Matching WW2 vintage MAS 36

[mawkie]

-This is the other item I pulled from the vault. An all matching MAS 36 built in early summer of 1940 during the Battle of France. It's a nice example that hasn't been mucked with. No import marks, original finish on the wood and metal. Hell, even the bayonet matches. A bit of a tidy time capsule.
-I used to hunt down the early wartime MAS 36s and snapped up 3-4 of them for sub $300 prices roughly 20 yrs ago. Now they're commanding a nice dollar when you can find 'em. Hell, even the imports from France in the early 90's are bringing strong prices. Not so much the rid hard examples from Lebanon, though those sold crazy cheap for under $50! My Lord those were great times to be a collector.
-Love the milled parts on these. Post war MAS 36s got more affordable stamped bands, floor plates, trigger guards and such. Note the black enamel over parkerizing on these that was dropped post war to just parkerizing.

 

[mawkie]

-Matching bayonet...

 

[Melnic]

Nice!
I still have the one I procured from you a few years ago. I thought it shot pretty well.

 

[mawkie]

Nice!
I still have the one I procured from you a few years ago. I thought it shot pretty well.

My Lord, I totally forgot about that one! It's hell to get older. Anymore the goal is more about finding the right home for my "kids" when it's time to let go of them. Pleased to know you are enjoying it.
I used to have a bunch of post war examples but sold them all off and kept just one. It's one of the arsenal reworked ones that CIA imported with all the goodies. Had to hang onto at least one of them! The pre-war examples are harder for me to let go of though in the end that's what will have to happen. Can't take them all with me.

 

[TapRackBang]

I'm understanding more and more why Ian McCollum is so into French rifles. This MAS 36 is a fine example, thanks for sharing!

 

[MilsurpDan]

Looks good! I picked up a mint matching February 1940 MAS36 a few years ago for $225 at a small show

 

[BigCity]

One day I gotta see this vault of yours....

 

[Melnic]

Here is a pic of your former MAS
Also all matching but maybe was rode a bit harder. Sorry my photo setup is not as good as many of you guys. This pickup thrilled me as it filled my last gap I believe in my WW2 rifle collection

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mawkie]

Looks good! I picked up a mint matching February 1940 MAS36 a few years ago for $225 at a small show

You stole that! I've been watching them sell for $500 and up recently.

 

[Melnic]

Looks good! I picked up a mint matching February 1940 MAS36 a few years ago for $225 at a small show

Was that deep into PA, that was not around here was it?

 

[MilsurpDan]

Was that deep into PA, that was not around here was it?

Nah, it was about 5 or 6 years ago at the small PACA show in Frederick. Unfortunately they stopped doing them a few years ago.

The same day I got a Japanese Type 02/45 for $70 and a Uberti M1873 Carbine for $150

 

[mawkie]

Nah, it was about 5 or 6 years ago at the small PACA show in Frederick. Unfortunately they stopped doing them a few years ago.

The same day I got a Japanese Type 02/45 for $70 and a Uberti M1873 Carbine for $150

Holy Crap! An 02/45 for $70? That's beyond grand theft. You paid 10 cents on the dollar or less. I can see how this might have happened as the 02/45 on the surface looks like a Bubba'd mess but if you know what you're looking at...

 

[MilsurpDan]

Holy Crap! An 02/45 for $70? That's beyond grand theft. You paid 10 cents on the dollar or less. I can see how this might have happened as the 02/45 on the surface looks like a Bubba'd mess but if you know what you're looking at...

Yup! Old feller was liquidating a small museum collection. He sold a bunch of other Carcano’s and a few other things for the same price.

The 02/45 was the only one I could grab. I thought it was a bubba’d Type 30 until the guys on Gunboards told me what it was.

 

[mawkie]

Yup! Old feller was liquidating a small museum collection. He sold a bunch of other Carcano’s and a few other things for the same price.

The 02/45 was the only one I could grab. I thought it was a bubba’d Type 30 until the guys on Gunboards told me what it was.

Last one of these I saw for sale on GB sold for $900, 'bout a year ago. Something that hard core Japanese collectors drool over, esp. those who focus on last ditch items.