{"product_id":"original-french-antique-berthier-mle-1892-8mm-lebel-mousqueton-by-saint-etienne-with-saddle-ring-and-sling-dated-1895-serial-no-g-70768","title":"Original French Antique Berthier Mle 1892 8mm Lebel Mousqueton by Saint-Étienne with Saddle Ring and Sling, Dated 1895, Serial No. G 70768","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive early French \u003cstrong\u003eBerthier Mle 1892 Mousqueton\u003c\/strong\u003e chambered for the 8mm Lebel cartridge, manufactured at the government arsenal at Saint-Étienne and dated \u003cstrong\u003e1895\u003c\/strong\u003e. Serial number \u003cstrong\u003eG 70768\u003c\/strong\u003e remains on the barrel and magazine housing, while the bolt and stock show different numbers, giving clear evidence of the arsenal rebuilding and parts replacement so commonly encountered on French service arms that remained in use for decades. It retains its original three shot en bloc magazine system, large left side saddle ring, short approximately 17\" barrel, butt sling swivel, and a very good mostly bright bore. It is addition fitted with an original leather sling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Berthier family of rifles and carbines emerged during the early 1890s as France searched for a lighter and more practical repeating arm for cavalry, artillery, and other mounted or specialist troops. Although chambered for the same 8mm Lebel ammunition as the full size Mle 1886 rifle, the Berthier used a distinctly different action and a Mannlicher type three round en bloc clip system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first production Berthier cavalry carbine was adopted as the \u003cem\u003eCarabine de Cavalerie Modèle 1890\u003c\/em\u003e. The design was then adapted into the \u003cem\u003eMousqueton d'Artillerie Modèle 1892\u003c\/em\u003e, which incorporated a modified fore end and provision for a bayonet. The compact Mle 1892 subsequently became one of the characteristic French short arms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and remained in service through the First World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is faintly but legibly marked on the left side of the receiver:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSt Étienne\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewith:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLE\u003c\/span\u003e 1892\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eidentifying manufacture at the \u003cem\u003eManufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne\u003c\/em\u003e, commonly abbreviated MAS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel is dated:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMA S 1895\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003econfirming manufacture at Saint-Étienne in \u003cstrong\u003e1895\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe serial number on the barrel is:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eG\u003c\/em\u003e 70768\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewhich is consistent with known Saint-Étienne Mle 1892 production during 1895.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe magazine housing is matching marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eG\u003c\/em\u003e 70768\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bolt assembly is separately numbered:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eG\u003c\/em\u003e 11608\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the left side of the butt stock is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eG\u003c\/em\u003e 36719\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese mismatched and altered numbers are clear evidence that the carbine passed through one or more arsenal rebuilding programs during its service life. French military arms were routinely maintained by replacing worn or damaged components rather than preserving matching serial numbers for collector purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe carbine retains the original three round Berthier en bloc magazine system. A loaded clip was inserted downward into the receiver, with the empty clip eventually dropping through the opening at the bottom of the magazine housing after the cartridges were used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle is fitted with the characteristic short approximately \u003cstrong\u003e17\"\u003c\/strong\u003e barrel and a large saddle ring or side sling ring on the left side, appropriate to a compact arm intended for mounted and artillery service. A sling swivel remains mounted beneath the butt stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a period leather sling mounted to the carbine, which is in very good condition, showing wear to the leather but no major cracks or other damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock also shows a \u003cstrong\u003eplugged cleaning rod channel\u003c\/strong\u003e on the left side of the fore end. This is an especially interesting later service modification. Early Mle 1892 carbines were originally equipped with individual cleaning rods, but the French Army later eliminated the rod and filled the channel during modernization programs. The plugged channel therefore provides further evidence that this carbine remained in French inventory long enough to receive later arsenal alterations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear sight is present, however the slider suffered damage and was repaired, so it is now very tight on the ladder, but does move correctly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior metalwork is in very good service used condition. The original bluing is very well retained on both the barrel and receiver, and the markings are still crisp, so it does not look to have been refinished during its service life. There is some wear to the finish and peppering on the receiver area from use and past cleaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bolt cycles smoothly during manual inspection and the action gives a crisp dry fire. We have not tested the carbine with cartridges or dummy ammunition and therefore cannot confirm magazine feeding, extraction, or ejection under ammunition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is in \u003cstrong\u003every good condition\u003c\/strong\u003e, retaining a bright finish with strong lands and grooves. There is some general wear and evidence of old fouling that has subsequently been cleaned, showing that the carbine saw service but was also maintained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock is in good service used condition and as the serial number is faint, it has been worn and possibly sanded down for cleaning. There is a small crack running back from the receiver tang, but the stock is otherwise sound. We did not notice any major damage, just a small wood graft repair on the right side by the barrel band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese repairs, mismatched serial numbers, and later cleaning rod modification give the carbine a particularly tangible service history and show that it remained useful enough to be repeatedly rebuilt rather than discarded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its \u003cstrong\u003e1895 Saint-Étienne\u003c\/strong\u003e barrel, early \u003cstrong\u003eG 70768\u003c\/strong\u003e serial number, original three shot Berthier magazine system, saddle ring, later plugged cleaning rod channel, arsenal reconditioning, original sling, and very good bore, this is a particularly appealing example of the classic French Mle 1892 short rifle. It would be an excellent addition to a collection of French military arms, early smokeless powder rifles, First World War weapons, or the evolution of compact cavalry and artillery carbines at the end of the 19th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1895\u003cbr\u003eMaker: Saint-Étienne Arsenal\u003cbr\u003eModel: Mousqueton Mle 1892\u003cbr\u003eSerial No.: G 70768\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: 8×50mmR Lebel\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 17 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 37 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Bolt-Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 3-round Mannlicher-style en-bloc clip\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 (1940). The Berthier design began as the \"Mousquetons Berthier\" - a series of bolt-action cavalry and artillery carbines with distinctly different actions from the Mle 1886\/M93 8mm Lebel rifle. For instance, the Berthier carbine's bolt lugs lock vertically into the receiver instead of horizontally as in the 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Berthier design was introduced as a replacement for the various aging Mle 1874 Gras single-shot carbines - still standard for French cavalry, artillery, and gendarme forces even after the introduction of the Mle 1886\/M93 Lebel. Prior experiments with several carbine versions of the Lebel action proved unacceptably heavy and slow to load while on horseback. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \"\u003cstrong\u003eMousqueton Mle 1892\u003c\/strong\u003e\" 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46172813983813,"sku":"ONJROCPC079","price":1295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/878CF2DD-0C7F-48AE-AAA8-E506E32DDCC1.jpg?v=1793199168","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-french-antique-berthier-mle-1892-8mm-lebel-mousqueton-by-saint-etienne-with-saddle-ring-and-sling-dated-1895-serial-no-g-70768","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}