Remington Berthier MLE 1907-15
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 4:08 pm
Remington Arms made some really awesome looking rifles in the WWI era. The MLE 1907-15 is assuredly one of them.
Originally contracted with France, for 200,000 units, Remington could not meet production quotas and only completed approximately 100,000. France rejected all but around ten thousand units, citing improper chamber specs and insufficient inventories. The French-accepted rifles were given serial numbers, and are extremely scarce today.
So, the bulk of these guns remained stateside, and were utilized for armed forces training. But the Remington Berthier rifle's highest profile exposure came from training with the 369th, Infantry Regiment (and possibly 370th, 371st and 372nd), comprised of all black soldiers. When they arrived to fight in France, the French outfitted them with much equipment, including the Berthier rifle. It is unclear whether or not the Remington model was issued with the 369th, though.
Following the war, Remington manufactured ammunition in the US, and a great many MLE 1907-15's became the victims of the 'sporting rifle' syndrome, and were sadly cut down.
Some of the rifles remained whole. I was lucky to get my mitts on one! Pics, and thanks for looking.
Originally contracted with France, for 200,000 units, Remington could not meet production quotas and only completed approximately 100,000. France rejected all but around ten thousand units, citing improper chamber specs and insufficient inventories. The French-accepted rifles were given serial numbers, and are extremely scarce today.
So, the bulk of these guns remained stateside, and were utilized for armed forces training. But the Remington Berthier rifle's highest profile exposure came from training with the 369th, Infantry Regiment (and possibly 370th, 371st and 372nd), comprised of all black soldiers. When they arrived to fight in France, the French outfitted them with much equipment, including the Berthier rifle. It is unclear whether or not the Remington model was issued with the 369th, though.
Following the war, Remington manufactured ammunition in the US, and a great many MLE 1907-15's became the victims of the 'sporting rifle' syndrome, and were sadly cut down.
Some of the rifles remained whole. I was lucky to get my mitts on one! Pics, and thanks for looking.
