to 1600

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Price

Manufacture d.armes Chatellerault (France), Model: Mousqueton (m... Item # 4506 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $420

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