WWII French MAS 44 Matching 1944 7.5×54 Rare MAS44 Semi-Auto Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,526
LSB#: 240327BR004
Make: Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS), France
Model: MLE 1944 (MAS 44)
Serial Number: F 1530
Year of Manufacture: 1945 (virdea.net/french/mas-auto.html)
Caliber: 7.5x54mm (7.5 French)
Action Type: Semi-Automatic with Detachable Magazine.
Barrel Length: Approximately 23 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall post set under a protective hood. The rear sight is an aperture attached to a sliding escalator.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2 piece smooth wood with a pistol grip, finger grooves, metal nose cap with stacking bar, hole for the included bayonet, barrel band with sling ring, sling bar, sling well, and a metal buttplate. The wood shows several scratches and compression marks. The wood has been oiled. The LOP measures 13 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate and 13 3/4 inches to the back of the pad. The refinsihed metal buttpate shows discoloration and moderate wear. The pad shows light wear. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Black Gun Paint
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The grooves are light gray. The rifling is deep. There is fouling in the bore which should clean up some. There is erosion at the muzzle and light erosion in the remaining grooves.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish as refinished. The metal shows scrapes & scratches that have removed small areas of the paint finish. The barrel shows thinning and discoloration from oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action Does function correctly. This firearm has not been tested, these are used items. While we have performed a mechanical function check and noted any discrepancies we cannot guarantee the suitability of this firearm.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle has a spiked bayonet stored backwards under the barrel. A leather sling and a French slip-on buttpad are attached. This rifle includes one 10-round magazine that appears to function correctly
Our Assessment: In the winter 1945 the French military had a military establishment that was rapidly trying to rebuild and re-equip itself. Its military structure contained 13 Foreign Legion and Free French divisions rapidly re-equipping with and initial American donation of 50,000 Garand rifles and 75,000 M1 Carbines, 6 Colonial divisions equipped with approximately 60,000 Berthier and M1936 rifles and carbines, tens of thousands of Enfield and M1903 rifles, and huge assortment of smaller units forming or reforming from resistance groups and soldiers released from captivity. There was even a considerable use of captured war stock with German K98 rifles in 8mm Mauser serving alongside French rifles in 7.5 and 8mm Lebel and American rifles in .30-06 and .30 Carbine.
This huge number of rifles on-hand stopped the initial plans to issue the MAS Mle 1944 en masse to the military. Instead production of the cheaper Mle 1936 went ahead since this rifle was already in service in quantity. MAS Mle 1944 production ended a few months after the war stopped with only about 7,000 being produced. Despite this the weapon’s design turned out to be a complete success among units equipped with it. The limited production run of rifles would serve in combat with the Marine Commandos in Indochina starting in 1946 where it gained a reputation for reliability.
This MAS 44 looks impressive and has nice markings. The metal has been refinsihed and the wood has been oiled. The markings include matching numbers on the receiver, buttstock, belly of the stock, and on the rear of the bolt carrier. There is an import mark under the barrel.
…Now go shoot something!
