Early French Gras Rifle Sword-Bayonet Plaque. Manufacturing attributed to the Arsenal Ettiene.

The Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, often abbreviated to MAS ("Saint-Étienne Weapons Factory" in English) was a French state-owned weapons manufacturer in the town of Saint-Étienne, Loire. Founded in 1764, it was merged into the French state-owned defense conglomerate GIAT Industries in 2001.

Saint-Étienne was well-known as a center of sword and knife manufacturing beginning in the Middle Ages. In 1665, a Royal Arms Depot was created in Paris to store military weapons made in Saint-Étienne.

The Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne was created by royal decree in 1764 under the supervision of the General Inspector of the Royal Arms Manufacture of Charleville.

12,000 weapons were being produced each year when the French Revolution began in 1789. The city was renamed Armsville during the Revolutionary period and production increased to arm the French Revolutionary Army.

Subsequently, the French Empire required a threefold increase in production to meet the needs of the Grande Armée in its conquest of Europe.

Dimensions: Height: 27.25 in (69.22 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 2.75 in (6.99 cm)

Materials and Techniques: Iron,Oak,Wood

Place of Origin: France

Period: Early 19th Century

Date of Manufacture: 1819

Condition: Good,Some wear to oak plaque see photos.