French MAS 1936-51 7.5x54mm 24.5″ Bolt-Action Rifle & Grenade Launcher C&R

SOLD FOR: $772

WOA#: WY231102JA002

Make: Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS), France

Model: MAS MLE 1936-51

Serial Number: F96811

Year of Manufacture: 1956

Caliber: 7.5x54mm (7.5 French)

Action Type: Bolt Action, internal 5 round magazine

Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “MAS Mle 1936-51”, “F96811”, and with a C.A.I. import mark. The top of the receiver is marked “E B G”. The bolt handle is marked “F96811”. The bolt body is marked “B D E”. The cocking piece is marked “D M”. The bottom of the magazine floor plate is marked “F96811”. The face of the muzzle is marked “DD E”. The left side of the buttstock is marked “F96811”. The right side of the buttstock is marked with a circle “M.A. Septembre B S 1956” stamp. The bottom of the grip is marked “V”. The bottom of the buttstock is marked “2”. The rubber recoil pad is marked “MAS 1962”.

Barrel Length: 24.5”

Sights / Optics:  The front sight is a post set between two protective ears. The rear sight is a sliding aperture marked from 2-12.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has a semi-pistol grip, finger grooves, barrel band with sling ring, a sling well with sling bar and a metal butt plate. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. The buttplate has some dings and scratches, as well as wear at the heel and marks from the inside of the recoil pad. The wood under the rubber recoil pad is worn. There is a heavier amount of gouges on the right front side of the buttstock. The LOP measures 13.75 from the front of the trigger to the back of the rubber recoil pad. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Factory Refurbished

Bore Condition: The grenade launcher attachment extends about 2” off the front of the muzzle. The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore near  the muzzle.

In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.

Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 93% of its metal finish. There are scuffs, scratches, and  faint drag lines on the metal parts. There is a scuff on the top of the receiver. There are some spots of a dark discoloration on the receiver. The screw heads show light use. The markings are clear and deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition as factory refurbished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. This rifle was made without a safety.  As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a removable factory rubber recoil pad in Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The MAS 36-51 was the second grenade-launching variant of the MAS 36. Developed in the early 1950s as an improvement over the LG48 and firing NATO standard 22mm grenades, the 36-51 would serve as the primary grenade-launching rifle for the French Army until being supplanted by the MAS 49/56. The 36-51 notably served in French Indochina, where after the French withdrawal, many were taken into Vietnamese service. Today, most MAS 36-51s that are found on the surplus market have been factory refurbished, as is the case with this example. This rifle has a matching bolt, receiver, magazine floor plate, and buttstock. The metal retains most of its newer finish and the bore is bright with a minimal amount of erosion at the muzzle. The buttstock has very deep and visible markings, including a factory cartouche on the right side. This is a very nice example of a stop-gap rifle that would fit into any French collection. Please see our photos.

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French MAS 1936-51 7.5x54mm 24.5" Bolt-Action Rifle & Grenade Launcher C&R
French MAS 1936-51 7.5x54mm 24.5″ Bolt-Action Rifle & Grenade Launcher C&R