The MAS Mle 1936 is a bolt action military rifle designed by the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS) and adopted by the French military in 1936. It is chambered for the 7.5x54mm French cartridge, which replaced the earlier 8mm Lebel and 7.5x57mm rounds as the standard French military rifle cartridge. The Mle 1936 employs a rear locking bolt action with dual locking lugs located at the rear of the bolt body, a design choice that allowed for a shorter receiver and a more compact action overall. The bolt handle is angled forward, a distinctive characteristic of the Mle 1936 that facilitates rapid manipulation. The rifle does not incorporate a manual safety, reflecting French military doctrine that emphasized carrying the rifle with the bolt forward on an empty chamber. The action feeds from an internal staggered box magazine holding five rounds, loaded via stripper clips from the top. A cruciform spike bayonet is housed in a tube beneath the barrel when not deployed, reversing and locking into position forward of the muzzle when needed. The Mle 1936 saw extensive service from the late 1930s through the Indochina and Algerian wars, and post-war production continued at Saint-Etienne into the late 1940s and early 1950s. Post-war rifles are identified by several features including a hooded front sight, a Parkolac stoved black finish, stamped Type 3 front band with sling ring in place of earlier machined bands, and a bayonet with a drilled hole in the handle to prevent two bayonets from locking together when rifles were stacked.

This example is a post-war production rifle with an N-prefix serial number 25049, likely dating to early 1947 or late 1946. Serials are matching across the bolt handle, receiver, stock, forend, trigger guard, and magazine floor plate. The rifle features the Parkolac stoved black finish, hooded front sight, Type 3 stamped front band, and a cruciform spike bayonet with the post-war drilled hole. The action features a last round bolt stop. The barrel measures roughly 22.5 inches and is stamped with a "G". Imported by Century Arms International (CAI) of St. Albans, Vermont. Includes bayonet, sling, and two stripper clips. No additional accessories included.

Markings

The left side of the receiver is marked "MAS MLE1936". Adjacent to the ejection port on the receiver are two proof marks: a circle containing a U and a circle containing a K. The rear of the cocking piece is marked "DM". The left side of the barrel is stamped with a "G" towards the muzzle. The right side of the stock bears a circular "MA" cartouche with a faint date possibly reading "1946". The underside of the pistol grip is stamped "Y". Import mark "C.A.I ST. ALB VT." is present on the left of the receiver. Serial number N25049 is stamped on the left side of the receiver, underside of forend, left side of stock, trigger guard, magazine floor plate, and bolt handle. The end of the bayonet is stamped with serial "71". 

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS)
• Importer: Century Arms International (CAI)
• Model: Mle 1936
• Serial Number: N25049
• Date of Manufacture: Late 1946/Early 1947
• Caliber: 7.5x54mm French
• Action: Bolt action, rear locking lugs
• Barrel: ~22.5 inches
• Finish: Parkolac stoved black
• Stock: Wood stock and forend
• Sights: Hooded front sight, rear aperture sight
• Safety: None
• Bayonet: Cruciform spike, integral with barrel tube, post-war drilled handle
• Magazine: Internal box magazine, 5 rounds, stripper clip fed