In 98% mint crisp outstanding condition, we have a very top example of an Antique early production 1893 dated French Mle 1892 “Lebel” Service Revolver. This pistol is all original and the bore is mint, what is even nicer is that the double and single action trigger pull are EXCELLENT! this should make a fine shooting pistol with all the new Fiocchi Ammuntion out there on the market.
The Mle 1892 Revovler was the standard French Officer’s Service side arm from 1892 until it began being replaced in 1939 with the new automatic pistol Mle 1935A, however it stayed in front line Service with the French Army well past WWII and well into the 1960’s with the French National Police. This example which was produced in 1893 is in excellent mechanical condition with a mint bore.
These Lebel revolvers are considered to be the best antique military revolver to actually use, as ammunition is readily available from Fiocchi, and they are very ruggedly made and are known to extremely accurate. A huge advantage the Lebel revolvers have over their contemporaries is the swing-out cylinder which makes reloading as quick as with any modern made revolver.
The Mle 1892 Revolver was the best known and most well regarded Officer’s side arm in the French Army during WWI. Many of you will remember it as being used for the “Coup de Grace” in all those French WWI firing squads. Even Mata Hari got popped in the noggin with one When she faced the firing squad.
The Pistol was heavily used during the WWII era by the French Military, the Resistance, and it was also reissued by the Germans who captured vast quantities in 1940. One could think of no better pistol to represent the French Resistance movement during the time of the Nazi Occupation of France. This is a wonderful example of a French Service pistol at the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 and again in 1939.
This is a pre 1898 production antique firearm so it is exempt from paperwork and can be shipped directly to your home. This is the finest example of this revolver that we have seen in years!