This is a fine example of a very rare French M1917 semi automatic rifle as manufactured by the French Arsenal of MAS. This rifle was the first semi-automatic rifle that was used by the French Army circa late WWI. These rifle were used from 1917 through 1926 before being replaced by the improved Model 1918 rifle. This example retains its original full length 31 inch barrel, full mannlicher length stock. It has an all blue/black type finish. These were not well liked during WWI as they were too long for trench warfare and they had a small gas port in the barrel, requiring frequent cleaning and maintenance; both short comings were changed in the late M1918 rifle. After WWI almost all of these were converted to single shot, straight pull rifle by deactivating the gas system by plugging the gas port and removing the brass gas cylinder cap and then given to indigenous troops in the French colonies, primarily North Africa. The right side of the barrel is marked "MA T1917", and the left side marked "LP/circled J proof/F27967". It has the original military style tangent rear sight graduated 4-8 (400-800 meters) on the side of the base and 9-24 (900-2400 meters) on the back side of the tangent. It has matching serial numbers on the buttstock, forend barrel and operating rod. The receiver plate on the underside of the rifle is numbered F59842. The gas block and small brass gas plug are intact and the action hand cycles correctly like a semi-automatic rifle. We cannot determine if it has been deactivated to a straight pull version. However, based on that and the overall appearance of the rifle of having not been overhauled we make the assumption it is still functional.

Very fine as assembled (see above) with 85% plus of the original blue/black finish overall with edge and high spot wear with blue loss on the magazine box and the complete trigger guard. The buttstock and forend are both in very good condition showing numerous light pressure dents, scratches and handling marks overall form light field use. Mechanically functions fine. This is a solid representative example of a WWI French Army semi-automatic rifle.