Added a MAS-36 to my collection

I picked up a 1951 MAS-36 to add to my C&R collection. What got me was the no importation markings and the stock carving of the letters large "H" small "N" and large "V"and "L". Considering the rough shape it is in and no markings I think it might be a bring back from Vietnam. My google-fu has come up with nothing on the stock carving
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e36321f9-1.jpg
Here's a close up of the stock
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d2dbad40-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4357bd81-1.jpg

Looks like you're short a bayonet. They are pretty easy to pick up off ebay.

Good bet it's a bring back but no way to prove it unfortunately.

Wish the previous owner put the paperwork in the bayonet tube. I'm still cleaning the rust and crud out of the wood.

It has a nice look to it. Mine is a refurb and thus looks new which in a way is nice but in another not so much. What I would really like is a pre-WWII date.

I have never seen a 36 that had any "real world" wear. I like it.

I've seen quite a few and the guys that had them wanted an arm and a leg and a second arm. One guy with a "Vietnam" bringback wanted $1100 for the worst looking one I ever saw. No paperwork. The WWII guns generally are $300+. The stock on mine is a WWII stock. I can live with that. It's been sanded and bleached (cleaned) to look brand new during the refurbishment process but the serial number is still visible. Receiver is post war.

I paid 200 USD for it. Because it's not a WW2 MAS-36 I might start another section in my C&R collection.

do the WW2 rifles have any German markings.?

I have an odd need to find a MAS 45. It would sure be cheaper to shoot than the 36, 49/56. Never seen one first hand.

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Originally Posted by WarPig1976

do the WW2 rifles have any German markings.?

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Never heard of any but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

The Germans were known to use captured weapons during WW2. As stated above most rifles were refurbished. I just got lucky and found this one

From wiki, the German designation was Gew 242F. These rifles have an interesting history that I have to admit I never considered.

I think a lot of people don't really consider the actual circumstances of France under the occupation. Initially, the Germans didn't occupy the entire country and the southern portion and the North African Colonies were under Vichy control. They maintained their army, navy and air force outside of German supervision. These rifles may have been used against US troops during the invasion of North Africa. They would have been used during the various wars of independence of the French colonies also, the most remembered Vietnam.

Very few were built once the Germans conquered France and there is a several year gap in production which was not resumed until the factories were retaken by the allies. The Lebel carbines are commonly known to have German markings, why this one is not I don't know unless it is simply because this was the first line weapon and the Vichy army was given preference for this weapon. The Lebels were left overs and used by occupation troops and police type forces.

I have 2 MAS 36s.
One with a M pre fix so post war in 7.08 cal in new condirion and is a fantastic shooter.
The other is a H pre fix so pre war in 30cal, also a great shooter.
It has seen better days though, it has a new barrel, and front end wood,
if you look at the 2 pics you will see the front of the mag area has been bent,
the rifle was made unuseable by holding the barrel and then smashing it against something hard.
The but stock is still origional.
I live in the Limousin where the resistance had constant running battles ith the Germans,
The local troops and Gendarmes emptied the armories and took to the hills and woods near Gueret.
You can follow the day by day battles and the spots where people were killed are marked and many graves are still there. Attachment 49370Attachment 49369

I have looked for German markins and cannot find any.
Just a modern proof mark when it had a new barrel.

I think your right, the damage looks intensional and perhaps spent some time exposed to the elements too.

One person on another board brought up that the letters could be the initials of the Viet Minh or Viet Cong soldier that once owned the rifle. He said it's not uncommon for a Vietnamese to have 4 names in their names and he also said that the previous Vietnamese owner could have been female too.

How could one tell "female"?

I'm not sure if he was joking about female Viet Minh/Viet Cong or speaking from experience. But from my reading I found it wasn't uncommon for women to fight in Viet Cong units as fighters.

Gotcha, No he wasn't joking.

Look on the butt near the butt plate for a LK5 or LK7 stamp. It has been discussed that these are probably German capture stamps and are found on MAS 36's and other nations rifles that were assumed captured and used by the Germans. Some speculation is possible issue to the German air forces for security at air bases. Ray