This Berthier started out as a rare Mle1890 cavalry carbine manufactured at Châtellerault in April 1891. It was last officially reworked in February 1919, when it was probably upgraded to the Mle1916 specification which added the handguard and five round magazine. There were a few other mods after that. The rear sight was updated with a square notch after 1920, the cleaning rod channel was filled in and a stacking rod added sometime after 1927, and finally the chamber neck was reamed out for the new Balle N cartridge sometime after 1932. Amazingly, it retained its original barrel through all of this (and two world wars) with a bore that is still almost like new.
I have seen at least a half-dozen LK5 marked Berthier carbines but never one marked by a depot. The depot blued the bolt, and maybe numbered the rear sight, but everyhing else appears to be French. Gun was probably reblued also. Depot acceptance stamp is the same commonly seen on Carcanos, but I still can't make out the city's letters on the stamp. All I can make out for certain is 'H.Za ??? 3". Frustrating!
Now to find a breadbag strap to use for a sling...
I have seen at least a half-dozen LK5 marked Berthier carbines but never one marked by a depot. The depot blued the bolt, and maybe numbered the rear sight, but everyhing else appears to be French. Gun was probably reblued also. Depot acceptance stamp is the same commonly seen on Carcanos, but I still can't make out the city's letters on the stamp. All I can make out for certain is 'H.Za ??? 3". Frustrating!
Now to find a breadbag strap to use for a sling...
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Rifle Right.JPG274 KB · Views: 114
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Rifle Left 1.jpg204.9 KB · Views: 112
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tn_Receiver Left.jpg118 KB · Views: 83
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tn_Receiver Right.jpg109.5 KB · Views: 77
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tn_Bolt Top.jpg116.2 KB · Views: 82
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tn_Bolt Head.jpg106.5 KB · Views: 60
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tn_Barrel Top.jpg64.2 KB · Views: 65
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tn_Barrel Left.jpg113.9 KB · Views: 61
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tn_Barrel Right.jpg98.7 KB · Views: 53
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tn_Barrel SN.jpg113.9 KB · Views: 55
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tn_Bands Left.jpg58.7 KB · Views: 48
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tn_Bands Right.jpg58.9 KB · Views: 47
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tn_Rear Sight.jpg76.5 KB · Views: 63
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tn_Stock Rightr.jpg81.1 KB · Views: 59
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tn_Stock Roundel.jpg235.3 KB · Views: 81
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tn_Stock Left.jpg82.9 KB · Views: 48
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tn_Stock numbering.jpg121.7 KB · Views: 71
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tn_Triggerguard.jpg78.4 KB · Views: 55
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tn_Stock Wrist.jpg77.3 KB · Views: 106
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tn_Stock HZa.jpg77.9 KB · Views: 152