Mas 49 56 From Royal Tiger Imports

Welp... I Finally decided to post a review of a Milsurp Gun. This is my French Mas 49/56 from Royal Tiger Imports, also known as RTI, and it isnt flattering.
I hope to do a shooting video of the gun in the future when I have enough ammo!
#military #surplus #ww2 #rifle #french #france #7.5mm #semiauto #gun
Chapters:
0:00 Intro + Comedy Bit
0:58 The Review
6:38 The Preachy Buyers Beware of R.T.I.

[@paulmerriman7308]

RTI is gonna see this video and have it removed.

[@kirkblackson]

How would they be able to do that?

[@308dad8]

@@kirkblacksonReport it for “misinformation”.

[@Pavia1525]

@@308dad8 I spent three days trying to clean that bore before I gave up. He’s not lying.

[@DeimosPC]

@@kirkblackson They do the exact same thing on Reddit too. They get posts removed.

[@TXGRunner]

I don't see YT anti-gun Stasi helping a gun import company. He's giving his opinion based on his experience, how is that misinformation? Of course they scrub their own reviews, but it's not like RTI is a massive corporate entity with platoons of attorneys.

[@chicorodriguez3964]

When I first found RTI I legitimately thought I had come across a joke but the real joke is that it's a real company

[@williamS796]

The first “gun” that had ever I bought was a RTI antique M1888 mannicher. I just got into milsurp guns, and I was extremely disappointed with my rifle. The bore was none existent, sights were missing, was full of dirt stuff, and was rusted beyond repair. I’m glad someone else is noticing this, keep up the good work

[@tomhenry897]

Because it’s a wall hanger

[@WardenWolf]

RTI is a scam company. They sell stuff that should absolutely just be scrapped, and don't mark it as such.

[@beanos2287]

​@@tomhenry897yet they advertise wall hangers as "B grade fully functional rifles"

[@boltforward3611]

B stands for BEST!@@beanos2287

[@beanos2287]

@@boltforward3611 in this case B stands for "Butt Ugly"

[@veuzou]

in the 80's I was an armorer in the French Army. I've seen a LOT of Mas 49, 49/56, 49/56MSE's etc. but for sure if I had given a rifle in such a condition to a fellow soldier I imagine how hard I would had my a** kicked by the Chief Sergeant!

[@Throwback_]

Any cool stories, mon frère?

[@dureteheiral1793]

Well, being in the army and an armorer under direct supervision really is a different thing.. But RTI as a profit oriented business should have done all the same.. This kind of dissatisfaction is gonna serve only to bring RTI's business down badly..

[@veuzou]

right, @@dureteheiral1793 getting you buttocks kicked hurts for sure but seeing your customers disappearing is not not painless either.

[@preparedmindstrongspirit5724]

You should get in contact with Ian Mcollom at Forgotten Weapons. He would LOVE to talk to you.

[@veuzou]

@@preparedmindstrongspirit5724 well, I leave some comments on his channel sometime

[@Pavia1525]

Amen, brother! I went through the same thing a couple months ago. I bought mine from Atlantic Firearms. They never mentioned RTI, but it ended up being RTI. Listed the barrel as in excellent condition. Lies! It looked like the sewer pipe that Andy Dufresne crawled through in the Shawshank Redemption. No amount of cleaning would safe the barrel. At least Atlantic refunded the purchase.

[@eightyduece9670]

When they first had the Ethiopian M1 carbines I contacted them to purchase either an IBM or Rockola for an uncle of mine that was dying from pancreatic cancer. I emphasized that I wish they would get it out as soon as possible so I could take him out shooting while he still had strength. They had a Veterans or Memorial Day sale going on and I think I paid $850-$900 for the lowest / cheapest grade listed. A few days later I received what would turn out to be an impeccable IBM. It was covered with grease, sand, goat shit and had the most worn out canvas sling wired to it but once we stripped it down and cleaned it (actually had fun) it was really a head turner. We couldn't imagine getting one in better condition for the price paid. Sights were dead nuts on, walnut wood was beautiful with a cross cannon stamp. Ran like a champ. Even the import stamp under the barrel was pretty small and after a dab of cold blue is barely noticeable........................................... Had to come back and edit my post. I see the cheapest carbine they have now is $1,300 - $5,000 sigh.....

[@sykojay]

This is one of the best and blatantly honest reviews of a rifle and the surplus seller that I have ever seen. Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@JamesFrenchTX]

I bought a Yugo refurb k98 from Royal Tiger/I.O. fairly soon after they were advertised. I paid the hand select fee. The picture on their website showed a complete good condition German spec. k98. What I expected was a dirty, used but refurbed Yugo marked K98, and the price I paid was consistent with that expectation. What I received seemed fairly clearly to be a collection of random k98 parts someone had recently assembled into a rifle. No finish left on any exposed part of the barrel and action. Good bluing and fresh rust on the bolt shroud. Bolt looking battered with a broken extractor. The Yugoslavian replacement stock was very battered with multiple repairs and a major split in the fore-end. It looked like someone had tried to scrape the stock serial number off with a screwdriver. After I pounded out the bullet that was stuck in the bore, I was able to clean the barrel to the point where I could see some rifling. Royal Tiger refunded my “hand select” fee. I didn’t pursue it further with them. I’m using it a project gun. I don’t think I’ll shoot it, it may be safe, but the chamber is so pitted extraction is probably going to be hard. I’d avoid Royal Tiger/I.O. too.

[@GorillaCrewWarGaming]

🤣🤣🤣 Hoppin' Horse-fk Batman....

[@randymagnum143]

A good k98 stock set is bringing like $400.

[@shizukaryujoukai2465]

Are people relearning that I.O. is and always has been garbage

[@JeffHenry-cq3is]

Then go to Michaels mausers and pay $$$

[@BigMcLargeHugeX]

Thank you, this is what new shooters need to know about RTI, I also bought one of their mas 49's and experienced almost identical issues that you did. I ran 100-150 patches downs the bore to try to clean it, and nothing I did lightened up the bore or rifling. Took shooting the thing to blow all the junk out of the barrel and gas tube. They need to advertise their stuff for what it really is, junk that can be repaired/refurbed by someone who knows what they are doing with firearms.

[@boltforward3611]

People would still buy their stuff! But they want it gone and gone quick, so lies and false advertising reign supreme

[@huntermckee2279]

The rule for RTI, never buy refurbished. Buy B grade or A grades when they’re on good sales.

[@gonegoosehunting]

i also just got one of the refurb 49/56, my theory is that when the parked the barrel they did the inside as well. i am contemplating getting some quickstrip from iosso and swabing the inside of the barrel.

[@BigMcLargeHugeX]

@@gonegoosehunting it wouldn't surprise me, probably just threw the whole rifle in a park tank, good luck with it!

[@kirkblackson]

I got a M1 carbine from them in 2020. It was advertised as being a beater and it definitely was one. Totally covered in deteriorated oil and African dust. It had a piece of Ethiopian newspaper from god knows when stuffed into the oil container. It took a few hours to beak down and scrub everything but it was a fun experience. I wanted a shooter and it shoots fine. The bore was kinda gross but it rings steel at 200 just fine. At the end of the day I’m happy with the purchase. I got a piece of history for a great price.

[@dewayneweaver2744]

I might be old fashioned, but I like to hold something in my hands 👐 before I buy it. Sadly these days local shops don't carry what I want and Amazon Prime does.

[@monta247]

You started off sounding like a certified racism, African dirt like European soil is the epitome of dirt. Listen the gun was in at least three years what do you expect.

[@dewayneweaver2744]

@@monta247 why play the race card Dirt, rust and trash, on a Carbine advertised as refurbished is a real problem. The 💩 from any place should have been cleaned out before they shipped the product.

[@DuckandBalls]

​@@monta247nobody said it was worst quality dirt you schizo. He just said that it was still covered in African dust, as in they didn't clean it when it was imported.

[@mfallen6894]

@@monta247 Racists! Racists everywhere! ffs...

[@kw9849]

These remind me of those TNW Suomi's from a few years back. TNW went to a ton of effort to rebuild them into legal guns, including engineering new fire control groups....but then slapped the thickest, worst parkerizing you've ever seen on them. They also decided spending more than $0.35 on welding wire was too much, as a result and didn't quite affix the trunnions correctly. Mine had a 25lb trigger out of the box, and was almost impossible to charge because they'd parkerized the entire bolt AND the _inside_ of the receiver.

[@boltforward3611]

Bet you could open a welded beer-can tab after having to pull that trigger. Yeah I have seen a lot of guns over the years fail to receive proper trigger maintenance during the re-assembly/legalization process... Sadly a lot of guns get bad reps due to guns like this.

[@2DollarWill]

this was the first full auto rifle I ever shot. Illegally converted back in '97, I was amazed that my 14 year old friend was able to drill one hole and add a pin to bring a stupid level of joy to the friends group.

[@mikesuch9021]

LOL ONE HOLE 😂

[@vrbonzani]

I got mine from Classic Firearms. It was said to be in excellent condition, it was far from excellent. They wouldn't refund me or exchange it, and when I posted my review they had it removed.

[@DeimosPC]

I bought a Circle 11 Tok from Classic, paid for hand select and excellent condition.. I received a gun with a barrel so pitted and corroded that it would lock closed.. Their solution was for me to buy a new barrel lol

[@nfaisnfgay]

Credit card chargeback

[@vrbonzani]

@DeimosPC that's some top notch customer service. Blows my mind people still buy from them or RTI. More so RTI

[@mrpreserveourcountry]

Thank you for the heads up on these. The bore condition was always curiously omitted on the listings I saw... The surplus game is turning into another one where it's not what you know, it's who you know. Every now and then a decent deal on a hidden gem pops up at the gun show, but nowadays it's more exciting when a big collector starts to thin out his hoard. Anyways, best of luck turning that otherwise pretty MAS into something fun.

[@boltforward3611]

the who you know factor is big. I used to have a great local gun dealer but sadly he passed away and his family wanted nothing to do with his collection... I have another dude here who is stupid levels of obsessed with collecting --> very eccentric, but he looks at me and goes "uh... price tag says 600? I dunno man you can have it for 3..." lol I pay for the difference by listening to him talk for an hour.

[@mrpreserveourcountry]

@@boltforward3611 Sorry to hear about your old dealer. The new gentleman sounds interesting; might learn some very interesting things during that hour!

[@boltforward3611]

@@mrpreserveourcountry hes a handful but its crazy what he has... thats how it is. One day that'll be me rambling at the gun show giving some new guy the chance to own something lol

[@The_SmorgMan]

Yeah I just picked up a minty all original 1943 Inland Carbine off an estate sale from a major carbine collector. If I hadn’t of known the dealer for the sale…

[@sergeantbigmac]

I made this observation recently too, and its why ive been trying to get more involved locally and get to know other collectors. ive joined my states online gun forum and put feelers out in the classified ads. Volunteered at my local gun club. Tried a few times to be friendly with gunshops and given my number if they get anything good in. Put my name out there, that sortve stuff. I also have the added BS of my state passing a bunch of anti-gun legislation in recent years giving me political whiplash trying to keep up. Anyway longwinded way of saying whats already here is grandfathered in and if its old enough might have been sold before the private transfer FFL law too. Im not saying I would break unconstitutional state law but if an old guy was thinning out his collection and had semi-autos I definitely wouldnt know about it Capece?

[@christopherkent2359]

Someone with an honest review of an product?...you sir are to be commended for your honesty! May the angels of reward do just that for you. I have not come across an business on the internet that does not sound like an "used car salesman from hell" when concerning firearms. Your video here has given me pause to think with even more of an wary eye when it comes to parting with my hard earned Sheckels. May your collection grow to monumental proportions with nothing but near grade A "boom sticks", if not only grade A "serpents from the garden of Eden"(references from/of "Army of Darkness" and "Star Trek" the original series). Thankyou again for the video.😺😸😹😻😼😽🙀😿😾

[@cromebore]

My only experience with RTI was a couple years ago. Bought an "in stock" 1919 parts kit. Long to short, 3 moths of being jerked around by RTI "we cant find all the parts" later, I cancled my order. They showed "in stock" the whole time and for another 3 months after. Even if they didn't sell trash, I would probably never buy from them again, just on the lack of trust now.

[@thegreatchickenoverlord5976]

Heres my deal RTI is good for low cost stuff that you arent going to find anywhere else. Carcano long rifles, Vitali rifles, gras rifles and carbines, Ethiopian mausers, mannlicher m95 rifles, anything AOI, cheap enfields, and so on. Outside of that, anything that you can find fairly easily such as yugo m48s, MAS 49/56s, Garands, M1 carbines, Smith and Wesson 10s, and so on, you really are better off just watching and waiting for the right deal to roll along

[@vocalcoyote9375]

This is why as a collector I’ve been moving to build kit guns. I just bought a Romanian ak kit build at a gun show for 800 flat. These old milsurp bolt actions and 10 round semi autos just aren’t worth the money anymore I wish we could go back to those golden days but we can’t. Good luck to you and your collecting!

[@usna98]

Great review, and agree with your assessment of RTI for the most part. It definitely depends on the type of collector you are and your experience level as to whether it's worth it or not.

[@StrikeEagle784]

I know a thing or two about patience. I’ve struck out twice in the past three years when attempting to buy a Swedish M96 Mauser, and I finally got lucky a couple of days ago when I was able to find one in great condition with a bright bore for not a whole lot of money. My advice to new milsurp collectors is patience, absolutely what Bolt Forward said. Don’t settle for shit, you worked hard for your money, don’t waste it on a crap rifle from RTI. You deserve better.

[@boltforward3611]

Lots of good deals to be had if you play your cards right! It isnt perfect, but it beats settling for garbage

[@HunterTN]

It's always been this way. I was collecting when you could go to a show and buy K98's out of the crate and Mosins in a bucket. Yes they were cheap but they had nothing on the quality the guys before us had access to. There was a reason they threw in a bandoleer of ammo or a cleaning kit. Now 20 years later the new guys wish they could have access like that. The good old days is all relative to when you started. The boomers own the most milsurps and their average age is 66. In the next 10-15 years there's going to be a massive influx of guns back onto the market when these guys kick the bucket and their wives and kids don't want anything to do with dad's collection. They will be out there you just have to be looking.

[@rodiculous9464]

​@@HunterTNyeah theyll probably end up at some liberal "gun buyback" or something. But yeah i like going to shows. You can check out the rifle in person and haggle over the price

[@pewpewTN]

​@HunterTN You probably aren't wrong, but it's sad when a family doesn't want anything to do with a collection that was cherished by their relative. Thankfully, I still have my Grandfather that is into guns, but I'd never even consider letting his collection get outside of the family.

[@StrikeEagle784]

@@pewpewTN that's what happened to my grandpa's collection of World War II memorabilia, including a really nice Arisaka that was supposed to be my first rifle. My Mom ended up selling it on me when I was a kid, nothing I could do about it then. I still remind her every now and again that I really wish she never did it.

[@1001CP]

I have been a collector for many years and have a pretty great fmily collection. I got one of the 7.62 49/56 when they first came out and it worked pretty well but not like it should. As a collector I always go to the source-searching France for the actual 7.62 NATO parts trying to bring the 49/56 to NATO specs. Outside of Paris I fa ound a small shop the had these parts!! I purchased them which was the reduced size gas tube and shortened, not cut, main spring as well as other parts. It shoots amazing now and you can now find these aftermarket parts for them to make them run well. I get no stoppages, it is very accurate and reliable. I loe it now. I had looked into guns from RTI for years but along with the few great stories there were a lot more nightmares. Thank you again for bringing this failed RTI purchase and sorry it happened. Keep doing what you do my friend. Hopefully you can salvage that rifle. * By theway,my 49/56 safety clicks into place.

[@lewisa674]

my friend down in Virginia beach, Virginia showed me this gun store a few years back called Echoes of Glory classic firearms that has seen everything from Lebels, Johnson rifles, G41, svt40, rare kar 98 and pre war versions, m1 carbines and Garands, m1917 enfields, no1 mk3 and no4 mk1 and the occasional rare no1 mk5 trials rifle, French ww1 150mm cannons, British ww2 155mm cannons, captured finish mosins, pristine Swedish mausers, carcanos, Swiss k11, arisakas, black powder everything, Austrian straight pull 95, Itterly everything and for reasonable prices. My friend now works there with the owner Eric, and they run not only the physical storefront but also the online auctions most Saturdays that can be shipped to your local ffl. I used to keep it a secret as it was a literal gold mine, but I have since temporarily gotten out of the surplus market for a number of reasons. If you are looking for anything from ammo, rifles, shotguns, handguns, black powder, bayonets, camo I highly suggest looking at the proxy bid when you look up Echoes of Glory in Virginia. You're welcome.

[@k4vms]

Hello, sorry to hear about your 56 rifle. I do own purchased in the 80’s. Most of my milsurp rifles and handguns were purchased in the 80’s and 90’s in the Los Angeles area when California was a free state. There were many companies in the LA area where you could just walk in and pick what you wanted and the prices were very fair. Companies like Federal Ordinance aka Fed Ord, many others. Unfortunately like you said those days are gone. These companies now a days just make Frankenstein Guns, gun that are build out of worn out parts and then refinished with parkerizing . My 56 was like new, all numbers matching and came with accessories like sling, etc. My friend who is a retired cop has become interested in milsurp stuff. So when he locates stuff I have to go over it very carefully as they are asking big time $$s and make sure it’s not a parts / Frankenstein gun. Good luck and very good presentation. Ricky from IBM FYI - I now live in the free constitutional republic of Florida

[@chadseals9943]

I always thought RTI peddled misrepresented junk and this further proof.

[@tomhenry897]

No You think your getting a great rifle cheap There honest where they come from

[@chadseals9943]

But dishonest in grading. @@tomhenry897

[@nfaisnfgay]

@@tomhenry897lol fake RTI smirf account

[@michaelsakmar1814]

I had a MAS 49/56 by perhaps Century Arms ('90's) rechambered in 7.62 x 51 nato for a while. Came with all of the stuff (buttpad, slip on night sights, 3 mags, sling., etc. ) It was a fun little gun! Like a M-1 carbine on steriods! Loud but reasonable recoil. A bit ammo sensitive (perhaps due to rechambering), but accurate and easy to shoot! A lot of gun in a compact package!

[@flintironstag9983]

They probably didn’t plug the chamber and muzzle and parkerized the bore during the refinishing process. To be fair this also happened with some actual French refurbed 49/56 (my older import was like this). It will eventually shoot smooth but there’s something more going on with that chamber.

[@thegreatchickenoverlord5976]

It would be forgivable if they werent so expensive. The cheapest you can get these for is 600, which just isnt worth the gamble

[@flintironstag9983]

@@thegreatchickenoverlord5976 agreed. You’re getting close to a French refurb at that point. I would never buy a RTI

[@ron827]

Buying milsurp sight unseen and by description only is always a crap shoot. I recommend buying from a dealer, at a gun show where prices are usually negotiable and you can see what you are getting or on GunBroker if many good photos are provided. I have always had my doubts about RTI and you just convinced me to NEVER purchase from them. Thanks! I have been collecting milsurp for many years and am one of those "fuds" who was fortunate to make some very good buys in the past. I am patient and will not buy junk because junk will ALWAYS be junk.

[@christianallen1478]

Friends don't let friends RTI.

[@jasontorre3267]

I agree sir.i too havr been burned by RTI. Three out of eight rifles were complete trash. Sadly RTI is one of the few places you could obtain very early smokeless powder rifles like the Label and Gavair 88.

[@kaig453]

I have not bought from RTI. I’ve been tempted by that very rifle and am glad I didn’t buy. Also, Southern Ohio Gun (now out of business) was awful and was much like your description of RTI. I bought a Chinese Type 53. I went to shoot it after SOG went out of business and couldn’t because it has what appears to be part of a steel casing stuck to the sides of the chamber, preventing me from chambering a round. No idea how this happened since you can see through the bore… it’s as if a casing got stuck and someone drilled out the bottoms of the casing to make it look like an unobstructed bore/chamber. I see this as proof that SOG (and likely other companies) do not actually inspect/test guns to ensure function. To clarify, I don’t expect companies to run boxes of ammo through a gun, but at least make sure things such as bores and chambers are unobstructed and that they can chamber and eject rounds. I think that failing to do so and advertising guns as fully functional and safe is a legal liability for these companies. I also bought a bulk lot of AK bayonets from SOG. They advertised them as used and included a photo of an excellent condition bayonet as a representation of the product. If I recall, I bought 10 or 20 bayonets and 75% had major issues (broken tips, handles falling off, blades severely chipped, etc.). I contacted SOG and spoke with some snooty woman who told me that I could return them and they’d consider a refund. I then asked for a prepaid label and she said that I’d have to return them on my dime, which would have been about $20 in shipping. I explained that their advertising was deceptive and that if they don’t pay for the shipping, that I’d be happy to post to the online forums about my encounter and that I’d be contacting the BBB and attorney general’s office about my experience. She then changed her tune and agreed to cover the return shipping and refund me for the bad bayonets. The icing on the cake was when I looked at their site a few minutes later, they still had the same photo of a pristine example bayonet, but then in all caps wrote some snarky comment in all caps (likely in anger/response to me), which read something along the lines of “THESE ARE SURPLUS BAYONETS SO DON’T EXPECT THESE TO BE BRAND NEW.” I did not expect them to be brand new, but when a bayonet has a wire cutter capability and that advertised capability is rendered moot because the bayonet blade is literally broken or when the blade edges are so badly chipped that that look like saw blades versus non-serrated plain edges, then the description should account for these defects and the photo should represent the product versus being the best case scenario. So the bottom line for me was/is to buy from the companies that don’t exaggerate conditions. I’ve found AIMSurplus to be the best as their photos and descriptions of used items are accurate and the products received are in the same or better condition as advertised. On another note, the days of good surplus deals are over and surplus items are generally a collector’s market commanding a premium. Oddly enough, the deals to be had are with brand new guns… we are in an era in which we can buy good quality polymer-framed pistols, bolt action hunting rifles, and AR-15s for insanely low prices.

[@gunsforevery1]

To be fair, I don’t think any gun shop test fires their military surplus firearms or any firearms they sell. You always take a risk buying military surplus. There is no guarantee that the rifle is safe to shoot. As far as your rifle, that happens from time to time. It’s called a case head failure. A case failed and when the shooter extracted it, it ripped the rim off the shell leaving like 80% of the shell stuck in the chamber. They are usually difficult to identify unless you do some extensive searching. And most gunshops do mention that they are surplus firearms and should be inspected by a gunsmith.

[@whizwit215]

Great vid, love the reenactment 😂 I had mixed thoughts about RTI originally, but now with an ongoing issue with a hand select missing parts, crap bolt, I still haven’t gotten parts after calling countless times and being told “they’ll be sent this week”, then finally sent me a second crap bolt I received last Thurs, ongoing for months…so now I’m leaning towards they’re deceptive and shady. Customer service seems nice. Alyssa and Candace are friendly. Maybe its shipping? Management? Idk but it’s a real shame because like you said they came out of the gates with everything we want, now prices are constantly rising and quality doesn’t represent the increase.

[@hschan5976]

"Papa deGaulle, we want sks" "We have sks at home" The sks at home:

[@alexandermfernandez9283]

I think you're SPOT-ON and humorously articulate . Love the review & commentary , good job !

[@luskvideoproductions869]

I love this video, having been a C&R collector back in the the good ole days you just described..."Back in my day, I could buy 200 Mosin Nagants for $500.00!"!!!

[@danm7298]

Ive had good luck with RTI. I bought rare things i couldnt find elsewhere. 88-90s, m95 long rifles, vetterlis, berdans. But if you look around you can find good deals elsewhere. I just bought a very nice SMLE mk 3 for the same price as rti ones. All matching 1916. Still in cosmo.

[@Niafi11]

Lol!! That Safety is freaking Hilarious. It just Swings back and Forth

[@boltforward3611]

"does your safety swing low? does it wobble to n fro?"

[@petepedro350]

I was stoked to see all this surplus come in. When I found out RTI is also IO that told me all I needed to know. Such a bummer

[@rabbitholereviews]

Soo many bad reviews on RT and people keep getting lured in....yikes. Subbed!

[@williampruchnik9920]

Yup got burned on an Enfield #4 that was advertised as a "individual ad" not bulk, with pics and detailed info, they forgot to add that the bolt rail was damaged and caused the the bolt head to pop out, yes it was a Savage * and it was filthy inside and out! I don't mind cleaning but this was unshootable, bore was horrible worn and black again no description just "sharp lands and groves" they took it back at $649 did not refund shipping or transfer, this was my 3rd purchase from them! I asked for a small discount on another I was looking at and they wouldn't do it, so done with them and their Garbage. thanks for your honest review.

[@96royalstar21]

My first surplus I bought a MAS 49 in 7.5 french in 1989 with 900 rds of middle eastern surplus ammo for $250 that when it arrived had oil level line in the (French Cherry?) stock showing where it looked to be submerge up to. I soaked the oil out and refurbished the stocks but metal finish was mostly just ok. 2 yrs later the ammo start going bad (old mercuric primers?) Barrel Bore still works but was and is dark. I still have it as a lesson and a shooter. Bought a FN49 in the same order that was refurbished for the same price that was truly like new with a new barrel and stocks. Now days I just wait to see them in person and sometimes pay more for that assurance. Also had good luck on Gun broker with well established sellers.

[@bishopcorva]

It was round about 1996-97 went to a local retail store, they always had a small number of surplus and new to choose from. Me, I had $200 in hand. More than enough to get a MAS49, 2A1, or a SVT-40. Sure the MAS was grungy with cosmoline and storage dust even on the display rack but under all that it was in excellent shape but expected dents, scratches and rack marks from storage. Guns that had soldier customized marks were cheaper but few in number. I passed on buying a MAS because ammo was more scarce than hens teeth making shooting a pricey thing. I'd heard that they could be chamber reamed to 7.62/.308win size but accuracy would suffer and than the bolts might shear since the original chambering was lower pressure than 7.62. The SVT had ammo issues of only corrosive being available. And reportedly fragile springs in the trigger assembly. So I went with a solid packed 2A1. Under all the cosmoline the gun was in near new condition for a 1968 production. Still have it but kicking myself about not getting a SVT or a MAS or two for the prices they're going for now. I like my 2A1 and a latter acquisition of a Gibbs no 7 'Jungle carbine' which was just a cut down 2A1 now, even as punishing as the carbine is for the short pull and bolt knob that'll hit you right on the knuckle of your right index finger or if you choke down, cause you to smack yourself in the cheek/eye on recoil.

[@timweidman9783]

I have bought 7 guns from rti with the exception of 1, i didnt pay more than $200 or less for the carcano carbines. i didnt expect pristine rifles and i didnt recieve pristine rifles. i actually like to take them apart and clean them and learn how they work. all are shootable and i have been lucky not to get a sewer pipe yet. a couple are pretty nice! i have a limited budget so this is the only way to get interesting guns at a low price. so i guess my experience has been better than most. all that being said, i really appreciate the honest opinion and you definetly earned the the sub!

[@boltforward3611]

thats awesome. I really wish ALL the guns from RTI were good --> the ethiopian guns are probably the last major stockpile of WW2 surplus left in the world. Sadly I just cant sit there and say "well this is all we have so RTI gets a pass" Best of luck building your collection!

[@timweidman9783]

@@boltforward3611 your right about this may being the last real surplus. except maybe that mine in ukraine! lol. i dont mind a gamble at $200 but at $600+ thats more like russian roulette with a few live chambers

[@beelow84]

no idea how i found myself here, but saw you were a sub away from 1000.. so, here, have a sub. cheers!

[@BFVgnr]

I'm here because I was looking at SMLE on the RTI page. YT then suggested your video.

[@secktur8279]

Bought a "B Grade" Jungle Carbine from them, and what they shipped me was just plain dangerous to fire. Was at least 10 thou out of headspace, blown out chamber around the case head, and was as smooth as a baby's bottom down the bore. The rear sight was trashed and rolled, and the front sight was battered and bent. Safety was loose as well. I was going to use it as a project rifle for my gunsmithing program but found that replacement parts were "wait list" only and there simply was no time for that in the program. Contacted them a few times over and had them finally return my pleas, they said they'd send me out a new one once I sent mine back. So thats where I wait. I dont want something pretty or wall worthy, I just want to be able to shoot the damn thing, like they said I'd be able to do.

[@jackmcgowan5848]

I just bought one of those from rti, the description did say they don't check the barrels or test fire them and to have it looked at by gunsmith before shooting...always read every single word in every section of the descriptions they'll always lead with all the great stuff and put the "but" at the end lol. The 3 guns i got (not all 49/56s) were also wrapped in quite a lot of bubble wrap and taped into a triangular piece of cardboard that made it tight in the box so it didn't bounce around, lot of packing peanuts as well. I think they saw the complaints about the packaging lol. I am glad i saw this vid because i haven't shot it yet so i can still go back and polish up the chamber, I'm more hopeful about my bore now i was straight up beginning to think the rifling might just be nonexistent, the finish on my bcg is perfect and it's pretty smooth, little bit slop but not as much as yours. Stock doesn't have any dings or scratches but they actually packaged mine properly so lol

[@jamesmcallen3354]

I love that you look at RTIs listing for B and C grade rifles and way down in the description it says the photos are of the “very good” condition batch

[@sbreheny]

I bought a MAS49/56 (but not from RTI) which had been arsenal refinished in France I believe. The bolt carrier was in much better shape than yours but everything else had been re-parkerized INCLUDING the barrel and chamber. I had to polish the chamber with fine abrasive applied to a fired case (which I then spun in the chamber using a cordless drill and a flat blade screwdriver bit inserted into a slot I cut in the case head). Until I did this, the rifle would not extract cases from the chamber - it tore the rims off them instead. Now it shoots fine. "shooting out" the parkerizing in the bore worked fine.

[@t44e6]

If it was arsenal refinished in France, it would have been done properly, and would have been functinally equivalent to a new rifle ready to issue to troops in the field.

[@sbreheny]

@@t44e6 I admit that I am not sure but it has French civilian sale proof marks on it, which makes me think that it was arsenal refinished after it was retired from French military service and they planned to sell it on the French civilian market. Whether that happened or not I don't know but if it did, it wasn't fired much. While it is odd that the chamber was parkerized, everything else about the re-parkerizing was beautifully done. There was none of this "refinish without disassembling" which is mentioned in this video.

[@sbreheny]

@@t44e6Also unlike the RTI one, the stock is original on mine and is in very good condition.

[@Purpmaster]

I can definitely see the appeal for new collectors to go with RTI. I can still regularly find excellent deals on “expensive” pieces, however I’m doing shows almost every weekend and actively seeking things out. If you aren’t willing to, or don’t have the time to put in the effort, your best bet is to cough up the money for something good even if it’s just one or two pieces a year. Also people fixate one one specific gun, but it’s much better to just go to shows with an open mind and look for that one underpriced gem. Great video, I remember first seeing the RTI imports on Ian’s channel and thinking WTF is this?!? Lol. I am glad however that they did go through the effort of bringing them into the US. The more we have available here the better.

[@garyh1449]

@@wadewilson6628 Try gunbroker. You may have to pay out the nose though.

[@GorillaCrewWarGaming]

@@wadewilson6628 FACT. I'm from Alaska too. I have purchased a couple through private sale, but the rest I got online.

[@rodiculous9464]

Gun shows are a minefield too, lots of guys sell crap knowing they wont be around after they sell it. You gotta really know your stuff. And the good deals get snagged up quick. If you find something you like then go research it and come back the next day and it's gone then it was a good deal, if it's still there it's not lmfao

[@azindisatazindisat2874]

The same complaint with packaging a year ago. Parts were lost threw the openings. No customer service or help to solve the problem.

[@codymoncrief8478]

One part each: ATF, Acetone, Kerosene, Turpentine. Use it as solvent. Soak the bore and everything metal and let it sit about 15 minutes then clean like normal except the bore. Run a good quality bronze bore brush back and forth 40 times each way. Then clean and oil like normal. The solvent works great for everything gun cleaning anyway.

[@charlene2400]

I buy from them, mainly as parts and projects. In that aspect, they've not let me down. When I've ponied up for something nice, they've also not let me down. However, on regular listings, I usually get better stuff from B-grade, than from the normal listing. I also rarely get whatever included freebie, is advertised.

[@KGreen1021]

I've had RTI ship direct to me and never once has there been any kind of protective packaging. It's always been a gun in a box...

[@dwaynewalker986]

Thank you for your honesty. I just made my mind up about the Italian Moschetto I had been considering.

[@philippicard3652]

Man, I love going to firearm shows . The art of the haggle is 50 percent of the enjoyment of purchasing a firearm for me.

[@Mr.9x19mm]

I purchased a refurbished MAS 49/56 from an online retailer that did not disclose they were originally imported by RTI. I experienced some of the same issues as you did, minus the shipping abuse. The bore on mine had defined rifling, but also looked like a sewer pipe. Looked like something was living in the bore! Chamber was very rough. Ended up having to soak the barrel in cleaner, and use a hand drill with bore brushes to get it cleaned out. I also polished up the chamber so it wasn't so rough. Rifle is running. But for a refurbished rifle I wasn't thrilled with the end product. Had I known the rifle was originally an RTI, I would have passed..

[@deanoliver5172]

This sound just like my purchase from Classic Firearms three or four years ago. Paid around 1100.00 for a 'refurbished' mas 49/56 rifle that was 'expertly' refinished by James River Armory. What I received was a cracked old stock, sewer pipe for a barrel, and I kid you not, sand in the receiver. Its like they just dunked it in salts and called it good. Still pretty pissed about that. Rti burned me on the condition ratings of their m1 carbines when they first got them in. Was excited to get my (3) hand select excellent to unissued condition carbines. I received 3 fair to good (my opinion) carbines with lots of finish wear, surface rust, horrible stocks, but good bores. My last experience wasn't nera as bad since I dont spend more than $299 with them, but they still did not include my free clip and the barrel of the gun was literally sticking outside of the box. Of course numerous emails went unanswered but oh well. I was hopeful that the new customer service person that replaced Stephanie would make things somewhat better, but it appears she's as bad as the rest. Oh well...we keep buying their trash guns, put up with trash packaging and customer service, because they are the only place left that has anything.

[@nfaisnfgay]

@@deanoliver5172Why did you accept the guns lol? Deny at FFL, offer them an attempt at 100% refund, if they say no, do a credit card charge back.

[@deanoliver5172]

@@nfaisnfgay In both instances I was the ffl so I couldn't refuse a package that was already in my living room when I got home. I tried emailing and left several voice messages all of which went unanswered so I just resigned myself not to be burned by them again. At least with CF I was able to reach someone about the Mas. I knew the bore condition would not warrant a refund since it clearly stated bore condition were not checked, but the cracked stock made it unsafe to shoot so I reached out for a resolution. They offered me $75. I just never email them back but spent several hours fixing it myself since nobody had replacement stocks at that time.

[@nfaisnfgay]

@@deanoliver5172 Credit card charge back then. It really is thst simple. You did not get what you were offered

[@AllThingsFlightSim]

The French when re-arsenaling would often parkerize the insides of the barrels. Thinking that's what inside yours and mine both... Mine was non functional, as the hammer spring was broken and the only place on earth I could find one was in Belgium. I bought 3 just in case $50 later Im installing the spring now.

[@theshootingbench9116]

I fall into the long term collector, and I am a gunsmith and armourer. RTI, Royal Tiger Imports has always been kniwn fir cheap low teir guns. Theybare for the collector whonis looking for that gun to fill a spot in a collection that will look good but will not be shot much or at all. Aka they sell look good wall hangers. If yoire just looking to fill a gap in a collection thays going to be displayed tbeyre a god ppace to source your gun, if youre looking for a true collectors grade gun that is safe to shoot, look else where. Thats about the nicest thing I can say about them. And reguardless of where you get your gun from always have a full inspection done by a professional smith or armorer before shooting.

[@TXGRunner]

Never heard of RTI. Sounds like I'm not missing anything. Good, thorough, objective review.

[@cycadaacolyte6349]

It's a rebranding of Inter Ordinance

[@lordsheogorath3377]

I got a romy rpk parts kit and 4 40 round magazines in like the first week before they hiked the prices. I was happy but there were two minor issues my gunsmith said were fixable, so I didn't bother contacting RTI. issues were very corroded gas block and the back bottom left rivet hole on the front trunnion was egg shaped and the trunnion had a slight (2 degree) bend on the corner of the ear. Other than that, I had good luck I guess. Would not buy any surplus from africa sight unseen from them though. Don't forget they used to be the infamous InterOrdanace.

[@boltforward3611]

"An IO AK is just as good as a russian one" --> I do remember their CEO saying that to Brandon Herrera lol

[@999torino]

I almost fell out of my chair with joy when you pronounced Garand correctly. Thank you for making my day. Oh, and I won't buy anything from RTI thanks to you.

[@boltforward3611]

yeah someone else in the comments section grilled my ass for that... but its ok --> we know how its properly pronounced!

[@viriathas9910]

IO Inc/RTI engage in generally unethical business practices. I worked in the firearms industry for about 15 years, and for two companies that worked directly with IO Inc. I can tell you that their guns are extremely poor quality and they are experts in false advertising.

[@McNasty8869]

Bought a Kar98k from RTI, off of the refurbished "WW2 weapons found in Ethiopia" line. Bore is not entire garbage but it's bad. Almost the same quality as your MAS bore. Shots are still accurate, however, so that's great. Piss poor job at being "refurbished", however. The varnish was garbage. It was not as "refurbished" as the Kar98k videos they put out. Got it refurbished myself, looks pristine now. Rifle was identified as a Steyr 1943 BNZ, assembled at the Mauthausen-Gusen camp. However, of course, the bolt is not matching. Overall not bad, it could have been worse. Definitely not worth as much as they sold for.

[@danschneider9921]

I work at a gun shop part time on the weekends- after the Ethiopian horde came about we had a lot of transfers come through. Of the 25-ish I saw- 20 were garbage. And as you said, while I won't name anyone, some youtubers "gun personalities " definitely got "first pick" and are basically shills for RTI. And that's disappointing.

[@tinahall1303]

Thanks 👍 for giving us the truth about RTI, we don't get that much

[@sambrooks7510]

Thanks for a frank and excellent video! I have never heard ANYTHING good about RTI and I have never bought anything from them. I have heard a LOT about the cr@p they push off on unsuspecting or unknowing buyers though. It hurts my heart that you got messed over on that 49/56. I have a genuine re-arsenaled one that I bought MANY years ago, from a very discriminating dealer, for $350 with all the trimmings, and I really like it. I hate that yours turned out to be such a dog.

[@originalbluebuddha]

Fist rule of milsurp collecting: RTI is for parts & magazines only. Only purchase the stuff they couldn't hammer into a "gun." Anything else is a spin of the roulette wheel - with a brake on it that they control.

[@zurnie]

Century Arms: We're gonna be the worst importer known to man. RTI: Hold my beer...

[@boltforward3611]

"We just imported this beer we found out back behind an inner city 7-11... expiration dates are a suggestion"

[@BalrogSonOfNelgar]

I bought one of their Springfield M1 garands. Bore is shootable and all the parts were there, the thing was just covered with surface rust and cosmoline. I spent hours scrubbing it with 0000 steel wool and soaked it in kroil for a week and got it pretty decent. I knew what I was getting into but others may not. It's pretty accurate though for how it looks

[@tinkeringclaws5559]

diesel and copper wool works wonders on surface rust.

[@tufftrucker40]

Im glad i stumbled upon this video. Rti will never be in my vocabulary as far as buying any guns. I appreciate this information and im sorry you got screwed.

[@farklestaxbaum4945]

I wish they would just make some effort to accurately grade and describe their guns

[@boltforward3611]

But they do! They take... 10... 20 seconds to grade these things, and for a youtube short thats like 20% of the run time!!!

[@phillipdewitt4454]

I only consider a used weapon or tool that I’ve had the chance to look at . I last bought military surplus in the ‘60 when a choice British Enfield was $20 and a German Mauser was $40 at a good gun store.

[@nightrider1850]

Nice video. Looks like you have a bit of a dog there. I Looks like the barrel is in typical condition of military weapons of that Era used and abused and stored the way they were. Not properly cleaned and stored when they were withdrawn from service or recaptured from who ever stole them. French like most other ammunition of that Era is corrosive primed. Not an issue if the rifle is properly maintained. I have 3 of these imported by Century Arms back in the 90's. Back then they came either unissued, or armory rebuilds, or Century parts kit rebuilds. The unissued is in my safe queen collection of military weapons. The other two are range/fun/shooting match rifles. They shoot great with both factory and especially my loads. The Century rifle took some breaking in and the bore is in typical condition you'd expect. The arsenal rebuild is in exalent condition with all the marks showing when and where it was re worked. A buddy of mine that I served in the Marine Corps with got out served the standard 5 years enlistment in the French foreign legion jumped with joy when I let him shoot it. A really good military rifle and served well. Like the M14 it is a solid hard hitting battle rifle that I'd carry into combat with if I had to. If you look at the rate of inflation from the 90's when all of these really cool rifles started showing up on the U.S. market their pretty close to the same price. The available numbers of these surplus weapons we paid $300 or less for also inflates the price as well

[@robertdug495]

I got ripped off with one of those years ago that was rechambered in 308. It stove piped with every round. Also the heavy firing pin will cause slam fires with modern primers! Keep this in mind. I had a Malasian military surplus 308 ricochet at my feet off a Boulder under the soil which almost took my head off!😆

[@davy1458]

Those are some nice looking lee enfields you have sitting in the back ground....im a big lee enfield guy. I love them....its my opinion thata good lee enfield is one of the greatest rifles ever made....i live garands too....ive i had to chose one over the other id have a nervous break down.

[@inspectorkemp7439]

"another satisfied customer" - RTI

[@boltforward3611]

"We cant even tell you the number of stars he gave, its just so many!"

[@mikesuch9021]

Their warehouse is in Ethiopia. That right there would stop me from looking at rti in a heart beat.

[@RealCptHammonds]

RTI's prices are twice as high on these MAS 49/56 rifles as they should be.

[@DeimosPC]

I traded a non-gun khyber pass martini henry clone and a mismatched, broken SKS for a mint 1943 K98k in 2017. It was the best trade I've ever done. They guy told me he had 10+ k98k and had always wanted an SKS and he didn't mind finding the additional parts needed to get it working again lol.

[@iamgermane]

You have to watch stuff coming from Century Arms. I had to clean the metal shavings out of the WASR AK receiver after I got it. Probably happened in Romania though...

[@dalehensley3665]

The original 7.5 French round is highly corrosive. That's why I believe the barrel and chamber are in that condition.

[@boltforward3611]

"we'll clean it next time" --> said every single time they fired it lol!

[@Targetpopper]

This rifle looks just like the rifles refurbished in the 80s-90s. I have one that was imported from century and it looks mint but the French rebuilt a ton of these before they put them up on the market. I'm pretty sus of RTI claiming they rebuilt these rifles themselves. Nice to see someone calling out RTI instead of shilling for them.

[@theblindsniper9130]

If youre doing guns, Im in. Solid sub from me, one gun channel to another. I Do RTI purchases all the time and film them, but im also a gunsmith and do my own restorations. I get them going.

[@boltforward3611]

Hey! I've watched a good number of your vids, awesome to see ya in the comments section!

[@theblindsniper9130]

@@boltforward3611 I get that a lot from people haha what can i say, I love watching and filming content like this.

[@googlemyharbl]

as someone who has had milsurp autism for the past 15 years i will never, ever buy from RTI. And it's getting annoying as now I have to check import marks on things to make sure it's not RTI scrap.

[@DeimosPC]

They essentially stuck new cheap wood furniture on a new receiver and used surplus parts elsewhere. They're scumbags.

[@Syngekhoomei]

gritty trigger asmr

[@jballew2239]

The safety should not "click", it should have a bit of spring tension to it though holding it in either position. It should not be crunchy or loose. The bolt should not wiggle side to side that much. A little is fine, what you have would cause me to send it back. The French sometimes electro-penciled the SN of the weapon on the top of the bolt. check yours to see if it matches or not. It's not super important that it does, but I'd be amazed if that's the original bolt/bolt carrier to that rifle. Also the SN should be found on the bow of the triggerguard. it SHOULD match. It should NOT be crunchy or rough, nor even very heavy. I'm betting they beadblasted the FCG and parked it as an assembly, which is silly and lazy. Lastly, the fitting of the stock to the receiver is very important, as there is a ferrule in there that affects the engagement point of the sear, and if it is improperly fitted the rifle may unexpectedly double or fail to reset the hammer after firing a round. TL-DR "That's a very pretty parts gun". Sorry to say.

[@boltforward3611]

It is a "part" of the collection LOL!!! Thanks for that awesome info!

[@mikedoubleohdoubleu2135]

MY ORDER IS ON HOLD! THANK YOU! Subscribed and eagerly awaiting updates!!!

[@loganhorne4310]

Great video. RTI is always a gamble. I've purchased 5 rifles from them. 2 immediately had to be returned for obvious quality issues. I kept 2 rifles because they were somewhat rare variants. Finally, they sent me an incorrect rifle (not quite what I purchased) and I gave it to a friend who is starting a collection. 2/5 are not good odds. Always an adventure with RTI.

[@boltforward3611]

if what you say is true about giving the rifle away --> Thank you for helping to plant the seeds in a new collection! Sorry about your RTI experiences though.

[@obiesunstreak2409]

RTI is a joke yes... BUT... the Mas was never a "high tolerance" gun. The bolt, the fit and finish, all seem about typical for one.

[@aplaceholderbplaceholder9524]

This explains loose rifles under the conveyor belts.

[@noahkatz6452]

RTI and Atlantic got the same batch, Few members on The AKFiles had Atlantic do complete refunds as they’re misrepresenting the condition. Bores are horrible. I have also been apart of this experience and will not order anything in the future from Atlantic.

[@robthebold4589]

I bought an M1 Carbine from RTI a few years ago. There was no packing to cushion the rifle and it was loose in the box, the muzzle had poked a hole in the end of the box. This rifle was sold as "new/unissued" condition. I expected a lot for the $1400. It was crap and I told RTI so. I also told them I wanted a refund. Well, they don't give refunds but they wanted me to be happy. I got my refund a month later less a restocking fee. Never again...

[@KriegZombie]

I rolled the dice twice with them and got lucky both times. My C grade No1 Enfield was full of bugs and grime, but it was totally functional with a great barrel. I'm even happier with my Carcano. That being said I don't think I will trust my luck a third time given all the horror stories I have heard about RTI. LGS told me the packaging was total shit, btw.

[@greathornedowl3644]

🤣😂Reminded of the Jim Gaffigan joke about the Anne Frank home tour, one review 3 Stars, WHAT? No food? You thought it was a Ann Franks house and there were no hot dogs

[@iplaypaintballalot]

Dude this sucks. Thanks for letting us know tho. Great channel. I really like your video style

[@brianwilhelm37]

As a collector since the 80's, I can tell you with authority that new collectors are the only ones who fall for this kind of stinker. Spend the time doing your research and spend the money to buy Quality examples. Otherwise, you get what you asked for.....taken. I own a MAS 44, a MAS 49, and a MAS 49-56. When they are in proper, original configuration and have been taken care of over the years, they are rock solid performers and as reliable as a hammer.

[@bfgivmfith]

I have bought three Carcano's from them and was pleased, and yes I knew I was rolling the dice, and a broke them down and cleaned them myself. I just ordered a MAS 49/56 and hope I do not have the experience you had. I appreciatte your video and thoughts on the matter.

[@bfgivmfith]

Little rough bore. Still fine with my investment. I might trust this more than an AR-10.

[@timmeinschein9007]

I forget what it is called, but there's a product that's great for getting rid of a dark bore. It smells BAD, and comes in a squeeze tube. (I'm trying to remember the color of the paste.). I put plenty on a bore snake, ran it through a few times and then left the snake in the bore overnight (~6 hours). Basically letting the agent(s) in the paste have time to "do their job" while the M-38 (short rifle) stood at a muzzle down angle in my bathtub with the vent going so I wouldn't stink out my apartment... Perhaps your local gun store (not a big box store, a local one) could figure out the name... BTW, the bore had a mirror finish after pulling the snake and a few passes with a bore mop with plenty of Hopps 9, followed by a few dry patches, and then a mop with Silicone oil!

[@boltforward3611]

Unfortunately that awesome advice is a bit too late --> but its good to know just incase this happens again. I really wish I had managed to snag a picture of what was inside the gun, but it was absolutely wild. From what the comments section has told me: it appears that it was parkerization that had bubbled up/flaked up along the inner barrel.

[@timmeinschein9007]

@@boltforward3611 That is what I was wondering! (About not sealing the barrel before Pakerzinng hit or cleaning it out after it was treated.... Sorry I can't remember the name (been over 10 to 15 years) I think, repeat think, the stuff was slightly bluish, but remember it has been a long time since I used it and that was the only firearm I had to do this with.... But also Ballistol is another Great Cleaner and Oil!!! I use it whenever I'm not sure if the (surplus) ammo is non-corrosive! Also, the Silicon Oil is great for when you want everyone to see a very shinny bore!

[@outsideriehl]

Ive bought a k98k and FN 49 and both were in surprisingly great shape. I am scared to buy again, Im just gonna cash out my chips and never play the rti gamble again lol.