MAS Mle 1949-56 Century Arms 7.62 NATO Converted Semi-Automatic Rifle, 20.7" Barrel
This French MAS Mle 1949-56 stands out for its Century Arms conversion to 7.62×51 NATO, allowing shooters to use readily available surplus and commercial ammunition. Built on a forged and machined steel receiver with a phosphate finish, it retains the model’s signature grenade-spigot muzzle brake, direct-impingement gas system, and right-side scope rail. A mid-1960s Saint-Étienne “C” prefix rifle, it offers collectors a blend of Cold War history and modern ammo compatibility.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good – shows some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Rifling: Good – intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The phosphate finish displays scattered scratches, and the hardwood stock has light handling marks.
What’s Included
- MAS 49/56 rifle, Century Arms 7.62 NATO conversion
- 1× 10-round French factory steel magazine
The Century Arms caliber conversion replaces the original 7.5 French barrel with a sleeved or replacement 20.7" barrel chambered for 7.62×51 NATO. This upgrade lets owners feed the rifle with widely available NATO cartridges while keeping the original gas-cutoff and muzzle device intact.
The forged steel receiver features a factory-installed scope rail originally intended for the APX L806 optic, giving users an easy path to modern glass without altering the rifle. Protected iron sights include a flip-up grenade/leaf sight up front and a sliding tangent aperture rear sight graduated for standard ball ammunition.
The hardwood stock and separate upper handguard preserve the rifle’s classic profile. A straight-comb design and 12.5" length of pull balance well with the semi-automatic action, tilting bolt, and ribbed grenade spigot that doubles as a multi-port muzzle brake.
Import markings from CAI St. Albans, Vermont, and French proof cartouches “PZ” and “P86” remain clear, adding authenticity for collectors tracking production and import history.