"Modèle 1886/93 'Lebel' rifle and bayonet (1886)" Topic

"Though relatively low-powered by later standards, the Lebel had been revolutionary in 1886. It used smokeless powder formulated by chemist Paul Vieille which burned hotter, faster and cleaner than 'black' powder. This enabled more powerful, accurate rifles that did not jam from fouling or give away the shooter's position with a cloud of smoke. This French 'Poudre B' was therefore ground-breaking.

The rifle itself is named, or more correctly nicknamed, after the designer of the bullet it originally fired. French Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas Lebel designed one of the first full metal jacket bullets for the new rifle. It had a flat nose to to solve the problem of the bullet igniting the primer of the round in front of it. This was an inherent problem with tube magazines, in which cartridges sit end-to-end. The problem came when the old round-nosed bullet design was being replaced by more aerodynamically efficient pointed bullets, known as 'Spitzer' from the German for 'spire'. This acute point could ignite the primer of the round in front and cause an explosion. Lebel took the compromise approach of squaring off the front of the bullet. Later, a groove was cut around the head of the cartridge case that would safely keep the point of the bullet in place, away from the primer. The 'M93' modification included a change to the bolt head that prevent hot gases from burning the firer's face if a cartridge case were to rupture…"
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Amicalement
Armand

And lest we forget,her little friend,"Rosalie".(the bayonet for the Lebel)

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand