SOLD - Berthier Model 1892 Artillery Musketoon

Description

7/24/23 - This is a clean example of an early French Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Musketoon, featuring a 17.5" barrel, and was issued during The Great War. France would adopt this carbine as a compact rifle for auxiliary troops. Unlike the Mle 1890 Cavalry Carbine, these would have a bayonet lug and stacking rod attached to them. This rifle features the war time magazine extension to increase the capacity of the rifle from 3 rounds to 5 round en bloc clips. The receiver is marked with the maker, St Etienne, and Mle 1892. The barrel is marked with the serial number and “MAS 1893.” Both the barrel and receiver are "Balle N" marked, indicating a higher pressure spitzer cartridge. Rifle is mismatched and has retained about 80% of its bluing, with most of the wear concentrated at the muzzle. There is a thin surface scratch the top of the barrel, and minor pitting and areas of finish loss throughout the barrel. The buttplate has also lost roughly half its finish. The forestock shows a crescent shaped chip, and is in worse general condition than the rest of the stock, which for the most part shows no major damage and only minor handling marks. The bore is bright with good rifling, but is frosted throughout. Antique, so no licensing required.