Here are three pre war, or war time MAS 36, rifles that made their way to the states probably as bring backs or "captured" rifles by GI’s. They are not the common surplus refurbished rifles that were imported a few years back. These rifles still have their original finish and neither have any import stamps.

The first one on top is dated Jan. 1940. and has a LK5 stamped in the stock. This stamp, and other similar stamps only with numbers LK 7 & 9 are found on a number of rifles from various countries the Germans either occupied or fought. So it is a German applied stamp most likey identifying the rifles as ok for German service.

The 2nd one is dated May 1939, the barrel is dated 1938.

The 3rd one is called a Mystery rifle as it has no markings except the main MAS 36 stamp and a three number serial number stamped only on the receiver and bolt. It has a 1940 dated barrel. No-one knows exactly when it was made as the arsenal documents have not been found and were either destroyed or lost. Opinion is that it was made just after the Germans took over and possible put together with parts that remained at the arsenal for either the French Reistance or for the French Vichy Government after the Germans closed down the arsenal. Ray
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