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

SOLD FOR: $701

WOA#: WY231103JB026

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

Model: MAS MLE 1936-51

Serial Number: F34939

Year of Manufacture: 1950s

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”, “F34939”, and with a C.A.I. import mark. The top of the receiver is marked “B G”. The bolt handle is marked “F34939”. The cocking piece is marked “D M”. The bottom of the magazine floor plate is marked “F34939”. The bottom of the bayonet is marked “39”.

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 three piece wood stock has a semi-pistol grip, finger grooves, nose cap with front sight assembly and stacking rod, hole for included bayonet, 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. There is a large crack on the underside of the forend. There is a small crack coming off the rear of the receiver tang. The stock has been sanded. The LOP measures 12.5” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about 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 semi-bright and the rifling is defined. There is light erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 7 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 85% of its metal finish. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There are faint drag lines on the sides of the receiver. The finish is worn along the edges of the front sight and grenade sight. The finish on the stacking rod is heavily worn. The edges of the magazine floor plate and the trigger guard are worn. The screw heads show heavy use. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about 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 leather sling in 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. The bolt, receiver, and magazine floor plate are all matching. The metal retains most of its newer finish, with some wear to the edges, especially on the underside surfaces.The stock has been sanded and there is a large crack on the underside of the forend. The bore is in good shape and should make for a decent shooter, when you can get ahold of ammunition. This stop-gap rifle that would fit well into any French collection. Please see our photos.

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