Condition: Very Good+

1950 French MAS-36 .308 Win Bolt-Action Rifle

This MAS-36 is a French military surplus bolt-action rifle chambered in .308 Win. This rifle was brought in by Century and has had a large “.308” stamped into its receiver and its original 7.5 stamped out. All other expected rollmarks are present. This rifle’s bayonet is present, as is a reproduction sling and a 1962-dated MAS original rubber buttpad.

Condition

Overall Condition: Very Good+ condition, showing limited wear. The action appears to be in excellent working order.

Bore Condition: Very Good+ – clean, crisp lands and grooves. The original factory counterbore, done from 1948 onward to improve performance with rifle grenades, is noted.

Furniture condition: Good – a split is noted on the upper handguard under the front sight, as are a few very minor cracks on the same upper handguard by the barrel band. All pieces of furniture appear to be in good working order. The stock and buttplate under the rubber buttpad are in good shape with no cracks or splits.

Specific Condition Notes: The receiver, bolt, and magazine are all serial-matched.

What's Included

  • MAS-36 .308 Win bolt-action rifle

  • Bayonet

  • Sling

  • 1962-dated MAS original rubber buttpad

The MAS-36 was France’s effort to modernize their service rifles after the First World War. Plagued by political instability and budget shortfalls, the French were only able to begin mass production of this rifle in 1937, far too late to prevent the Fall of France in June of 1940. The French resumed production in 1944 and continued after the war until the early 1950s. This particular rifle was made in 1950 according to its Q prefix, near the very end of production.

Century Arms imported numbers of these MAS-36 rifles and converted them to .308 Win – this rifle is a good representative example.

The MAS-36, like most French guns, is a little unusual. A bolt-action repeater, this gun features rear locking lugs and a forward-swept bolt handle. Fed from a 5-rd magazine, the rifle is sighted with a front post in a protective globe and a rear aperture. A spike bayonet is stowed under the barrel when not in use. Typical of French service arms, no manual safety is provided.

The action of this MAS-36 is in Very Good condition. The bolt turns smoothly and locks open on an empty magazine.

As previously mentioned, the rifle’s 22” barrel started life in its original 7.5 French chambering, and was rechambered by Century upon import. The bore is in Very Good condition with well-defined lands and grooves, and no pitting or darkness. The crown is in similar condition, with its original factory counterbore present (done from 1948 onwards to improve performance with rifle grenades).

The rifle’s furniture is standard, with a two-piece forend and a separate buttstock. A small split is noted on the upper handguard below the front sight, and a few very small cracks are noted on the upper handguard at the barrel band. The butt features a MAS 1962-dated rubber buttpad for increased length of pull and shooting comfort. Both front and rear sling loops are present, as is a reproduction sling.

This MAS-36 is a great entry point to 20th century French service rifles. Its .308 rechamber grants much more readily available ammunition, and its simple, robust construction will be well-noted in any military surplus collection.

Specifications

  • Manufacturer: MAS (Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Etienne)

  • Model: 36

  • Caliber: .308 Win

  • Action Type: Bolt-action repeater

  • Locking mechanism: Rear locking lugs

  • Firing Mechanism: Striker-fired

  • Safety mechanism: N/A

  • Magazine type: Internal box

  • Capacity: 5

  • Barrel Length: 22 in

  • Barrel Material: Steel

  • Barrel Features: Factory counterbore; underslung spike bayonet

  • Sights: Rear adjustable peep, front blade with protective globe

  • Receiver Material: Steel

  • Finish: Parkerized

  • Furniture: Factory two-piece forend and buttstock

  • Furniture features: Factory cartouche on buttstock; factory rubber buttpad; reproduction sling

  • Size: Service rifle

  • Country of Origin: France

  • Year Manufactured: 1950