French Berthier 1907/15 Rifle Exhibit Grade Resin Reproduction with Original Wood Stock

Reproduction French Berthier 1907/15 Rifle

 This is a highly detailed, non-firing /non-operational resin and wood, model of a French Fusil Mle 1907/15, more commonly called a Berthier rifle.  Rifles of this type were used extensively in World War One alongside the more common Lebel rifle by the French Army and the French Foreign Legion prior to the war.  The Berthier was also used notably by the American negro troops of the 93^rd Division assigned to the French Army which included the famous Harlem Hellfighters of the 369^th Regiment, the 370^th, 371^st and 372^nd Regiments. This was also the type of rifle use by Gary Cooper during the 1939 film classic Beau Geste which portrays French Foreign Legionnaires.  

 French troops liked the light weight and fast loading of the Berthier, but disliked its three shot magazine capacity which was a handicap in close combat.  The Berthier used the same bayonet as the Lebel.  Original bayonets will fit our model.  The first seven inches of the barrel are reinforced with a steel rod cast inside for this purpose.

 Vintage Ordnance's (VOCO, LLC)  museum grade reproduction is light weight so it can be more easily mounted in your exhibits. Overall weight of the replica is only 2 lbs. 13.5 oz.  / 1.29 kg . The “metal” parts are made of durable resin plastic from molds cast from a real rifle.  The buttplate, butt sling swivel, barreled action, triggerguard, stock bolts and bands are all separately cast parts.  We use a slightly flexible plastic to reduce the chance of breakage if the piece is dropped.  The round ring for the sling on the middle band is made of metal so a sling can be mounted for exhibit purposes.  The wooden stock is actually an original century old (World War One vintage) stock, complete with dents, dings and scrapes. Restoring the original stocks is very time consuming and labor intensive.  In addition , our supply of original stocks is very limited.

 

 Models are shipped painted and ready to exhibit.  These unique reproduction rifles from Vintage Ordnance Co. are made to order and delivery will take three to six weeks. Click here for more photos.

Harlem Hellfighter: Private William Henry Johnson

Private William Henry Johnson, like his comrades in the 369^th Infantry, turned in their M1917 Enfield rifles for French made, three shot, 8mm Berthier rifles before they entered combat under the command of the French Army. 

It was exactly this rifle that he used to shoot down members of an attacking German patrol on the night of  May 15, 1918.   He fired until the rifle was empty, then met the Germans in hand to hand combat swing the rifle like a club until it was smashed.  He was wounded by grenade fragments and bullets but fought on ferociously with his knife and his last grenade.  He drove off the enemy patrol, killed at least four of them, wounded at least that many more, and thwarted their attempts to take his wounded comrade prisoner.  It was later estimated that he was facing at least a dozen Germans and possibly as many as 24.

Pvt William Henry Johnson

 He was a red cap porter at the Albany Union Train Station before he volunteered for the Army to fight in France.  In 1917 he was about 25 years old.  At 5’4’ and 130 pounds, he wasn’t an imposing man but his actions in combat with the 369^th Regiment earned him the nickname Black Death among his peers.  On June 2^nd, 2015, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for an action which earned him France’s highest military honor (Croix de Guerre with palm and star) on May 16, 1918.   

 

His medal of honor citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to

Private Henry Johnson

United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

 Private Johnson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during combat operations against the enemy on the front lines of the Western Front in France on May 15, 1918. Private Johnson and another soldier were on sentry duty at a forward outpost when they received a surprise attack from a German raiding party consisting of at least 12 soldiers.   While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Private Johnson mounted a brave retaliation, resulting in several enemy casualties. When his fellow soldier was badly wounded, Private Johnson prevented him from being taken prisoner by German forces. Private Johnson exposed himself to grave danger by advancing from his position to engage an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Wielding only a knife and gravely wounded himself, Private Johnson continued fighting and took his Bolo knife and stabbed it through an enemy soldier’s head. Displaying great courage, Private Johnson held back the enemy force until they retreated. Private Johnson’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Negro Soldiers In the American Expeditionary Force

Negro Officers of the 93rd Division

Systemic racism in America didn’t stop the U.S. Army from encouraging the recruitment of negroes during World War One. Patriotic and eager to demonstrate themselves worthy of the same rights as white Americans by fighting in France,  370,000 negroes were inducted into the Army and 200,000 joined the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) overseas.  To their surprise, instead of battling the Germans on the front, most found themselves disarmed and behind the lines relegated to service units as laborers and stevedores.  The AEF, per American military tradition, was a segregated force.   It was generally felt that white units would not serve alongside negroes.  Moreover, it was feared that doing so might result in dangerous conflict in France and at back in America.  However, about 40,000 did get the chance to demonstrate their fighting prowess in the negro 92^nd and 93^rd   Divisions.  The latter division fought under operational control of the French Army.   The combat performance of the 93^rd   Division’s  369^th Regiment, of New York origin, made them famous and earned them the nickname Harlem Hellfighters.  

Harlem Hellfighters during inspection in New York City.

The French Army was long familiar with negro troops because it colonial units were drawn from Africa.  They treated their American reinforcements with comradeship, dignity and respect.   To simplify supply, they soldiers of the 93^rd turned in their American weapons and field gear which were replaced with the standard French issue.  Thus American soldiers fought with French Adrian helmets, brown leather accoutrements and 3 shot Berthier rifles (commonly misidentified as 3 shot Lebel rifles).  

Hellfighters Officers wearing the Croix de Guerre

The regiments of the 93^rd  Divisions saw more combat than the 92^nd and had greater opportunity to distinguished themselves, especially the Harlem Hellfighters.   The battle hardened French were impressed.  Private William Henry Johnson, a soldiers of the 369^th, was  the first to receive France’s highest military award, the Croix de Guerre.  At the end of the war, 170 more of the regiments soldiers would receive the award and the  whole unit honored with a citation for gallantry in action.    During 191 days in combat they participated in the campaigns at Champagne, Marne, Meuse – Argonne, Champagne 1918, and  Alsace 1918 and had more casualties than any other regiment.   America’s highest medals for valor were not commonly presented to negro soldiers at this time.  The two 369^th soldiers whose deeds warranted the recognition of the Medal of Honor would be long dead by the time their heroism was recognized by the American government.