Since it was my birthday, I went for a drive to a few local gun shops, 2 shops, Nothing, The 3rd was different, I had been eyeballing this .22 rifle for 3 years, It's always been marked at 350, So I have always walked away, But this time, I asked about doing something with the $ and the owner said it belonged to the "mad scientist" and was on consignment,,,,,, But he went into the back room and come out with a price of 250,,,, So I bought it! I like shooting .22s at the range, And I mostly have 100 year old examples,, But there was something about this science experiment that I liked....
Funny, I like pure and simple Smith revolvers...
This French MAS had been fully disassembeled, and most all parts chromed.. I dont know why, or who did the chrome job, But it is flawless!
it's got a 24" barrel and nice trigger.
I believe it is a Mauser action but am not sure, I did read that is was a trainer rifle.
Anyway, The stock needs to be finished, It appears to be new and lightly ?stained? Wood is still rough and feels like it would still absorb a finish.
How do I finish the stock???
And can you tell me more about the MAS model 45?
Years made? ect.



I know, A Chrome rifle? What kind of taste do I have,,, And since I walked out with it, I too wonder?!
Peter.

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

Since it was my birthday, I went for a drive to a few local gun shops, 2 shops, Nothing, The 3rd was different, I had been eyeballing this .22 rifle for 3 years, It's always been marked at 350, So I have always walked away, But this time, I asked about doing something with the $ and the owner said it belonged to the "mad scientist" and was on consignment,,,,,, But he went into the back room and come out with a price of 250,,,, So I bought it! I like shooting .22s at the range, And I mostly have 100 year old examples,, But there was something about this science experiment that I liked....
Funny, I like pure and simple Smith revolvers...
This French MAS had been fully disassembeled, and most all parts chromed.. I dont know why, or who did the chrome job, But it is flawless!
it's got a 24" barrel and nice trigger.
I believe it is a Mauser action but am not sure, I did read that is was a trainer rifle.
Anyway, The stock needs to be finished, It appears to be new and lightly ?stained? Wood is still rough and feels like it would still absorb a finish.
How do I finish the stock???
And can you tell me more about the MAS model 45?
Years made? ect.



I know, A Chrome rifle? What kind of taste do I have,,, And since I walked out with it, I too wonder?!
Peter.

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

Man, if I saw that rifle for 250 there wouldn't be a doubt in my mind... what a pretty little thing. Must be a nice shooter, too.
Congrats...

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DVC

Man that is nice. I would have grabbed it too.

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Eccentric old coot

Can you engrave chrome? It would make a heck of a BBQ rifle!

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not limited by 30 characters

Can a rifle qualify as a barbecue gun?

Seriously, i would have brought it home as well. That is a great looking rifle. Nice heavy receiver and great barrel profile. How does it balance?

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All Rights Reserved

Ohhhhhhhhh, that is gorgeous.

What a beautiful little action.

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NRA Instructor

I am surprised that you guys like it, Never figured that a BBQ rifle would get along here.
Anyway I am unsure about Balance,, It's a 8 lb rifle,,, If you put your hand directly under the MAS stamp, It balances.
OKAY I know it's french.
Is it a mauser action?
And how can I finish the stock?
Peter.

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

I am not an expert pred, but it sure looks like a Mauser action. The safety and bolt release is the giveaway, I think. I really like the peep sight.

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All Rights Reserved

It's the French built copy of the Mauser KKW(?) WW2 training rifle.

The MAS 45 was built shortly after WW2 by the French when they occupied that part of Germany that included the Mauser Works Plant in Oberndorf.
They were made for a very short time as the plant was demolished by the Allies in 1946. During the French control of Mauser after the war, they made P38, M98k, HSc and this MAS45 rifle among others.
Also some sporting Mauser rifles were built.

Most of these MAS45 rifles were surplused and imported into the US in the 1980s by Navy Arms Co. IIRC.
They usually go for around $350+ from what I've seen for a nice condition one and are getting tough to find.

Usually very accurate rifles as-is. The little 5 shot box magazines are still available on the used market, though most look unused.

Nice rifle and a very nice job of plating,who ever did it!
The wood sounds original to me, as they are usually open pored walnut with the only finish applied being a dunking in (linseed) oil.

I wouldn't do anything to the wood as far as sanding or altering it in any way.
For finishing, you can continue to build the original oil based finish up with additional very thin coats of boiled linseed oil. A very long process as the stuff dries very slowly.

Using an Artists Linseed Oil available at most craft stores that sell artists painting supplys will work quicker as it has better driers in the oil. The stuff will actually dry in a couple of days as opposed to weeks with the original.
Congrats on a nice rifle.

2152hq summed it up quite well. I have one, although not " pretty" like yours, and have found it to be an excellent shooter. Front sight is a little thick, but effective. Wonder if your rifle was a "parade" rifle of sorts.

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Kevin in Oregon

Since the gun is no longer "original" I'd recommend a Tru-Oil finish. Birchwood Casey makes it, and a little 4 oz. bottle will be enough to do a couple guns. Lightly sand to remove any "hairs" then apply finish by spreading with your finger and rubbing out with the heel of your hand. Let dry overnight, then "lightly" rub down with OOOO steel wool, and wipe off with a tack cloth. then repeat the application and rub out with the heel of your hand again. Apply at least 5 to 6 coats, lightly rubbing down with OOOO steel wool in between each coat. When you are satisfied with the coverage, let it dry for a week, then rub down with a solution of "Rotten Stone" in mineral oil, using a cotton pad. This will polish out the gloss and give it a deep glow hand rubbed finish. When using the Tru-Oil, store in original bottle but stand it upside down on it's lid as the product will "scum over" otherwise.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thank you all for the info!! The stock does appear unsanded since new, The peep sight is a nice feature, Seems to work well,
I have not shot it yet, But I did run a couple of super coulibri through it to make sure they ignite.
All seems proper, And since the bore looks like it was never fires, I would venture to guess that it will group quite well!
I may break it down to give it a coat of wax since it shows fingerprints like nothing I have ever owned!
I am sure that it will make a great BBQ rifle (if there is such a thing) !
Peter.

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

being a french rifle, it may have never been fired, but could have been dropped once

A very neat little Mauser .22 trainer. And at 250 bucks, about six or seven times cheaper than a Springfield .22 trainer. Nice buy.

My favorite is Tung oil, available at any furniture finishing store, Lowes, Menards, etc.

It's just like linseed but dries overnight, and doesn't have the shiny varnish look of tru-oil. I think I originally read about it in an NRA publication.

Keithcarter
NRA KLife

The bolt is very similar to a small ring mauser bolt by the looks of the safety lever.

What real man does not like chrome? Are you kidding? If you don't like chrome, turn in your man card and be prepared to have your hand slapped!

Seriously that is one fine looking rifle. I also wonder if it is a parade gun as well. You will have to wear thin white cotton gloves to handle that gun. Nice catch.

Please, forgive my ignorance, but what's a BBQ gun?

OP, that's a cool little rifle!!!!

I like it, it appears very robust for a .22

Years ago I gave my son a Norinco .22 training rifle built on a close copy of the Mauser action. Military-style stock of some light-colored wood, varnished. Not nearly as good-looking as yours, but a real needle-threader to shoot with the aperture sight. I think he has used it to train his boys in the ways of bolt actions.

I bought it over twenty years ago for eighty-eight bucks; but as I said, it was nowhere close to the looks of yours.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I have a training rifle in 22lr that looks like a m1 garand.