French 1892 Carbine

[Joe Boleo]

I was in a gun shop yesterday just wasting time. The shop owner has cut back his hours and days that he is open and that is a real shame. Anyway, I scanned the used gun racks and saw two 1892 French carbines in 8mm Lebel. One was much nicer with a perfect bore, matching numbers and was more expensive. I set it back and will pick it up next week. Now I will have something to hold when I watch "Beau Geste" or movies about the Foreign Legion. Take care...
Joe

[Adam Helmer]

Joe,

Well done! But Beau Geste was in the Infantry and had a Berthier Rifle (with tubular magazine) at Fort Zinderdorf.

Well, no matter, just shoot Sergeant Dageneau at your earliest convenience.

Adam

[popplecop]

Do I remember correctly that the early 92s were not equiped with a safety? Am old both eyesight and memory foggy at times.

[Joe Boleo]

The Model 1892 Carbine does not have a manual safety. Take care...
Joe

[Gil Martin]

I like a story with a happy ending. All the best...
Gil

[Joe Boleo]

After looking at "Small Arms of the World" it seems that I have a Model 1916 carbine (based on the 3-shot Model 1892) that was modified in 1927 to accommodate 5-shot clips. That is even better. The bore is perfect and it has all matching numbers. Take care...
Joe

[Gil Martin]

That sounds even better. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Joe,

I believe the 5-shot clip modification occured in 1916, the same time as the M1907 Rifle was modified. In 1927, the cleaning rod was removed and a stacking swivel added. Anyway, how are you fixed for the 5-round Mannlicher-style clips? I got a bag full at a yard sale a while ago. I have RCBS 8MM Lebel dies and shellholder. The dies cost $152.00 and the shellholder was $12. Grafs provided me with 100 8MM Lebel boxer primed cases. I am shooting my old Lebels.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

Adam,
I believe you are correct regarding the 1927 conversion. The link below shows the 1916 Carbine Small Arms of the World and Smith & Smith in The Book of Rifles have very little information about these arms. All the best...
Gil


http://warrelics.eu/forum/firearms-ordnance/french-model-1916-carbine-2478/