yes I know what you mean grandveneur, its a question of age sometimes. but I see it a little bit more generously so for example every french in Burkina Faso is an ex colonial( in fact he is). he is more special than other strangers and is in a community with his fellow countryman and deal with them.

thats what moblotaire wrote
"When I was deployed in Ivory Coast (2006) I met a french citizen living in the Northern part of the country. He had two such rifles. Yet it was impossible for him to cross the "border" between the North and South (a kind of civil war was taking place at that time) with a weapon. And if ever I had been able to buy one (or the two of them) , customs paperwork would have been a nightmare. Corruption in the country and french paperwork "red tape

No I didn't take any picture of the rifles.
At that time I was deployed in Abidjan (capital city near the sea) and the guy was just passing by at the French camp."

in the end the 10,75mm Mas is very rare