This is a fine example of a fairly scarce French Model 1924/29 light machine gun that was manufactured by the French Ordnance factory at the Chatellerault Arsenal. It has an all blued metal finish, a fixed walnut stock and pistol grip with a very short forend. Produced after WWI, the Model of 1924 was intended to replace the original WWI Chauchat Model 1915 light rifle. The original design used features from both the Browning and Berthier machine guns in the old short 7.5 mm cartridge. However in 1929 they redesigned it to use the newly designed 7.5 mm French "rimless" cartridge, and it was designated as the Model 24/29. This model was used all the way up through WWII by Vichy French and even into the 1950s by the French colonies. It uses a gas operated, long stroke operating rod, similar to the current M240 MG. It was a very durable and robust machine gun with all machined components. It has a "two triggers", arrangement with the front one for semi-automatic fire and the rear trigger is "full-automatic". It uses a top mounted 20 shot box magazine like the BREN guns with an offset front sight with a large tangent rear sight, which is mounted directly over the center of the rear of the receiver. The interesting aspect of the rear sight is that the aperture-peep swings over to the left and when not in use folds back over the center of the receiver to protect it. The receiver is marked: "Me 1924/M29/A19590 LRS". The top of the barrel is stamped "AEG/6498" followed by "PM-29-270-N". It comes with one original 20 shot magazine, an original folding bipod, a leather sling and a mono-pod mounted on the underside of the buttstock.

Very fine with 85% of the blue finish on the action and lower trigger housing with 80% of a black painted type finish on the barrel and bipod assembly. The wood components are in very good condition, with an original matching dark color on all three components, solid but showing numerous light handling marks and pressure dents overall. A very interesting and historic French M24/29 Light Machine Gun. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.