[kelt]

The "A" front sight is a mid 1930s improvement, higher than the original "square" M16 sight, fitted together with a new raised rear sight, to solve the interference of the sight line with the bolt hammer at the 200M range.

The Anchor stamp on the buttstock indicates use by the "Marine Nationale" and the modification to the stock appears to be just a repair.

kelt

 

[kelt]

The butt hole is shown on early drawings, and listed as "perçage d'allègement" in the text (armement lèger instruction de 1905) .

The stock repairs are usually adjusted very tight and glued in place.

When the Cavalry carbine had their underside sling attachment replaced by a side barret, the butt hole was filled with a wood plug before the side cut was made, and the underside attachement cut filled by a wood insert.

The Musketoon model 16 originally fitted with the side barret did not have a butt hole.

kelt

 

[kelt]

Sorry for my poor choice of words! "stock lightening hole" sounds more classy than butt hole.

The document "Instruction-sur-les-armes-et-les-munitions-en-service" published in1905 show the Mle 1886-93 and all Berthier rifles but the Mle 1890 Cuirassier carbine and Mle 1902 "Indochinois" featuring a stock lightening hole.


kelt