MAS-49 Rifle

MAS-49 Rifle

The MAS-49 is a French semi-automatic rifle that replaced various bolt action rifles as the French service rifle in 1949. It was designed and manufactured by the government-owned MAS arms factory. The French Army formal designation of the MAS-49 is Fusil Semi-automatique de 7,5mm Modele 1949 ("rifle semi-automatic of 7.5mm model 1949"). The MAS-49 semi-automatic rifle was produced in limited quantities (20,600 units), whereas the shorter and lighter variant, the MAS-49/56, was mass manufactured (275,240 units) and issued to all branches of the French military. The MAS-49 and 49/56, had gained over the years, a reputation of being sturdy, reliable and easy to maintain, including in harsh tropical enviroments . The MAS-49 and MAS-49/56 were replaced as French service rifles by the FAMAS assault rifle in 1979.