I was recently told that rifles used by the foreign legion can be identified by their serial number block. The rifle in question is a Berthier M1907/15. I find this unlikely. Any opinions?
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I was recently told that rifles used by the foreign legion can be identified by their serial number block. The rifle in question is a Berthier M1907/15. I find this unlikely. Any opinions?
You could always write to the Legion museum at Aubagne and ask, en Francais of course!;)
Stating first that an opinion isn't worth very much on its own, my opinion is that while it may be possible for some rifles to be identified by their serial number block, I believe it extremely unlikely for the majority. The French recycled rifles long after they were obsolete and the Legion was not where the first batch out of the factory went. So the Legion probably had to scrounge more for it's rifles than the regular service would which would lead them to have a more varied collection of firearms rather than a nice neat serial numbered block from the factory.
The most likely rifles that would fall in that category are most likely those used post WWII into today.