In very sharp condition we have a great example of the highly regarded French Service Rifle of WWI, a 1916 dated Mle 1886/93 Lebel Rifle. The rifle is completely matching . Although somewhat obsolete with the tubular magazine, the Mle 86 Lebel rifle proved to be highly effective and kept the Germans out of Paris during the early stages of WWI. When it was introduced in 1883 it was the first service rifle made for the then new smokeless powder and it was a huge technological leap over the large bore black powder rifles such as the m1871.84 Mauser rifle in use by the Germans. This rifle was made to fire the Balle N ammunition with a spitzer bullet.
Although the Berthier rifle was widely used by many troops under French control, the Main line French infantry were armed with the Lebel rifle and it remained so throughout the war, and although a semi auto rifle was introduced in 1917, the Lebel was never supplanted in the French Army until 1936. If you are looking for the rifles fielded by the combatants of the Great World War this is a piece you must have.
