I was at my local Cabelas yesterday and was looking around their gun library, and came across a French MAS 49 chambered in 7.5X54 in the case. It is not a typical rifle to run across, and the handful I've come across over the years were all 49/56 models.
I took it out of the case to examine it and realized it was a French contract 49, not a Syrian! I ended up purchasing it for $499, which I thought was a really good deal. It is numbers matching and in excellent condition. It does not appear to have been fired by the previous owner. There is still what appears to be preservative grease or cosmoline in the barrel, as well as in the action and on the recoil spring.
I had always wanted to purchase a MAS 49 or 49/56 but haven't seen one locally in probably 8 years or more. I wasn't going to let this one pass.
After I got home, I was doing some reading on the French contract MAS 49 and it appears that only a handful were ever imported. I read on several other forums that Century Arms only imported around 265 of these, and sold them all to AIM Surplus. AIM then sold them to the public. Does anybody know if these numbers are correct? If so, that is quite a rare rifle to come across.
I ordered up 200 rounds of Prvi 7.5X54 ammo and look forward to taking it out to the range. I will be sure to strip the rifle down completely and clean all of the cosmoline/preservative grease out of it, especially the firing pin channel. Don't want any slam fires or burst fire going on!
I will get some pics up later today.
I took it out of the case to examine it and realized it was a French contract 49, not a Syrian! I ended up purchasing it for $499, which I thought was a really good deal. It is numbers matching and in excellent condition. It does not appear to have been fired by the previous owner. There is still what appears to be preservative grease or cosmoline in the barrel, as well as in the action and on the recoil spring.
I had always wanted to purchase a MAS 49 or 49/56 but haven't seen one locally in probably 8 years or more. I wasn't going to let this one pass.
After I got home, I was doing some reading on the French contract MAS 49 and it appears that only a handful were ever imported. I read on several other forums that Century Arms only imported around 265 of these, and sold them all to AIM Surplus. AIM then sold them to the public. Does anybody know if these numbers are correct? If so, that is quite a rare rifle to come across.
I ordered up 200 rounds of Prvi 7.5X54 ammo and look forward to taking it out to the range. I will be sure to strip the rifle down completely and clean all of the cosmoline/preservative grease out of it, especially the firing pin channel. Don't want any slam fires or burst fire going on!
I will get some pics up later today.