SOLD RARE, WELL DOCUMENTED & PUBLISHED FRENCH MILITARY WWI REMINGTON MODEL 1907-1915 BERTHIER RIFLE in 8mm LEBEL, WITH RARE BAYONET, IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION, FROM THE MERCALDO COLLECTION!

This rifle is from the lifetime collection of noted firearms historian and author Luke Mercaldo, and it was featured in his well know Reference book “Allied Rifle Contracts in America, 1914-1918″.  It was also published in the Remington Collectors Journal as well.  Along with the purchase of the rifle, you will receive a signed copy of the book, a notarized letter of authenticity from the author and a copy of the article that appeared in the Remington Journal.  I cannot recall any firearm that we have handled where the author/consignor was that thoughtful and generous to include all of that information, especially in such a concise format.

In mint unissued condition, we have a French WW1 Mle 1907-15 Berthier Service Rifle as Made by Remington Arms in 1916, still with the Remington made Bayonet, which is seldom seen.  The rifle is in mint condition and was part of a cancelled contract for these rifles that Remington had with the French Government during WWI.  The bayonets are rarely ever seen and this is the only one we have had that was still with the rifle.

The story of Remington’s attempts to cash in while trying to arm the allies during WWI is that they bit off more than they could chew.  They were slow in delivery of these rifles to the French and the contract was cancelled.  Only 10,000-20,000 were produced and only around half of those rifles ever actually made it to France and this example likely did not.  None the less it is a mint crisp like new example of the Famous French WWI service rifle and many of them ended up in the hands of African American troops fighting in France and also the French Foreign Legion.  This is a great rifle for the WWI collector.

There is today a huge interest in the firearms of the Great War and this is a wonderful opportunity to obtain one of the more important French weapons from the very early and dramatic opening stages of that terrible maelstrom of destruction.  This is a perfectly packaged piece of history that will only increase in desirability and value as it is so well documented and of such a high state of preservation.  It will certainly add depth and gravitas to your collection.