Établissement Continsouza Service Rifle. Sn 22426:84 Bolt Action None Rifle

**RARE**WW1 1916 Dated French Foreign Legion, 8mm Calibre Berthier Établissement Continsouza Model 1907/15 8mm Service Rifle. Sn 22426:84 - 22426:84

These weapons were designed by Émile Berthier, a mechanical engineer in La Compagnie Bône-Guelma (one of the five subsidiary companies of the Algerian Railway System). Model 1905/17 rifles and carbines were issued to Colonial troops & the French Foreign Legion. It was also issued to some French regular infantry Regiments. Both the Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne and the MAC (Châtellerault) were the principal state contractors for the Mle 1907/15 rifle, they were also made by Établissement Continsouza, which was created in 1909 by Pierre-Victor Continsouza who produced gramophones and cinematography equipmnent. In 1914 Monsieur Continsouza rented industrial buildings called l'Usine de la Marque in North-East part of Tulle to produce armaments for the war effort. After the war he moved his entire production of cinematography equipmnent to this location. He continued operations until May of 1928 when he merged with Louis Aubert to form a company called Mécanique Industrial de Precision but in 1929 he was forced to liquidate his assets to the Banque Nationale de Crédit and Établissements Continsouza then disappears from history. This is a rare to find excellent example of the Model 1907/15 8mm Service Rifle by Établissement Continsouza. This rifle has excellent original woodwork, the stock is stamped '21862' and has an indistinct impressed roundel. The breech has inspection marks and is marked 'Est Continsouza Mle 1907-15' together with matching number '21862' & 1916 date. The bolt is numbered ‘9096’. It has a block foresight, flip up ladder rear sight, steel butt plate, sling ring and sling swivel. The rifle cocks and dry fires crisply. The price includes deactivation certificate and UK delivery. Sn 22426:84

£1,495.00