Remington Lebel Berthier 1907-15

[GunnyUSMC]

I walked into one of the local shops and found this rifle sitting on the rack.
It appeares to be all original. The stock is a little dry and there is a little surface rust in a few spots.
They had it marked at $400. I talked them down a little.


A little history
Remington UMC also contracted to produce a French Army order for 200,000 Mle 1907/15 rifles. Although very well finished, the Remington order was rejected by French Government acceptance inspectors, who alleged that the rifles did not meet French barrel rifling and chamber dimensional standards. The contract was canceled after approximately half of the rifles were manufactured; and those rifles were sold on the private market.

[I Swan]

Have you shot it? I have heard of those out of spec problems but never owned a Remington most I have come across are sporterized. I have another long Berthier though and a Turkish forestry carbine I got rid of the rest. I don't see Berthiers or Lebels all that often in SoCal. I have been seeing more Lebels but at top dollar asking prices.

[watt79]

I picked up a Remington Berthier not long ago. Unfortunately it had been worked on at some point in its past. I was amazed at how slim the rifle feels.

[Mustang]

That is a fine looking Lebel, Lee

Do you have any clips for it?

[Enfield47]

Nice looking example Gunny.The only Remington I've seen was sporterized. Not sure it it was done by Remington or by individuals but the original condition ones are hard to find.

[Emdawg]

Hard to find those in original condition. Very nice grab!

[glennsche]

one thing i love about french arms:

the front sling "ring" hasnt changed since the 1600s. see in pic two that you posted, the forward sling ring half way up the stock... french soldiers from the 30 years war to the battle of verdun shouldered rifles with the same front ring. kinda cool how despite how everything else changed, the french didnt change that for literally centuries.

i had the 1907/15 berthier with the 5 round mag. was fun to put the bayonet on it. was also incredibly inferior to the contemporary systems fielded by other Great Powers of the day. Put a berthier up against a SMLE or a Gew98 or a Steyr m95... its amazing the French held out in ww1. Clearly a generation behind.

to your find tho, wow. great looking rifle! great example of the type for sure.

[Rogerbutthead]

Picked up one decades ago at several times your price. Good pick up.

[GunnyUSMC]

Originally Posted by I Swan

Have you shot it?

No. Most likely I never will.

Originally Posted by Mustang

That is a fine looking Lebel, Lee

Do you have any clips for it?

I have about 4 or 5 clips.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

You can use the much cheaper and easier to find 5-round clips in these as well. They just stick out the bottom. On the other hand, you can normally find them for under $5, instead of closer to $25 for the 3-round clips.

-Mb

[I Swan]

The 3rd ones have seemed to have become a bit easier to find and cheaper but I have done the 5rd clip trick as well.