French Army surplus 5 rounds .22 lr MAS 45 training rifle I recently acquired in pristine condition. According to the condition, it passed scores of years hanging on an armory rack without firing a round.
The SN indicates a very late end of production rifle (1965).
This makes it one of the last military weapon produced with the war era confiscated Mauser tooling that was transferred to the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS) in 1946 after the Russians protested that the French were having armament produced in occupied Germany.
The machines, tools and spare parts inventory that was been used to assemble Mauser 45 training rifles, 98k rifles, P08, P38 and Hsc pistols, were shipped in France and the Mauser buildings were destroyed.
The machines, tools and spare parts served to manufacture training rifles rechristened MAS 45 rifles with a shorter and better balanced barrel ; when the spare parts stockpile of German origin was used, new parts were produced in house. So these carbines can be found with 100 % German parts, a mix of German and French parts, or 100 % French parts like this one, and various markings and finishes (blue or phosphate), a variety that pleases collectors.
There was also a limited and sought after civilian production with a better blue and checkered grip and forestock.
Last edited: