Guns International #: 103000108
Seller's Inventory #: BP25-

Category - Military Rifles - Antique - Military Rifles - Non-US

Category
Military Rifles - Antique
Military Rifles - Non-US

1891 Mfg. French MAS Mle.1886 M93 Lebel 8mm Lebel Rifle w Matching Bayonet *All-Matching Rifle but Bolt / Non-Import*

Description:
     This is a scarce, non-import marked, all-original and very-cool French Military MAS Mle.1886 M93 Lebel battle rifle. This rifle is un-molested and all-matching, except for the bolt, which matches itself.  This Mle.1886 M93 Lebel rifle in 8mm Lebel comes complete with an original French Military-issue Mle.1886 Epee' Bayonet with a cruciform-shaped, spike-blade in it's matching scabbard.  This rifle is serial number FH 85782 from the MAS factory, manufactured in 1891 which means it is an antique and can be shipped directly to the purchaser. 
     The Mle.1886 Lebel battle rifle was ahead of it's time in both design and the cartridge it fired when it first was accepted.  At this time in the late 1880's, most armies around the world were still using single-shot rifles that fired black powder cartridges This bolt-action rifle was a 10-shot repeater that used a tubular magazine located inside the stock, running parallel along the length of the barrel. The 8mm Lebel rimmed cartridge the rifle was chambered-in was ballistically-superior to most military ammunition of it's time, due to the smaller size/diameter of the 232 grain jacketed bullet combined with the much-higher velocities generated from the smokeless powder propellent.  It was an accurate rifle with good sights, and the ability to rapidly-fire 10 rounds before needing to reload made the Mle.1886 Lebel a very deadly weapon of war.  Despite being outclassed shortly after it was issued, the overall utility, reliability, accuracy, and availability of the rifle and ammo, all ensured that the Mle.1886 M93 Lebel rifle would in service with the French in some capacity, from 1887 all the way thru WW2.  Later, after the French had sold huge quantities of these rifles as surplus, these Mle.1886's have been seen in combat all over the world, including in Vietnam in the 60's and 70's and Afghanistan as late as the 2000's.  Despite the large number made, finding a non-import marked and all-original rifle here in the U.S. is difficult at best, and extremely difficult if looking for an all-matching example. 
     As you can see from the pictures, this rifle went thru the French arsenal system in 1893 to have the "M93" upgrades completed, and has had many French Military Arsenal repairs done to the stock.  The Mle.1893, or "M93" alterations included installing a stronger rear sight base along with better rear sight adjustment-gear, and then a stronger new bolt-head was swapped onto the bolt which featured an integral "shield" designed to block ruptured primer gases from the shooter's face.  This Lebel has had these modifications completed, and was stamped "M93" on the left side of the receiver at that point. You will notice that some parts are re-numbered, this was done while still in French Military service, as the stamps and proofs are correct for this model.  Whether these repairs and restamping was done in 1893 or at some point afterward is anyone's guess.  The fact that this one has not been stamped on the top of the receiver with an "N" for being proofed for the "1932N" military-issue 8mm Lebel cartridge adopted in 1932, tells us that this rifle is most-likely a WW1 bring-back.  Any rifle still in French Military inventory was modified for this cartridge when it became standard-issue in 1932.  The original condition of the rifle, and the all fact it is all-matching except the bolt, also lends credence to that theory.  During that WW1 thru WW2 period, it was common practice that when enemy rifles were captured, surrendered, or collected from the battlefield after the fighting, the bolt was typically thrown into one pile, while the rifle was thrown in another.  When a soldier wanted one, he would grab a rifle from one pile and a bolt from the other, and 99% of the time only the fit was checked, not the number.
     Despite the eye-appealing battle-worn exterior of the rifle, the mechanics are all 100% functional and in good working order.  The bore is dark but free from any major pitting or serious damage/wear.  The rifling is still in good shape overall, with well-defined lands and grooves from the chamber to the muzzle.  It is very common for these to be dark due to the corrosive primers of the smokeless cartridges used while in service.  As mentioned before, all of the numbered parts are serial numbers matching to the gun except for the bolt.  While the bolt is not serial-numbered to this rifle, it is an all-original bolt made for this model, and it has obviously been with this rifle since it was brought into the States.  This Mle.1886 M93 Lebel still shows some attractive and original arsenal-applied blue finish on most of the metal parts, with varying degrees of wear and patina.  Everything on this Lebel comes together to have a very handsome battle-used look to it.  If only it could talk.
     The original French Military-issue Mle.1886 Bayonet that comes with this rifle is in good original condition as well.  It has been thru one or more arsenal overhauls while it was still in service,  You can see the economical black-painted finish that has been applied to it during one of those arsenal reworks, as well as an arsenal re-stamp of the serial-number on the scabbard.  The original scabbard must have been damaged beyond-repair, or lost entirely, with this bayonet.  When it went thru the French supply system it was likely paired with a salvaged scabbard.  They "fit" the two together,  then scrubbed the scabbard's original serial just-enough to re-stamp a new serial number to match the bayonet's.  The French savaged as many weapons and as much equipment as they could during this time, as there were always shortages of supplies and weapons during WW1.  This example still has it's quillon intact, a feature that was ground-off of most of these weapons if they were still in French Military service post-WW1. This bayonet is one of the early types, easily identified from the Nickel Silver or "German Silver" handle.  The French had to quit using this metal for bayonet handles in 1916, due to it's vital role in the construction of more important military equipment.  Brass or steel was much easier to find, cheaper to purchase, and easier/faster to manipulate or shape, so both were used as a substitute for Nickel Silver from 1916 onward.  This bayonet still has it's full-length cruciform-shaped "blade" intact, and it has a very sharp tip.  The long and slender spike type "blade" was designed to be a thrusting weapon capable of penetrating multiple layers of heavy clothing and light-armor worn by many of the troops at the front lines.  it had no utility other than that purpose.  The handle has a hooked quillon for catching/parrying an enemy's bayonet, and was released by depressing a checkered button located just behind the crossguard on the lower left side.  The scabbard is a tapered steel tube with a ball-tip at the end, and is fit with a slotted-collar just below the throat to attach it to a frog that had a belt loop at the rear.  As you can see from the pictures, this bayonet and scabbard are in very good condition overall, and is in excellent shape mechanically.   
     It would be extremely hard to upgrade from this rifle and bayonet in any regard.  It's hard enough to find one in any condition, much less non import-stamped and all matching except the bolt!  As an antique this can be shipped directly to the buyer, no FFL transfer needed.
NOTE: WE HAVE LOTS OF SURPLUS 8MM LEBEL IN STOCK FOR THE NEW OWNER OF THIS RIFLE, OR ANYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS 8MM LEBEL!

Price: $1,595.00

Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: 8mm Lebel
Manufacturer: Manufacture de'Armes St. Etienne (MAS)
Model: Mle.1886 M93 Lebel Rifle
Serial Number: FH 85782
Bore Info: Rifled
Condition: Good
Metal Condition: Good
Wood Condition: Average - Good
Bore Condition: Above Average to Average
Action: Bolt-Action Repeating Battle Rifle
Stock: Original Stock Set w/ Period Armory Repairs
Butt Pad: Original Steel Recoil Plate
Finish: Blued / Armory Bright
Sights: Adjustable Iron Battle Sights
Manufacture Date: 1891
Extras: Original Bayonet w/ Matching Scabbard