The rifle was designated the CR39 it was designed for use with alpine and airborne troops who needed a short and easily portable rifle. The folding stock swings up against the rifle’s receiver with a recess allowing it to hug the rifles contours (see image two). Retaining the rifle’s receiver, French engineers came up with a design which shortened (even down to the length of the integral spike bayonet), lightened and streamlined the existing rifle and adding a new aluminium folding stock and removing any surfaces that would snag on kit that they could.
In 1939, the French military realising the importance of airborne troops began developing an adaptation to their new standard infantry rifle the MAS-36.
