Lebel and Berthier value
- Thread starter Audet
- Start date
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- State of Alabera
I got a Berthier cavalry carbine for $200 and one of those Turkish forestry Berthier refits for $100. Both were in really good condition.
Last Lebel I saw on EE went for 300-400$ but I don't think it was in shootable shape.
For decent shape,complete and safe example 400-500$ wouldn't be too much but I'm not an expert.
Long Berthiers are going for somewhat less since there is more of them around but again-shape is everything.It would sell faster if 3 shot clip (or clips) comes with it.
For decent shape,complete and safe example 400-500$ wouldn't be too much but I'm not an expert.
Long Berthiers are going for somewhat less since there is more of them around but again-shape is everything.It would sell faster if 3 shot clip (or clips) comes with it.
Of course you can, you just have to look for them. They're available but French milsurps are expensive.
Most French milsurps have been used to the point of "be careful and get them inspected if you don't know what to look for"
There are some very nice French misurps out there, but most have mixed number, sometimes questionable bores, and lots of stock repairs, and worn finishes.
Ammunition is almost unobtanium, unless you can find it online and order it, or load your own.
I went down the rabbit hole of trying to put together a French milsurp collection and went with my "condition" level requirements.
What I found was most of them were not in good enough condition to meet my requirements.
1886 models, for instance, can be found in "Good" only condition, "EXC" condition rifles are rare as hen's teeth and are very expensive.
Berthiers are the most available, but require special enblocs to hold and feed the cartridges from. These can be more difficult to find than the rifles.
Even the "Good" only specimens start around $750
I'm fine for enblocs, both three round and five round.
Back in the day when 8mm Lebel ammo was still available in bulk as surplus, I managed to pick up a couple of crates already loaded into the enblocs, which I believe were considered disposable if necessary.
I was lucky enough to pick up a couple of boxes of ammunition loaded for Hotchkiss machine guns on 20 round feed plates as well.
The ammo is mostly gone now, but I kept as many enblocs as I felt I would need.
I remember people throwing them away because they thought the supply would never end.
Having some Mk. III Ross rifles, I've thought it would be appropriate to have a Lebel, Berthier, and G98. Then prices rapidly escalated, no more Rosses and none of the others for me. From what I've seen, a fine Lebel could bring $1500.
I bought my Lebels due to not having anything from France. 1905/17 and an 1886. The 86 is the better shooter. I bought mine for $600 for the pair. The 1886 I have turned down $2000 and two higher offers. If I sell it I’ll probably never have another. Fellow offered to trade a Garand for it. I have two Garands and only one 1886 Lebel. I think it will stay here for awhile longer. I reload for both of them.
