Delaunay Belleville Modèle 1907/15-M16 Berthier 8 mm Lebel Bolt-Action Rifle – Rare WWI K-Prefix, 5-Round M16 Conversion
Built in 1916-17 by the renowned French luxury automobile manufacturer Automobiles Delaunay-Belleville, this scarce Modèle 1907/15-M16 Berthier represents one of the few civilian-contract rifles produced during World War I. Fitted with the 5-round M16 magazine and lacking the later hand-guard retrofit, this K-prefix rifle offers collectors a hard-to-find example of early Berthier production with clear wartime provenance.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Rifling Condition: Excellent Rifling – Sharp lands and grooves.
The rifle displays standard wear consistent with its WWI service age. Bluing shows light thinning on high points, and the walnut stock retains its original oil finish with typical handling impressions yet no structural cracks.
What’s Included
- Delaunay Belleville Modèle 1907/15-M16 Berthier bolt-action rifle
Produced under a special wartime contract, Delaunay-Belleville rifles account for only a fraction of total Berthier output. The K-prefix serial identifies this example as part of the maker’s fifth production block, adding further scarcity.
The rifle keeps the 31.6-inch carbon-steel barrel chambered in 8 mm Lebel, the standard French service round of the period. Its bore remains bright with sharp rifling, a standout condition trait for a century-old service arm.
All major metal components retain their original blued finish, while the oil-finished walnut stock shows honest field wear and the classic Berthier profile. The encircled “L” proof on the bolt verifies Delaunay-Belleville inspection.
Original iron sights consist of a fixed blade front and a tangent ramp & leaf rear, giving the rifle its correct World War I sight picture. The smooth, straight-bolt action cycles the five-round M16 en-bloc clip design.