MAS 44: The French Adopt a Semiauto Rifle
This video delves into the history and development of the MAS 44, a French semi-automatic rifle. It details the long bureaucratic process that delayed its creation, the trials it underwent, and its timely arrival just before the 1940 armistice. Despite being hidden from German forces, the project was revived after liberation, with production beginning in late 1945. The MAS 44 featured a direct gas impingement system and a tilting bolt, praised for its ruggedness and simplicity. It was initially adopted by the French Navy, with only 6,200 units produced before being succeeded by the MAS 1949. The video notes that most surviving MAS 44 rifles were eventually surplussed to the United States, where their rarity is often overlooked. The description also promotes a book titled 'Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866-2016'.












