French 1886 M93 Lebels

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GunnyUSMC

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Denham Springs LA
The other day I stopped in at one of the local shops and they had some more old rifles they had just put out. Two of them were 1886 M93 Lebels. They were priced at $499.95 each. One was well used and the other had black paint on it.
I took a quick look at them and went home. Two days later I stopped in after work to have another look at them. The shop owner saw me looking at them and said I should buy both of them. I found that the well used one was marked MA T1895. It had a few issues and a non matching bolt.
Now the one with the black paint was marked MA T1916 with a matching bolt. The rifle appeared to had been refurbed and never issued. When I opened the action it was caked with cosmoline. :D
For those that know me, I just hate to pay the marked price on a used gun. So I asked what would he let me have both for after pointing out the problems with the well used one. He told me to make an offer. I told him I would give him $200 for the ugly one and $400 for the painted one. He looked at the tags and said he could do that.
Here they are with extra pics of the painted one.
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LOVE it!!

I sure wish 8mm Lebel ammo was easier to come by. If it was, I'd own one of these rifles. The first smokeless, repeating military rifle. So awesome!! :D
 
Is PPU loading this round? They are loading about everything else obsolete and military. Picked up some 7.7 Japanese and 6.5 Carcano the other day.
 
Yup, $1.20 a pop which isn't bad for "ceremonial occasions" or to accumulate brass.
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12591
Gotta be careful, though, it has spitzer bullets but I doubt it has the grooved casehead and double primer cup of Balle D to guard against gang fires in the tube magazine.

"Ze French Foreign Legion opens fire at 700 metres."
If you are defending Fort Zinderneuf from the Tuaregs, I guess.
 
I checked the ammo closet at work today, :( There was no 8mm Lebel.
I have the 1916 sold, I made a friend happy, and will be keeping the 1895.
 
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