Mle 1892 MD Berthier Help

[LTPayton88]

I have a Mle 1892 MD Berthier rifle. It is matching numbers and not import marked. The barrel is dated 1914 but I have a few questions about the rifle. I know they dated the barrels as the French reused the receiver. I have searched before to find out the rifle manufacture date and from what I recall I remember seeing it as 1914 as well but I cant seem to validate that. Does anyone know where I can validate the production date. The serial number is B 79776. Also, on the stock there is a marking that I cannot seem to identify. It is the initials R.K.M inside a box. There is a picture below. Any help identifying what I have here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[jamie5070]

You might try searching for some "Forgotten Weapons" videos. Ian is into French rifles.

[LTPayton88]

You might try searching for some "Forgotten Weapons" videos. Ian is into French rifles.

Thanks for the resource. I have watched all his videos and as amazing as they are he never mentioned the stamping on the stock. I have found a resource for the dates of manufacture but still nothing on the stock cartouche.

[72 usmc]

You will enjoy this book if into French Rifles. see my SRF post French military rifle book reprint - Surplus Rifle Forum - www.surplusrifleforum.org
Go to pages 252-253 production figures for the 1892 Artillery carbine . B 79,776. 1914 is B71,104- B83,000 Chatellerault production approx 11,9000 production that year. Best buy the book before it goes out of print again. It is the one reference to have. Fantastic. The cartouche is unknown to me. there are more of the big time French collectors on Gunboards. I would also post this rifle there. A nice find.

I assume you know of tis old info-pics gone due to photo bucket pay to play...
* Berthier Carbine and Rifle Information * | Gunboards Forums

[72 usmc]

Here is a version with pictures intact:
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4460

[LTPayton88]

You will enjoy this book if into French Rifles.

Thank you. I have been eyeballing this book for a while and was pretty sad when it was out of print. I did not know it was back in print. Buying it now. Thank you.

---------- Post added at 08:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 PM ----------

Here is a version with pictures intact:

Yes, I had read through this one. I am going to post it on gunboards as well as you suggested. Thank you.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Since the letter K is hardly used in French, apart from the word "kilo", I strongly suspect that this is a German marking of a captured weapon.

The abbreviation might be in this book:
„Fremde Gewehre in deutschen Diensten 1914 - 1918“

which I do not have. But I'm still searching...

... and the most likely would be "REICHSKRIEGSMINISTERIUM". (Reich War Ministry)

[Patrick Chadwick]

Confirmed. RKM = Reichskriegsministerium

Source: Wacker & Görtz "Handbuch Deutscher Waffenstempel" P.276.

[LTPayton88]

Confirmed. RKM = Reichskriegsministerium

That is awesome thank you sir for the information. This literally made my day. It is funny as I just got back from picking up a Pre war Mas 36 that is marked LK5 and it is my understanding that is a German capture mark as well. Thank you again.

[LTPayton88]

Confirmed. RKM = Reichskriegsministerium

Source: Wacker & Görtz "Handbuch Deutscher Waffenstempel" P.276.

Patrick, thanks again. In your opinion would this stamp add any significant value to the rifle in general?