preserving my 1902-16 Indochinois Berthier

[burb1989]

Hey all. In response to one of my older posts I decided to try and help preserve this piece of history in my collection. A little of the backstory: this rifle came to me for the rough sum of $50 of hard work and friendship with a vintage military dealer. He got an all matching lebel at the same time and he wanted that more. I guess he didn't know what he practically gave away. It looks like it got run over by a truck but it is no less impressive. Every number matches except for the bolt head and the trigger assembly. The rear sling swivel was broken so that was my first task. After I found the swivel in a drawer of spare parts my dealer friend had I next had to find the correct 5 shot trigger guard assembly since my rifle came with a much older 3 shot assembly (ironically enough with the same serial number prefix). I got lucky and found one on the bay of evil for $25. After I reassembled the rifle my friend gave me a few slings that were old and musty and told me that I could have them if I could clean them up. Among the slings was a very old and well used French sling, possibly of ww1 vintage. Finally as of late I have begun applying linseed oil to the stock to help preserve what finish and markings remain on it. Since this weapon has seen so many wars, it only seems right to help preserve it for the journey ahead. Thanks everyone for reading and here are some pictures of this old gal.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Finally as of late I have begun applying linseed oil to the stock to help preserve what finish and markings remain on it.

Do not forget to oil inside as well !

---------- Post added at 08:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------

friendship with a vintage military dealer.

A good move.

[Al Diehl]

Good job on that Berthier burb1989.

I've got it's Carbine little brother. The guy I got it from threw away the capture papers because he didn't see any reason to keep them after he got it back here to the states.

It is an 1892/16 Berthier Carbine in about the same condition as yours. (maybe a little better) It did have an original sling on it but, was missing the butt plate. Maybe the butt plate was made into a VC combat knife or something. Who knows.
No matching serial numbers. If you look, you can see where I tossed the front and rear bands into my Parkerizing tank. (after sand blasting, of course). I am still looking for the rear trigger guard screw and a magazine dust cover.

I have shot it with some cast reloads and the accuracy was dismal.

Al

[burb1989]

This rifle is pretty special to me not just for the history but because a Vietnam vet just like my dad brought it home from the war and subsequently saved it from oblivion. I suspect the lebel that came with this rifle was also from Vietnam just because they were both owned by the same man, had the same wear and tear on both the metal and the stocks, and a comment that I heard the seller make. The seller was the original owner's son and was trying to "get rid of some of dad's old war rifles that he didn't care about anymore" as he put it. Anyway the lebel was bought for $100 by my dealer friend and he gave me the berthier. I guess it was my time to find a holy grail rifle for cheap just like when he picked up a "matching" daudeteau converted mauser for $90 and got it valued for over $700 since it was so rare. I've been trying to find a valuation on my berthier but I haven't seen any for sale recently. Would anyone have a stab at that?

[browningautorifle]

I've been trying to find a valuation

Sorry not me, but I'm certainly jealous of one like that.

[Aragorn243]

Lots of Berthiers for sale, not many being purchased. They seem to sell for less than $200 but get much more than that they sit. 13 of them on Gunbroker right now. Only one with a bid of $150 and that hasn't met the sellers minimum.

I picked one up for $150 a year and a half ago from a walk in at a gun show. With the 100th anniversary, I would expect to see prices start to climb soon.