Make: Remington

Model: Berthier 1907-15

Serial Number: NVSN

Year of Manufacture: 1915-1916 / ATF Classification: C&R

Caliber/Gauge: 8mm Lebel

Action Type: Bolt action, accepts en-bloc clips

Barrel Length: 31.6"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a raised blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder sight adjustable from 400 to 2400 meters.

Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The refinished furniture is one piece wood with a straight wrist grip, straight comb, and two sling swivels. The smooth metal buttplate shows scattered oxidation and light pitting. There are infrequent pressure dings and surface scratches. The LOP measures 13.25" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the stock rates in Very Good Plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp with very light copper fouling. Some of the refinish is just inside the bore. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 88% of its metal finish. The finish on the buttplate is almost completely gone. The finish on the rest of the rifle is fairly strong. It shows light freckling, surface oxidation, and other blemishes expected from a rifle of this age. There is light handling wear. The screw heads range from lightly to moderately tooled and retain turnable slots. The markings are clear and complete. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good Plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Leather sling and M1886 bayonet with scabbard.

Our Assessment: This Remington contract Model 1907-15 Berthier dates to around 1915 to 1916 and reflects the extraordinary industrial pressures faced by Allied nations during the First World War. As French state arsenals struggled to meet wartime demand, emergency contracts were placed with American manufacturers, including Remington, to supplement production. The Berthier 1907-15, already simplified compared to the earlier Lebel, was selected for overseas manufacture as a practical infantry rifle intended for rapid mass production during a moment of national crisis.

Chambered in 8mm Lebel with a full-length 31.6" barrel, this rifle typifies the long, powerful service arms of the Great War. The 8mm Lebel cartridge, one of the earliest smokeless military rounds, remained France's primary infantry cartridge throughout the conflict and is inseparable from the imagery of World War I French soldiers. The bore rates an excellent 9.5 out of 10, and the action functions correctly, indicating strong mechanical condition despite the rifle's age and wartime origins.

Historically, the Remington Berthier contract itself is notable. It was canceled in August 1916, primarily due to Remington's inability to meet required production quotas and French quality control standards, issues compounded by repeated manufacturing delays. The French government, facing an urgent and escalating need for serviceable rifles, determined that Remington had taken on too many simultaneous contracts, resulting in slow deliveries, poor parts interchangeability, and overall quality that fell short of French-produced rifles. Approximately 90% of the current blue finish remains, though it is nonoriginal, and the stock has been refinished, presenting the rifle in a clean and attractive state today. As a Remington-produced Berthier 1907-15, this example stands as a tangible artifact of early 20th-century industrial warfare and the challenges of rapid wartime arms production.