Guns International #: 103579599
Seller's Inventory #: 259915

Category - Mannlicher-Schoenauer Rifles - Military Rifles - Non-US

Category
Mannlicher-Schoenauer Rifles
Military Rifles - Non-US

1895 mfr. Antique St. ETIENNE Mannlicher-Berthier M1892 8mm LEBEL Carbine Pre-WORLD WAR I French MILITARY Infantry Rifle

Description:
1895 mfr. Antique St. ETIENNE Mannlicher-Berthier M1892 8mm LEBEL Carbine  

Pre-WORLD WAR I French MILITARY Infantry Rifle

Here Ancestry Guns presents an antique French St. Etienne Mannlicher-Berthier Model 1892 Carbine made circa 1895 at the French military armory in St. Etienne, France. The Mannlicher-Berthier rifles and carbines were a family of bolt-action small arms in 8mm Lebel, used in the French Army from the 1890s to the beginning of World War II. The Berthier design began as the "Mousquetons Berthier" - a series of bolt-action cavalry and artillery carbines with distinctly different actions from the Model 1886/M93 8mm Lebel rifle. Berthier carbines were first issued in 1890 and 1892, and had been designed by Emile Berthier, an engineer at the French Algerian Railways, to be used with standard 8mm Lebel ammunition.

The Berthier design was introduced as a replacement for the aging Mle 1874 Gras single shot carbines, which was still standard for the French cavalry, artillery, and gendarmerie forces even after the introduction of the Mle 1886/M93 Lebel. While retaining most of the action's strong points, the Berthier carbine improved on the earlier Mle 1886 rifle by using a one-piece stock and a Mannlicher-style, charger-loaded en bloc 3 shot clip. These Berthier carbines were progressively allocated to all cavalry, artillery and gendarmerie troops during the 1890s.

The first Berthier carbine came into production as the "Carabine de Cavalerie Modèle 1890", which was officially adopted for service on March 14, 1890. The main production facilities were the Manufacture d'Armes de St Etienne or MAS and the Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault or MAC. The search for a suitable small arm for mounted troops was given greater urgency by the Germans' development of the Karabiner Modell 1888, a carbine variant of the Gewehr 1888. It was issued to essentially all French artillery and cavalry troops. As the high Command appreciated the performance of the Mle 1890 Berthier carbine, a second version was specifically produced for artillery service, the "Mousqueton Mle 1892" which could mount a short blade bayonet and thus had a re-designed forend stock. However, it continued to feature the 3-round en-bloc clip of the Model 1890 carbine. During the First World War it became obvious that the 3-round clip was a handicap compared to German short weapons such as the German Kar98AZ which had a 5-round clip.


The overall condition is good. Some original finish is preserved, and shares space with a gray patina. Strong action. The bore is bright with strong rifling. Slightly loose rear sight. Solid stock overall, good having been sanded smooth. Markings are legible. Cartouche remnants are present on the right side of the buttstock.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 18 inches.

Caliber: 8x50Rmm Lebel

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$1450

#259915
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes