Superb Lebel rifle model 1886-93 in original caliber 8×51 R, symbol of the French soldier of the First World War.
This example, most likely returned to the Tulle factory in 1920 for repair and re-cannoning, illustrates the continued service of this legendary weapon after the Great War.
It is sold with its original strap, a rare accessory which reinforces its authenticity and historical interest.
There are some old repairs to the wood, typical of weapons returned from the workshop after the war, but the whole thing retains a very nice presentation.
The mechanism is perfectly functional, smooth and complete - an excellent example for a serious collection of French weapons.
Model: Lebel Rifle Mle 1886-93.
Manufacture / revision: Tulle factory – 1920.
Caliber: 8×51 R (formerly 8×50 R Lebel).
Mechanism: bolt action, tubular magazine under the barrel (8 + 1 + 1 cartridges)
Total length: 130 cm.
Barrel length: 80 cm.
Weight: 4.18 kg (empty).
Capacity: 10 shots (with cartridge in chamber and elevator).
Modified ball N.
Condition: perfectly functional mechanics, some visible repairs on the wood, original strap provided.
Adopted in 1886, the Lebel rifle was a world revolution: the first military rifle to fire a smokeless powder cartridge (the 8 mm Lebel).
Of exemplary robustness, he accompanied millions of soldiers on the battlefields of Verdun, the Somme and Champagne.
After 1918, many rifles were returned to the factory (Tulle, Châtellerault, Saint-Étienne) for upgrading and re-cannoning, before being reused in the 1920s by the French army and colonial forces.
This example, re-cannoned in Tulle in 1920, perfectly embodies this period of reconstruction and modernization of French weaponry.
Historical testimony of the First World War and the interwar period.
Perfect for militaria collectors, reenactments, or thematic displays.
Weapon classified in category D2 § e. Free purchase and possession by adults. Proof of majority required: copy of the front and back of your national identity card or passport.
