1917 Berthier Mle M16.

[Anzac15]

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned my 1917 Berthier M16 rifle. It's in pretty darn good shape, non matching of course, stock seems to have been lightly sanded, serial numbers on both sides of the buttstock. This rifle is neither N marked or import marked. I understand very few of these rifles saw use during the Great War, and was just wondering where these rifles may have ended up after that little fracas. Does not appear to have any Polish marks on it, maybe went to an obscure French colony? If so, where in the world would it have been imported from? The non N marked receiver would suggest it escaped the massive 1927 overhaul of French rifles, would it not?
Have become very interested and appreciative of these rifles lately. They seem to be getting pretty scarce. Carbines seem to 'abound', but not the rifles.
Bought this one from a guy as he was walking into the gun show. He told me that he literally had no idea what kind of rifle it was. Bought it from him for one Benjamin Franklin. Figured I couldn't go wrong there!

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