Original Item. Only One Available. The Chauchat, named after its main contributor Colonel Louis Chauchat, was the standard machine rifle or light machine gun of the French Army during World War I (1914-18). Its official designation was "Fusil Mitrailleur Modele 1915 CSRG" (in English: "Machine Rifle Model 1915 CSRG"). It was mass manufactured during World War I by two reconverted civilian plants: "Gladiator" and "Sidarme". The term CSRG is made up of the initials of Chauchat, Sutter, Ribeyrolles and Gladiator, the respective designers and manufacturers of the completed form of the gun. Beginning in June 1916, it was placed into regular service with French infantry where the troops called it the FM Chauchat. The Chauchat machine rifle in 8mm Lebel was also extensively used in 1917-1918 by the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F) where it was officially designated as the "Automatic Rifle, Model 1915 (Chauchat)". The armies of eight other nations, notably: Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia and Serbia, also used the Chauchat machine rifle in fairly large numbers during and after World War I.

This is a great example of the rare & elusive “Spider Web” Anti-Aircraft rear sight used on the Chauchat Machine Gun during & after World War I. The sight is still on its original mounting bracket which is marked cc / 439 on the underside. The set is rather oxidized which does give it a great “been there” look.

The sight would align with a specially made front sight at the front of the gun.

A really great example, ready for further research and display!