French M1916 Berthier Carbine…………….SOLD

A Neat little Carbine – The M1916 Berthier

Matching Serial number 31592.  Measuring 37.3/8″ in length with a  round blued barrel measuring 17.1/2″. With the 20″ bayonet fitted the whole Carbine becomes 52.1/4″ in total length.  This M1916 is chambered in 8 x 50 mm Lebel with the chamber marked with a “N” to indicate it took the more powerful “balle” ammunition, and that the French Armory had increased the magazine capacity from 3 rounds to 5 and reamed the chamber.  Other parts had been modified like the striker spring, which had been made more powerful to handle the up-rated cartridge.

The whole package is a neat weapon, well finished and nicely balanced for use on horseback or Camel for that matter in the case of Algeria.  It also found service in Artillery units and Police and Prison guard situations.  This particular M1916 carbine is all matching and comes with the correct bayonet & scabbard.  It is stocked in French Walnut with a short hand-guard on top of the barrel.   The butt of the stock carries a plain smooth steel butt-plate which has retained fabulous colours.  The side of the butt is numbered in the same manner as the rifle with the serial number prefixed by a script letter for the series of production, so it reads  “A C 31592″  These same script letters appear in front of the serial number as it appears on the rest of the carbine.  The stock is in fine condition and it retained by two cross bolts, the action fixings and two sprung bands.  The mid band carries the front sling swivel and the front cap has the stacking prong and the bayonet stud attached.  There are traces of the other modifications that were made to the carbine, where in 1927 the  original cleaning rod was removed from the front LHS of the fore-end and filled with a wooden filler at the armory.  This has been extremely well executed and might well not be noticed on a darker stocked example as the fit is excellent.

The action and barrel are blued and in excellent condition with only light edge wear, this could be an early arsenal refinish. Mounted on the barrel are the slightly unconventional sights.  They consist of a front and rear sight in the conventional manner but the front sight has no blade,  just a grove and acts almost as a reverse picture of one might be used to.  The rear sight is graduated to a hopeful 2000 meters!  Just behind the sight on the LHS of the hand guard is a cutout to give access to the serial number on the barrel.  It looks like an after thought as it has no other purpose and must weaken the guard.

The LHS of the action wall is marked in script “Et  Continsouza  MLE – M 16″  Record show that Continsouza was an Government Arsenal near Paris.  The bolt with bent handle is finished in the “white”  and is numbered at the stem to match the rest of the rifle.  The only possibly non-matching part of the weapon is the bolt head which carries the number “54”  The action is very smooth as is often the way with weapons with this mix of finishes within the action.  Underneath the stock is the trigger guard and magazine, the trigger bow with matching serial number.  The magazine has a sprung hatch which allows for the dumping of the used ammunition clip when expended.  There is a recent pattern leather sling which is mounted on the side bar on the butt and runs to the mid band ring on the fore end which is in good order.  the bore is in excellent condition showing little use.  The weapon has passed British proof.

The bayonet is in very good condition. Overall it measures 20.3/4″.  It has a steel scabbard with ball finial which has turned a pleasing plumb brown.  It is marked with non-matching serial numbers and the inspectors marks “J” and “C”.  There are a couple of minor dents which do not detract from the appearance of the scabbard.  The steel fittings and cross guard of the bayonet are all in the white, if they had any finish it has gone.  The cross guard is numbered and has a semi-curved quillion.   The muzzle ring fits around the muzzle and fore sight in an ingenious way, see photo.  The sprung fixing stud and pin are equally interesting and form a tight fit to the rifle.  The wooden grips show the passage of time that the rifle has been through.  The blade is in excellent condition with a strong single fuller and the same inspection stamps on the ricasso as the scabbard, indication production at the same armory.

An unusual, complete and interesting little French Carbine which would not lookout of place in any serious military rifle collection.

Stock number  f  324

 £650.00

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