were made for the five-shot clip, while many three-shot rifles were later converted to the five-shot system.
The bolt assembly, rather complex, has a separate head with dual-locking lugs at the front; neither lug is slotted. The simple hook spring-extractor is dovetailed into a slot cut into the bolt head. The bolt face, recessed for the cartridge rim, is cut only for the extractor and ejector.
The bolt handle has a heavy rectangular base which appears to be an integral part of the bolt body. When the bolt is locked, this heavy base is in front of the receiver bridge and becomes the safety lug. On the front of the bolt body, in line with the bolt handle base, is a heavy lug which acts as a bolt guide. This lug extends forward of the bolt body and is notched to engage over a small lug on the bolt head when it is in place. In addition, there is a large-headed screw threaded through this lug and into a hole in the bolt head. The notch, lug and screw hold the bolt head in place, preventing it from rotating on the bolt body.
The bolt body is drilled from the front to accept the coil mainspring and the one-piece firing pin. When the bolt head is in place the mainspring is compressed between a shoulder on the firing pin and a collar in the rear of the bolt body.
The heavy cocking piece fits over the back end of the firing pin, which projects from the bolt body. The firing pin is anchored within the cocking piece by a double hooked button fitted in the rear of the cocking piece and engaging notches on the end of the firing pin. On top of the cocking piece there is a heavy lug which fits the slot in the receiver bridge. Below this lug is a cocking cam matching a notch in the bolt body. The action is cocked on lifting the bolt handle.
The Berthier action has no safety, no magazine cut-off, nor any separate bolt-stop. The bolt stops when the locking lugs contact the ends of the lug raceways in the bridge. The ejector is merely a small projection on top of the housing on the trigger guard which protrudes into a groove in the bolt body and head.
Top view of the Berthier action.
French Model 1916 Berthier rifle chambered for the 8mm Lebel cartridge.
Operation
To load, raise the bolt handle and pull the bolt back. Insert a fully- or partially-loaded clip into the opened action, pressing the cartridges down until the clip latch has engaged the clip. Pushing the bolt forward moves the top cartridge out of the clip into the chamber, allowing the follower to raise the next cartridge in the clip against the bolt. Turning the bolt handle down locks the cartridge in the chamber and the action is cocked. Pulling the trigger releases the firing mechanism, discharging the cartridge. On raising the bolt handle, the striker is cocked and the fired case is cammed back when the front of the bolt guide rib moves over the inclined surface of the receiver ring. Pulling the bolt back draws the case from the chamber, ejecting it up and to the right. When the last cartridge is fed from the clip, the clip is free to drop of its own weight, either falling from the magazine or when the hinged cover plate is opened. To unload a full- or partially-loaded clip, open the bolt and slightly depress the cartridges and clip while pressing the clip latch in the trigger guard. Releasing the pressure on the cartridges allows the clip to rise and be pulled from the action.
Takedown and Assembly
To remove the bolt, raise the bolt handle and pull the bolt about halfway back. With a large screwdriver remove the large-headed screw from the bolt guide rib lug. Move the bolt until the bolt head can be turned free from the bolt body, then pull the bolt to the rear and lift out the bolt head. Reassemble in reverse order.
To disassemble the firing mechanism, remove the bolt from the action and rotate the cocking piece counterclockwise so it falls against the bolt body. Turn the firing pin button so its slot aligns with the notch in the thumbpiece on the cocking piece. Grasp the bolt and cocking piece firmly and, placing the firing pin tip on a hard surface, press down on the bolt until the firing pin button clears the cocking piece and can be slipped off. The firing pin and mainspring can then be pulled from the bolt. Reassemble in reverse order.
To remove barrel and action from the stock, remove the barrel bands from the forend. Remove the screw from the right of the receiver bridge and the screw from the rear of the trigger guard, grasp the trigger guard and pull it out of the stock. Remove the tang screw and lift the action and barrel from the stock. All other parts can then be removed by turning out various screws and driving pins from the receiver and magazine units. Reassemble in reverse order. The barrel should not be unthreaded from the receiver unless absolutely necessary, and then only if the proper tools are available.
Comments
The French Berthier rifles (there are many models and variations) were rugged and serviceable military weapons and their long use has proved this. The action is strong and safe enough for the 8mm Lebel cartridge. The rifles, provided the bore is in excellent condition, are generally quite accurate. Feeding, ignition, extraction and ejection are positive and reliable.
All action parts are well made, generally, well-finished and smooth. No doubt good steels were used in the manufacture and heat-treated where needed. All in all, Berthier rifles are good.
However, the Berthier action has a number of faults and undesirable features. The worst feature is that a special clip must be used to fire the rifle as a repeater. Requiring the bolt to be separated before it can be removed is also bad. The lack of a safety may also be highly undesirable. The five-shot magazine projecting so far below the stock is never liked, and the belly of the three-shot magazine is often disliked.
Berthier Markings
Usually the place of manufacture and the model designation are stamped on the left side of the receiver, such as: St Etienne Mle 1892.
Since many Berthiers were “transformed” to another model at a later date, the original model designation may not always be correct. The serial number is stamped at the base of the bolt handle and breech end of the barrel. The date of manufacture (year) is usually stamped on the breech end of the barrel as well, along with an assortment of inspector’s, arsenal and proof marks. Sometimes there are two dates stamped on the barrel; the earliest date probably indicating when the rifle was made originally and the later date perhaps showing the year of “transformation.” The letters MAC, MAS or MAT are often stamped on the barrel. These indicate the French arsenal where the rifle or barrel was made, or where it was rebuilt or transformed. In each case, the letters MA stand for “Manufacture d’Armes,” and the last letter—C, S or T—indicates the arsenal located at Chatellerault, St. Etienne or Tulle.
French Berthier Model 1890 (and later)
(Uses 8mm Lebel cartridges)
General Specifications
Type . . . . . . . . .Turnbolt repeater.
Receiver . . . . . .One-piece machined steel forging, slotted bridge. One-piece stock.
Bolt . . . . . . . . . .Two-piece, dual-opposed forward locking lugs on separate bolt head. Base of the bolt handle
