What is this?

Old Iron and Wood · December 9, 2008, 10:49 PM

I have been told this is a safety; safety for what and how does it work? I have searched every possible sight under everything I can think of and cannot find anything. please assist

SDC · December 9, 2008, 11:15 PM

Well, the rifle is a French Berthier (sometimes called a Berthier-Mannlicher or Mannlicher-Berthier because the magazine was designed by Mannlicher), but I don't think that the bit on the side is factory-original (the peep sight on the rear of the cocking-piece is also a later addition). These rifles would have originally been made at one of three French arsenals (Chatellerault, St. Etienne, or Tulle; it'll be marked on the left side of the receiver), but they ended up being surplussed out around the world, including spots in Africa and SE Asia), so who knows what happened after a local gunsmith got their hands on it. It looks to be in the right place to block part of the trigger or sear from moving, but the only way to know for sure is to try it with the rifle unloaded.

Old Iron and Wood · December 29, 2008, 11:49 PM

The more I inquire about this little carbine the mystery deepens but none the less the more I hold this little carbine the more I'm attracted to it. I have ammo ordered and should receive it soon and before you are anyone else ask I'm not going to blindly load and fire this weapon up against my shoulder I have seen a way via the enternet to test fire a weapon safely without endangering the owner or any one else. I'll let you know what the results are.

redwing 40 · December 30, 2008, 03:08 AM

Old French Rifles are usually in good shape, they were only dropped once.

hoytinak · December 30, 2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Old French Rifles are usually in good shape, they were only dropped once.

chibiker · December 30, 2008, 07:31 PM

Before I say anything, feel free to laugh at me, I know pretty much squat about rifles. Never even have owned one (just shotguns) but my uncle was quite the collector when he was alive and showed me many a war era rifles from all over the world... the only reason I post is because I remember seeing something like that on what I distinctly remember him calling a French rifle.

Alright, ready to laugh? Does that rifle use some kind of clip to load the rounds into it? If so, does that little lever release some kind of cover where the clip goes in? I remember him describing different things that were done to rifles to keep mud and crud from jamming up the works.... guess that was always a problem that constantly warranted improvements and design changes. Okay, me say nothing more about rifles.

December 9, 2008, 11:15 PM	#2
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	Well, the rifle is a French Berthier (sometimes called a Berthier-Mannlicher or Mannlicher-Berthier because the magazine was designed by Mannlicher), but I don't think that the bit on the side is factory-original (the peep sight on the rear of the cocking-piece is also a later addition). These rifles would have originally been made at one of three French arsenals (Chatellerault, St. Etienne, or Tulle; it'll be marked on the left side of the receiver), but they ended up being surplussed out around the world, including spots in Africa and SE Asia), so who knows what happened after a local gunsmith got their hands on it. It looks to be in the right place to block part of the trigger or sear from moving, but the only way to know for sure is to try it with the rifle unloaded. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

December 29, 2008, 11:49 PM	#3
Old Iron and Wood Junior Member Join Date: June 11, 2008 Location: Bedford,Texas Posts: 6	thanks SDC The more I inquire about this little carbine the mystery deepens but none the less the more I hold this little carbine the more I'm attracted to it. I have ammo ordered and should receive it soon and before you are anyone else ask I'm not going to blindly load and fire this weapon up against my shoulder I have seen a way via the enternet to test fire a weapon safely without endangering the owner or any one else. I'll let you know what the results are.

December 30, 2008, 03:08 AM	#4
redwing 40 Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Posts: 73	Old French Rifles are usually in good shape, they were only dropped once.

December 30, 2008, 07:31 PM	#6
chibiker Member Join Date: November 14, 2008 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 63	Before I say anything, feel free to laugh at me, I know pretty much squat about rifles. Never even have owned one (just shotguns) but my uncle was quite the collector when he was alive and showed me many a war era rifles from all over the world... the only reason I post is because I remember seeing something like that on what I distinctly remember him calling a French rifle. Alright, ready to laugh? Does that rifle use some kind of clip to load the rounds into it? If so, does that little lever release some kind of cover where the clip goes in? I remember him describing different things that were done to rifles to keep mud and crud from jamming up the works.... guess that was always a problem that constantly warranted improvements and design changes. Okay, me say nothing more about rifles.