{"product_id":"original-antique-french-lebel-fusil-modele-1886-m93-infantry-rifle-by-st-etienne-dated-1888-serial-b-11657","title":"Original Antique French Lebel Fusil Modèle 1886 M93 Infantry Rifle by St. Étienne dated 1888 - Serial B 11657","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. The Lebel Model 1886 rifle (French: \u003cem\u003eFusil Modèle 1886 dit \"Fusil Lebel\u003c\/em\u003e\") is also known as the \"\u003cem\u003eFusil Mle 1886 M93\u003c\/em\u003e\", after a bolt modification was added in 1893. It is an 8 mm bolt action infantry rifle that entered service in the French Army in 1887. It is a repeating rifle that can hold eight rounds in its forestock tube magazine, one round in the transporter plus one round in the chamber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Lebel rifle has the distinction of being the first military firearm to use smokeless powder ammunition. The new propellant powder, \"Poudre B,\" was nitrocellulose-based and had been invented in 1884 by French chemist Paul Vieille. Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas Lebel contributed a flat nosed 8 mm full metal jacket bullet (\"Balle M,\" or \"Balle Lebel\"). Twelve years later, in 1898, a solid brass pointed (spitzer) and boat-tail bullet called \"Balle D\" was retained for all 8mm Lebel ammunition. Each case was protected against accidental percussion inside the tube magazine by a primer cover and by a circular groove around the primer cup which caught the tip of the following pointed bullet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing an oversized bolt with front locking lugs and a massive receiver, the Lebel rifle was a durable design capable of long range performance. In spite of early obsolete features, such as its tube magazine and the shape of 8mm Lebel rimmed ammunition, the Lebel rifle remained the basic weapon of French line infantry during World War I (1914–1918). Altogether, 3.45 million Lebel rifles were produced by the three French state factories between 1887 and 1916.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the receiver on this fine example is marked\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e with a clear \u003cstrong\u003eMANUFACTURE D'ARMES \/ \u003cem\u003eSt.-Étienne\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e marking, and to the right \u003cstrong\u003eMLE 1886 M93,\u003c\/strong\u003e indicating manufacture at the government arsenal at \u003cstrong\u003eSaint-Étienne\u003c\/strong\u003e. The \"M93\" is a separate stamping, indicating the receiver was produced before the modification was introduced in 1893, so it is definitely a \u003cstrong\u003ePre-1899 Antique\u003c\/strong\u003e. It would have been marked when it was updated with the bolt modification. The rifle has arsenal proofs on virtually all parts, and also is marked \u003cstrong\u003eMA S\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e 1888\u003c\/strong\u003e indicating that it was produced in 1888, and later updated with the bolt modification after 1893. The rifle has serial number \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB\u003c\/em\u003e 11657\u003c\/strong\u003e on the barrel and receiver floor plate, while the other components are all non matching. Parts were often swapped at arsenal when these were reissued for WWI, so mis-matched numbers are quite common.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition of the rifle is good, though it definitely has seen long service, indicated by the numerous dents, dings, scratches, and other wear on the stock. There is a dowel repair through the fore stock under the rear sight, which we have seen on many other examples. There are scattered wood filler repairs on both stocks, and there is a repaired crack on the right side of the wrist, however it is in a direction that almost doesn't make sense. It does not seem like a direction a crack would normally occur in without cracking other areas first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork is in very good condition, still retaining much of the original bluing on the barrel and receiver area. Other areas show wear and staining, but no major oxidation or other issues. It has the look of a typical rifle that saw long service but was well cared for during that period. The bore is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. There is light wear to the lands, and the grooves show light fouling and oxidation. The rifle cycles correctly and dry fires, and the magazine cutoff functions correctly, though we cannot guarantee that it feeds correctly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade famous by the GARY COOPER Movie of \u003cem\u003eBEAU GESTE\u003c\/em\u003e, all about the French Foreign Legion, this was the rifle of the time in the later 1880's. A nice Mle 1886 M93 Lebel rifle, fully cleaned and ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications (rifle):-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 18887 - updated later\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: 8×50mmR Lebel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 31.5 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 51.2 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Bolt-Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: 8 round tube magazine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43455030788165,"sku":"ONSV25WSO141","price":2395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25WSO141__02.jpg?v=1755887754","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-antique-french-lebel-fusil-modele-1886-m93-infantry-rifle-by-st-etienne-dated-1888-serial-b-11657","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}