1395 EXTREMELY SCARCE FRENCH MAS 36 CR39 BOLT ACTION

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Oct 30 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
PARATROOPER RIFLE. Cal. 7.5mm French. S# F28674. Bbl. 17 1/2". In 1937, France, recognizing the need for a new compact rifle for their newly founded airborne companies on the modern battlefield, began researching ways to modify the existing MAS 36 bolt action rifle for their paratroopers. The result, was a MAS 36 rifle with a shortened bbl., shortened bayonet, as well as the addition of an aluminum underfolding buttstock, with a unique auto-winding sling assembly. The finalized design was accepted in 1939 and designated as the CR39 "Cross Repliable 3" (Folding Stock 39), with production ceasing in just 1940 after the 1940 armistice with Germany, but resuming again shortly after the liberation of the St. Etienne arsenal from German occupation. This example is marked "MAS MLE 1936 CR.39" above the S# on the left side of the receiver. Steel components exhibit a phosphate finish overall, save for on the stock lever, which exhibits a black enamel type finish. Underfolding stock is comprised of aluminum, with the grooved forend and handguard being comprised of wood. Sling winder is absent. Standard hooded fixed blade front sight, with peep rear sight, graduated 2-12. Almost all serialized parts are matching, and include the receiver, bolt (rear of handle), trigger guard, aluminum buttstock, and forend. Floorplate is mismatched (S# B64072). CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their arsenal phosphate finish, exhibiting some areas of light to mild wear and thinning that shows through to gray patina, scattered superficial handling marks, as well as some light surface oxidation overall. Floorplate exhibits scattered spots of light to mild pitting. Front sight hood exhibits a ding on the upper right of the rear face. Brilliant mirror bore, retaining well defined rifling throughout. Aluminum buttstock exhibits appropriate age related discoloration overall, as well as some scattered superficial handling marks. Wood forend and handguard show scattered marks and impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. An especially attractive example of a scarce French CR39 paratrooper rifle. (25-2183/MLW). CURIO. $3,000-4,000.