Picked up a French Berthier

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11-10-2012, 03:02 AM
2fit661ca

Picked up a French Berthier

First of all, I would like to apologize if I am posting this in the wrong section. I am still new to the forum and I don't usually like to make posts of this nature to begin with.

Now that that's out of the way, I recently picked up a numbers matching French Berthier Carbine with the date 1930 on the receiver. The stock, bolt, receiver, and trigger assembly and share the same numbers. I cannot find an import make anywhere on the gun. She is in decent shape; the rifling is in great shape and is very strong, the is some minor pitting on the outside of the barrel, and the stock is slightly beat up, just like any other service rifle. I paid $125 for the gun. Did I do well, and is my gun worth anything? I have zero intention of selling the gun because I have grown quite attached to the little guy, but I would like to know if it is really worth that attachment.

Thank you for your time.

-2fit
11-10-2012, 04:02 AM
Patrick Chadwick

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2fit661ca

She is in decent shape; the rifling is in great shape and is very strong, the is some minor pitting on the outside of the barrel, and the stock is slightly beat up, just like any other service rifle. I paid $125 for the gun. Did I do well, and is my gun worth anything?

Price seems about right, even slightly on the favorable side if the rifle is all-matching and in good shooting condition. They were used by hunters in Germany as brush rifles, but went out of favor as surplus ammo dried up. Caliber is 8x50R Lebel, and ammunition is now available from PRVI-Partisan for about 30% more than .303 British. Not that you'll need a lot - those carbines kick hard.
11-10-2012, 10:08 AM
2fit661ca

Well, that's good that I didn't over pay, then. I usually try to use GunBroker and Guns America to determine what a gun is worth, but I've yet to see any Berthiers sell on there.

I'll probably shoot a couple rounds through her, then clean her up and put her away.

Thanks for the help!

-2fit
11-10-2012, 01:03 PM
jmoore

A very good price I think. Like Patrick Chadwick states, they are fairly "kicky"! But also surprisingly accurate in my limited experience.