I have an unissued unfired 1931 7.5 French [$60 at BIG5]. What a piece of junk. How DID they beat the Germans with Mausers? - Oh, that's right, we helped them with Garrands.
It may pay to remember that France was at the forefront of military arms technology in the century before last. I'm not particularly fond of French machinery or rifles, but they have to take their place in the scheme of things. ( after all it is a beautiful country to host 2 wars in !)
Posts: 168 | Location: Kalgoorlie, Australia | Registered: 03 August 2004
The FFL fought like the men they were, but than again they wern't French (only the officers were). As far as style goes, begging your allies for help and than running away, still sounds like the typical Frog style.
Posts: 2124 | Location: Whittemore, MI, USA | Registered: 07 March 2002
part two sorry have had a break ...because i am an anarchist dont go, make it clever. It's not my problem if the banana republic I live have enough stupids for their army of stupids.
Why are French rifles equipped with such short stocks and frequently no safety? Also, why the forward swept bolt handle?
ASS_CLOWN
Short stock: easy to shoulder with thick clothes in winter. no safety on rifle: safety between ears forward swept bolt handle: more natural mouvement than the handle at the rear Mauser style, easier and faster move from trigger to bolt handle and back.
Posts: 157610 | Location: Ukraine, Europe. | Registered: 12 October 2002
Edmond does not having a safety catch make it easier to perform a friendly fire incident ?? I ask as I have never used a rifle that did'nt have a safety catch and there seem to be a lot of incident's of this sort in the military .
Posts: 2414 | Location: Humpty Doo NT Australia | Registered: 18 August 2004
Quote: I have an unissued unfired 1931 7.5 French [$60 at BIG5]. What a piece of junk. How DID they beat the Germans with Mausers? - Oh, that's right, we helped them with Garrands.
As I recall, they DIDN'T beat the Germans! < !--color-->
Hello; "Safety between the ears." Is that an example of what the French refer to as Elan'. Forgive me if I got the spelling wrong, but it refers to a kind of unthinking recklessness. Grizz
People have always bad mouthed the forward bolt handle on the MAS, but they just don't get it. It's a great design for high rate of fire. With the MAS you can get three fingers around the wrist of the stock, and your finger on the trigger, all without taking your thumb off the bolt.
Posts: 723 | Location: Ny | Registered: 17 March 2002
Quote: part two sorry have had a break ...because i am an anarchist dont go, make it clever. It's not my problem if the banana republic I live have enough stupids for their army of stupids.
a patriot is a man believe in bullshit
Mmmmmm.... What time train come from NORTH, White Man??
There is also no safety on Russian Mosin rifles or carbines, it is as simple as it could be and worked great . . . and looks how they beated nazis mausers
In the thirties "thick clothes" were REALLY thick. Lots of wool. The average soldier was a little smaller then, too. Especially from the lower classes whose nutrition (here in the USA, too) was often less than ideal for optimal growth.
Today's soldier probably has a 2" reach advantage over his average pre- WWII counterpart.
The MAS is a pretty good gun for the purpose. With the right training regimen and trench-warfare/volley-fire doctrine from fixed emplacements I can see why the safety was considered uneccessary.
Posts: 11143 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 22 September 2003
I think they beat the Nazis by dying in greater numbers than 8mm bullets could be produced . Eventually the guys way in the back got up close enough to shoot back at the Germans.
Posts: 11143 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 22 September 2003
french rifles are awful. The UK market is awash with MAS rifles because no one will buy them.....you may be able to argue to some that they are well designed, but most certainly aren't well made! They are the cheapest ex-service rifles available and dealers have been known to through in a MAS for free when buying an SMLE, Ross, Schmidt Rubin, Mosin or Mauser, just to sweaten the deal. I literally watched an unissued rifle fall to bit over the period of an hour and 100 rounds...just like Citereons....worthless tat that's designed by a frog smart-arse.
Posts: 157 | Location: Scotland at the mo. | Registered: 27 February 2005
I have a MAS 49/56 in the original 7.5, with an original scope that I'm very fond of. It's a quality rifle, works all the time, is accurate enough, and looks cool. At least I think so. My only gripe is the cost of ammo. I'll be pretty happy when someone starts making brass that is fairly reasonable.
My two cents.
Regards,
Eric
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin, July 4 1776 Lost once in the shuffle, member since 2000.
FRENCH ARMY RIFLES FOR SALE: GOOD CONDITION - ONLY DROPPED ONCE
Except for the 3rd corp of the Foreign legion which was composed of X SS troops that just couldn't get it out of their systems!
Doug Humbarger NRA Life member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73. Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
Posts: 8351 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001
Have you ever looked under the hood of a Citroen, or even a Renault? Damned wiring going every which way. It's not that the French make such bad products, but they make them so much more complicated than necessary. Oh well, c'est la vie! Best wishes.
French army bolt rifles are not good looking, but they are strong as hell, and definitely NOT complex in design. My MAS 36 also shoots very well for accuracy despite the stock being about 3-1/2" too short for my 6'-3" frame.
By the way, if you want good accurate ammo for one, try to locate some Prvi Partizan 138 gr. ball. Absolutely match+ grade stuff, and brass cased/boxer primed to boot.
Alberta Canuck
My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still.
Posts: 9685 | Location: Cave Creek 85331, USA | Registered: 17 August 2001
Originally posted by ScotsGun: french rifles are awful. The UK market is awash with MAS rifles because no one will buy them.....you may be able to argue to some that they are well designed, but most certainly aren't well made! They are the cheapest ex-service rifles available and dealers have been known to through in a MAS for free when buying an SMLE, Ross, Schmidt Rubin, Mosin or Mauser, just to sweaten the deal. I literally watched an unissued rifle fall to bit over the period of an hour and 100 rounds...just like Citereons....worthless tat that's designed by a frog smart-arse.
If you don't want them in UK, I'll buy them back, not a joke. I have orders for regular or modified 36 or 36/51 and they're becoming scarce here.
I know where they are now, apart of US where the biggest part has been sold.
Posts: 157610 | Location: Ukraine, Europe. | Registered: 12 October 2002
People must start to like them, £ 145 Very Good to £ 200 unissued as I could see in a few ads. I was told that the prices will go higher since ammo becomes easier to find in UK.
Posts: 157610 | Location: Ukraine, Europe. | Registered: 12 October 2002
Originally posted by Grizzly Adams: Hello;<br /> "Safety between the ears." Is that an example of what the French refer to as Elan'. Forgive me if I got the spelling wrong, but it refers to a kind of unthinking recklessness.<br /> Grizz
Wrong translation, man!
it refers to a fearless move toward the enemy.
Posts: 157610 | Location: Ukraine, Europe. | Registered: 12 October 2002
Originally posted by darwinmauser: Edmond<br />does not having a safety catch make it easier to perform a friendly fire incident ?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I ask as I have never used a rifle that did'nt have a safety catch and there seem to be a lot of incident's of this sort in the military . <img
the first french rifle to get a safety was the MAS 44 derived from the MAS 38 and it evolved into the MAS 49 and MAS 49/56. in insecurity zone the round was chambered and the bolt was not completely closed, it could not fire but the thumb allowed to close it in a fraction of a second. In combat, loaded and locked, ready to fire with finger on the trigger guard. We never had a lot of friendly fire incidents in France.
Posts: 157610 | Location: Ukraine, Europe. | Registered: 12 October 2002
That makes sense Ed ,when I was drilling water bores we never used boots ,just bare feet, a good incentive to not drop drill rods or bits on your foot (pneumatic hammers weigh about 150 kg's)
It's mercy, compassion and forgiveness I lack; not rationality.
Posts: 2414 | Location: Humpty Doo NT Australia | Registered: 18 August 2004
Well, having been required to consider the human element for years in industrial controls design, I can say with some certainty that we (humanity) have yet to outsmart the common human idiot. With that being said, we try hard and have come a long way...and positive safety features/hardware/design beats training/between-the-ears safety every time!
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
Posts: 1780 | Location: South Texas, U. S. A. | Registered: 22 January 2004
Originally posted by Clark: I have an unissued unfired 1931 7.5 French [$60 at BIG5].<br />What a piece of junk.<br />How DID they beat the Germans with Mausers?<br />- Oh, that's right, we helped them with Garrands.
When exactly did the French beat the Germans? I must have missed that one!
Posts: 4574 | Location: Valencia, California | Registered: 16 March 2005