I have been given a Berthier. It has the following markings.
Left receiver: Chaleuerauu M M.16 (unsure of the written word)
Left chamber: A pitchfork looking proofmark folowed by 43871
Right chamber: MA C 1917
Bolt Handle: AE 6562?
Left chamber above SN: cc , followed by a j inside a circle, then a c inside a circle.
With the stock off:
Underside of chamber, from muzzle toward butt: E E 10, with a tulip looking proofmark.
Behind trigger notch: 7
With bolt removed, under bolt head: H
I was wondering if any of you milsurp detectives could share any information about this unusual rifle. I know next to nothing about Berthiers. Additionaly, it has the N marked barrel and reciever which I understand to mean that it was rechambered for Ball D type ammo in 1932. Also, although the stock has vey obviously been bubba'd, the rifle has a very short barrel, 17.5", and if it was bubba'd, it was obviously by someone other than the one who did the stock work as the crown is in very good shape. So, were carbines issued with barrels that short or has it been chopped? 17.5 inches seems awful short, even for a carbine from this period. Thanks for any and all help.
