Remington MLE 1907-15 RAG 1907-15

[CruciBill]

I looked at a 1907-15 at a flea market yesterday. It appears to be a non-serial numbered model from the rejected French contract.

At the risk of the right side of my gun safe becoming a wayward home for misfit surplus rifles I'm considering making an offer on this.

It's the 3 round version without the added sheet metal for the 5 round charger. It DOESN'T come with a charger and a very quick internet search didn't turn up any.

Everything I learned about this rifle I learned on this site yesterday. I sincerely believe it can be had for less than $200.

I defer to the expertise of the members to a) let me know if there's anything specific I should be checking for, or b) flat out talk me out of it. They open again on Friday.

The photos were just so I could research the model, but I figured I'd include them.

Attachment 61915

Attachment 61914

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Eaglelord17]

I don't know too much about these rifles but I just took a 1916 manufactured St. Etienne one out of the grease last Saturday. P&S Militaria in Canada has some repro clips for 20$ each, I am sure if you contacted him he would be able to ship some to the US (but it likely would cost a fair bit) otherwise I would just search on Ebay to find some.
Keep in mind the hardest thing to find for these rifles is the ammo, 8mm Lebel hasn't been made in 60 years other than what Privi Partizan made a couple years back (and the Privi Partizan ammo doesn't have the 'safety groove' around it to keep the pointy bullets off the primer if you use it in a Lebel). You can still find the Privi Partizan Brass but for the most part it is a reload only caliber. If you do find surplus ammo (still shows up from time to time) it tends to be about a 50/50 if it shoots or not as it is so old at this point (WWII manufacture or earlier).

Personally I think they are cool rifles, but I won't be shooting mine at least for a couple months until I get fully set up reloading for it. Other than the ammo and clip issue the main things to check for is the bore condition and the other standard things to check when looking at a rifle. Remember if it is a rejected American manufacture all the damage will have been done by civilian owners, not in a warzone.

[CruciBill]

I don't know too much about these rifles but I just took a 1916 manufactured St. Etienne one out of the grease last Saturday. P&S Militaria in Canada has some repro clips for 20$ each, I am sure if you contacted him he would be able to ship some to the US (but it likely would cost a fair bit) otherwise I would just search on Ebay to find some.
Keep in mind the hardest thing to find for these rifles is the ammo, 8mm Lebel hasn't been made in 60 years other than what Privi Partizan made a couple years back (and the Privi Partizan ammo doesn't have the 'safety groove' around it to keep the pointy bullets off the primer if you use it in a Lebel). You can still find the Privi Partizan Brass but for the most part it is a reload only caliber. If you do find surplus ammo (still shows up from time to time) it tends to be about a 50/50 if it shoots or not as it is so old at this point (WWII manufacture or earlier).

Personally I think they are cool rifles, but I won't be shooting mine at least for a couple months until I get fully set up reloading for it. Other than the ammo and clip issue the main things to check for is the bore condition and the other standard things to check when looking at a rifle. Remember if it is a rejected American manufacture all the damage will have been done by civilian owners, not in a warzone.

I looked up the clips on P&S, at least I know I can get them. Thanks.

I guess I don't understand the feeding and firing mechanism of these rifles, as I don't see when the tip of one round would come in contact with the primer of another. I imagined a single round was stripped from the clip and chambered with the remaining rounds held below until the bolt was pulled back. Not so?

[Eaglelord17]

It was a issue with the Lebel rifles not the Berthier-Lebels.

The Lebels have a tubular magazine, but used the pointy 8mm Lebel round (it was also the first military issued rifle to be in smokeless powder). The thought process was that if they put a groove in the ammos base it would catch the point tip of the bullet and avoid it striking the primer and causing bad things to happen.

Not having the groove shouldn't be a issue for the Berthier-Lebel (like the one your looking at) only the 1886(/93) Lebels.

[rayg]

If it's complete, original and not cut down and with a shootable bore it's worth any where from $500-$1,000 depending on condition. Ray

[UNPROFOR1994]

Buy it! Maybe the RAC M1907-15 isn't appreciated in the US, but over here in Europe they are.

FUSIL MODELE 1907-15 FABRICATION REMINGTON, Fusils à culasse FRANCE : armes anciennes et armes de collection.

[rayg]

Buy it! Maybe the RAC M1907-15 isn't appreciated in the US, but over here in Europe they are.

FUSIL MODELE 1907-15 FABRICATION REMINGTON, Fusils à culasse FRANCE : armes anciennes et armes de collection.

I sold one in about the same minty condition as that one last fall at a show in the states for $895 but I have seen other minty ones for sale for up to $1200 but not sure if they ending up selling for those prices. Those unissued/non shipped Remingtons are actually not that uncommon in the states. Ray

[CruciBill]

Thanks for the replies. I'll bring my bore light with me and give it a good look. If I get it I'll post some pictures.

[UNPROFOR1994]

If I could buy a RAC M1907-15 for under $200 I wouldn't hesitate 1 second.

[CruciBill]

As a follow up to my original post the MLE 1907 front stock was cut down . Took a pass on it and grabbed an 1943 Enfield instead.