CONTENTS INCLUDE:

• MAS Guide Model 1949-56 7.5mm 1974
• St Etienne – In French
• Baionnette
• Charge, Armer,
• Demontage aluthorises
• Destination
• Dispositie de Visee Nocturne
• Dispositive
• FSA 109 -56 and MSE
• Incidents de Fonctionnement
• Ingredients a Utiliser
• Munitions
• Organisation du Material
• Parts and Mechanisims Illustrated
• Pointage
• Reglage en Direction, en Hauteur
• Regles de Securite Propres
• Utilisation dans Les Conditions

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. Over the years, the MAS-49 and 49/56 rifles gained the reputation of being accurate, reliable and easy to maintain in adverse environments. The MAS-49 and MAS-49/56 were replaced as French service rifles by the FAMAS assault rifle in 1979.

The MAS-49 arrived after a series of small, distinct design improvements. Today, this might be termed spiral development, where small elements are changed with successive models, rather than large significant changes. The principles of French semi-automatic rifle evolved from the prototype MAS-38/39 and the MAS-40, which entered limited service in March 1940, to the MAS-44, and minor models 44A, 44B and 44C. Although 50,000 MAS-44 rifles were ordered in January 1945, only 6,200 were delivered to the French Navy. The MAS-49 was formally adopted by the French Army in July 1949. As a service rifle, it replaced the diverse collection of aging bolt-action rifles (MAS-36, Lee Enfield No4, U.S. M1917 and K98k) that were in French service after the end of World War II. It saw significant service with French troops in the latter stages of the First Indochina War, as well as during the Algerian War and the Suez Crisis.[1]

An improved version called the MAS-49/56 was introduced in 1957 and incorporated lessons learned from service in Algeria, Indochina, and the Suez Crisis. The rifle was shortened and lightened to improve mobility for mechanized and airborne troops, and a knife bayonet was added. The MAS-49 built-in grenade launcher was replaced by a combination rifle grenade launcher/compensator for NATO-standard 22mm rifle grenades.

Attempts were made to replace the MAS-49, in the form of the MAS-54 and the FA-MAS Type 62, both 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles but neither were successful. The MAS-49/56 ended production in 1978 and was replaced with the 5.56×45mm NATO caliber FAMAS bullpup assault rifle. The MAS-49/56 was withdrawn from service in 1990.[1] Whereas only 20,600 MAS-49 were manufactured, the MAS-49/56 was mass produced, attaining a total of 275,240 rifles issued between 1957 and 1978.

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