My French MAS Project

[carguy]

You're killing me!!!

I did finish with a couple of coats of Tru Oil a little stell wool rub and put it back together once again. Haven't gotten my hands on the camera yet. Looks pretty good. I don't think I will be able to have anything welded onto the barrel as the muzzle end that holds the fore ends together as well as the bayonett (flag pole) has very little play around it as it would need to slide over the extension to be put in place. We'll see because this is a really accurate little piece as it is...I would hate to screw it up by trying to add onto the barrel.

I guess I'll just have to buy another :-/ Yup I'll need a correct as issued MAS 36 then a 36/51 and even a 49/51 hmmmmmm, how about I slow down and see how this thing works first? Can I even safely shoot it with the muzzle barely exposed? Will it effect accuracy? We'll see soon!!

[trent]

you need to put a aks74u muzzle break on the end of that thing, I think that'l block any crud from getting into the handguard

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/index. ... rodID=1596
man that thing would look funky after this

[carguy]

If I had room to fit anything like that on the end of the barrel I would try! I thought about a muzzle brake but no room.

But here is the finished item...
Before

After



The bottom fore stock is pretty beat up but for $12 you can't beat it...didn't come out too bad at all... Now it looks and feels milsurp!

Total investment is $134.60...

[trent]

I LIKE IT!

[papabear]

carguy,

Alright, that ain't bad at all, nice job. I really like the "flag pole" as Norm calls it, actually the correct nomenclature for that is a "stacking rod, it is part of the front barrel band for the use of stacking rifles, ie, hook 3 or more rifles together using the stacking rods of each rifle to stand them up so as they support themselves.


papabear

[carguy]

I've just be texting with a forum member of the French forum on Gunboards and he is in the middle of a project and offered me a MAS 36 barrel with a "like new bore" on the cheap!

I think I'll wait to make any adjustments to anything and see when I can get the barrel. I'd rather spend a couple of bucks having a gunsmith switch out the barrels than become a bubba and start cutting the furniture...after all I'm trying to re-build this like it was when issued way back when Papabear was a teenager in 1936...

So I'm going to sit back and wait to see when I can pick this barrel up...

[nbender]

That's a pretty neat piece of work carguy.

How do you think that forestock handles a fastball?

[normsutton]

carguy
thats great about the barrel

go for it

NORM

[carguy]

That's a pretty neat piece of work carguy.

How do you think that forestock handles a fastball?

What can I say I'm doing the best that I can with what I have to work with!! ::) Looks like it'd be a homerun though.

I'm hoping to get the barrel sooner than later, in the mean time I am going to work on finding a good gunsmith that can do the MAS work.

[garry]

Hey Carguy ! I keep finding info on the web about your gun and I have been saving some of it for you. I will email it to you eventually . I have been busy with Mom in the Hospice House. A neighbor lent me the Book " Small Arms of the World" and it has a bunch about your MAS. This is a 1970 copy and doesn't have any of the modern(post 1970) weapons ,but it is a Great book and I will suggest you visit your local library and ask them to order it for you to read thru ! WOW What a neat book ! Anyways, there are models of the MAS Rifle that fold up and they are pretty kewl also.
Norm called that a "Flag Pole" ? HAHAHAHAHAHA That right there is funny.
Your MAS is coming along very nicely!!! I like that ! I like the wood all they way to the muzzle on enfields and carcanos also. That one of yours does resemble a ball bat. I bet it is a kewl gun,huh? Viva La Flagpole ! G

[carguy]

Thanks Garry, it is a load of fun to shoot. I am actually getting a new full size barrel and some other stuff for it so it is almost time to rebuild Frankenstein once again!!

I would love to see what ever you have found out about the MAS as I have some hits and some misses but always looking for more. I just love this rifle!

Sorry to hear about your mom, hang in there.

Russ

[volfandan]

carguy,

that's a heckuva restore you've done on that frenchie of yours. I really like it. You've got a fine piece that you got a great deal on, put some time and elbow grease into it, and she'll give you years of fun!

[carguy]

I got a surprise in the mail today...a package that had the MAS 36 barrel promised to me by a French Gunboards member. Well not only did he send me the barrel but since his project only needed the complete receiver and bolt...he sent me "everything else from a complete rifle he dis-assembled"!



There are even a few extra parts in there I don't need nor know what they are for :'(

As we spoke about what I needed to really complete the make over and what he had, he offered to send me everything left over for $25. How could I pass that up?

I'll build a complete rifle, dispose of the rest and maybe pay for the rifle in the end? The cost of a gunsmith to change out the barrels will be the next big thing. I have to start researching. I'd be afraid to try to unscrew one and screw on the other to insure it seats correctly and the sights line up properly. We'll see.

This is becoming a testament as to how to make a long thread even longer!!

[nbender]

Wow! You are off and runnin'. There are so many great collectors out there - the fact that he sent you those other parts - evidence that it's quite a community.

Yeah CG, I would be afraid to screw a barrel on. But I'd be afraid of an unknown gunsmith doing it to. You have some research to do.

What a great project.

[patientzer0]

So, one year later... What happened?