NFOA MEMBERS FORUM
Handguns, Rifles & Shotguns => Rifles => Topic started by: lefty on June 18, 2011, 09:30:40 PM
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Is anyone interested in looking at some pictures of an old military rifle and tell me what it is? It was given to me by my past father-in-law.
If you are, send me your e-mail address and I will send them to you along with some more information.
Lefty lll021539@gtmc.net (those are 3 small L's)
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Heck, just post them up here and we'll see if someone knows. We all like looking at pics of guns. Otherwise I'm PM'ing my address to you.
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Lefty tried to attach the images , but they are over the limit in size, so they will need to be hosted by a site like photobucket and then linked
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Send them to the email address I pm'd you and I'll stick them up on my photobucket account.
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Looks like a French 1886 Lebel rifle to me, although I can't see the entire date mark on the receiver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebel_Model_1886_rifle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebel_Model_1886_rifle)
Very cool rifle - the first military rifle to use smokeless ammunition. I would clean it up, oil it well and remove any rust, but whatever you do, don't refinish it. Refinishing or any other modifications kills the value of any antique weapon. How does the bore look? You know, we have this really fun vintage rifle match going on..... ;D
I would use some very fine 00000 steel wool and oil to GENTLY remove the rust from the metal parts. Coarser grades of steel wool or heavy rubbing will remove the finish/patina from the metal parts. You want to just get rid of any active rust. Then, use Murphy's oil soap and a soft brush to gently clean the wood, and oil it with some tung oil or boiled linseed oil.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0312.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0314.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0315.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0331.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0332.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0333.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0334.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0335.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/bkoenig1975/Lefty/IMG_0336.jpg)
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That thing is pretty neat lookin'
(and being as it is French, it's probably actually been used very little) ;)
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Thanks guys. I really appreicate all the help.
Haven't really checked the bore yet but will be done soon.
Looks like a clean up/no refinish job for the Lebel. It has been moved into
the house. :-)
Thanks again guys!
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So is that another way of saying you will see us next month at the vintage match at Ike's? :)
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It needs some TLC before something like that happens! ;D
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Checked the bore on the old girl and it is not shiny bright but in
better shape than I expected for the care it has had.
There are 5 notches on the stock, being a French rifle not sure they made them or my father-in-law shooting coyotes in the Callaway area.
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aww come on lol you got a month. I bet BK is currently soaping up his Martini-Henry for a little loving scrub.
Just joking a bit, looks like a lot of potential there, hope to see it light off sometime soon.
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I found ammo for you:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=711135 (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=711135)
Not a bad price considering it's an obscure caliber. Reloadable brass, too.
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Hey thanks BK! Price surprises me too. I'll keep that in mind. You guys are kinda pushy like someone
else in this house. :D
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haha we try...:)
It would be great to see another shooter at the match, it's only ten bucks. If you don't have the Lebel ready i have an M44 you are more than welcome to. And i have plenty of ammo as well.
let me know.
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The French Lebel was the gun that ushered in the era of smokeless powder into the world's military powers.
Overnight, entire arsenals were obsolete.
Smokless powder did not produce as much smoke, so it was harder for the enemy to locate where the rounds were coming from.
All jokes aside about the French military, these guns were used a lot, and used hard.
PRVI of Serbia also offers new made ammo for these old guns.
Please have it checked by a competent gunsmith to make sure it is safe to fire.
The old girl wasn't made with the modern heat treated steels. Given it's age, you'll want at least the receiver and bolt checked for stress cracks.
Sometimes folks let kids play with these old guns, and they would sometimes remove parts that let the gun shoot. Sometimes they removed parts because they didn't consider them safe to shoot. For MANY years these guns sold dirt cheap, as ammo was pretty much impossible to find. They have some value now.
If found safe to shoot, be sure to do it. Lots of fun!!!
Good Shootin!!
DarryH
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All joking aside, the French soldiers that carried these rifles in WWI were very brave. Anyone who was willing to go over the top into no man's land has more courage than I do. Unfortunately they were lead by incompentent generals and politicians.
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Juat curious, hows the progress on bringing the old girl back to life?
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Well too many other things have gotten in the way for this old retiree. You know
not enough time, fishing, camping, taking vacation (on vacation all the time) and ect. Think I will make that a winter project. Believe I will visit my local gunsmith, first off to get the bolt out of the darn thing. :) When she is ready to blech a bit I will let you guys know. Thanks guys and I will probably be back for help, advice and anything else that is free.
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Looks like a rifle in that condition sells in the $75 range, I don't think painting it pink and putting flowers on it would hurt the value so make it the way you want it.