The MAS 36 was used throughout World War II by the Vichy French and Free French forces, and as such likely may have been one of the rare cases where both sides utilized the same rifle in combat ...

The French Army was uniformly equipped with the MAS 49/56 by the mid-1960s and production numbers reached approximately 275,240. Many surplus rifles were exported after the adoption of the FAMAS F1.

Despite its somewhat dated design, the French military used these rifles well into the 21st century. "It's a pretty traditionally styled bolt-action rifle with a wood stock," Brune said.

The MAS 36, the French main battle rifle of the Second World War, has long carried the reputation that it was “never fired; only dropped once.” This slight is apparently based on the fact that ...