so it can rotate with the bolt.
The locking lugs are positioned on the forward end of the bolt head. When the bolt is locked the locking lugs are horizontal—just as the Russian Model 1891 Moisin-Nagant. The left (lower) locking lug contacts the cartridge carrier to tip it up and halt the rearward travel of the bolt when the bolt is opened. The extractor is mortised into the bolt head. The face of the bolt head is recessed for the cartridge rim.
The firing mechanism—firing pin, mainspring, cocking piece and firing pin button—is essentially like that in the Berthier action to be described later.
The feeding and trigger mechanisms of the Lebel rifle are not attached to the receiver, but rather to the carrier plate which closes the bottom of the receiver. The trigger guard, combined with the lower tang, is attached to this plate with a screw. The entire assembly is held in the receiver by a lip at the front of the carrier plate engaging in a groove in the receiver, and by one screw through the rear of the receiver.
The sear is pivoted and attached to the upright projection on the carrier plate on the pivot axis of the magazine cutoff lever. The trigger pivots on the sear via a pin. A V-type spring compressed between the sear and the carrier plate tensions the sear.
The cartridge carrier is also held in place by, and pivots on, the axis of the magazine cutoff lever. The carrier is tensioned to keep it either in the up or down position by a lever and a flat spring. The front end of this pivoting lever also functions as the cartridge stop at the magazine tube opening. The carrier is tipped up when the bolt is opened by the lower locking lug contacting a lug on the rear of the carrier. It is tipped down when the bolt is closed (and locked) by the base of the bolt handle depressing a lever linked to the carrier.
The checkered round button of the L-shaped magazine cutoff extends to the bottom rear edge of the receiver housing. Swinging this button forward disengages the carrier-depressing lever so that the carrier remains in the tipped-up position when the action is opened. The rifle can then be conveniently loaded and used as a single shot while cartridges in the magazine are held in reserve.
The M86 Lebel action (as well as the rifle) underwent some changes to improve it; the result was designated the Model 1886/93— presumably, the changes were adopted in 1893. The M86 receiver was made with a long forward extension into which the barrel was threaded. This extension, called the barrel reinforce, accounts for the extra length of this receiver when compared to the M86/93 receiver, as shown in the specification chart. The bolt head to bolt body junction on the M86/93 was strengthened by the addition of a separate collar and lug between these two parts. The latter action was also made safer by having a small gas vent hole in the bolt head, plus other minor changes. These various improvements made the M86/93 action considerably stronger and more reliable than the M86. M86/93 rifles are usually marked to indicate the 1893 changes by Modele 86/93 or M 93 stamped on the left side of the receiver.
French Lebel action.
The caliber designation was not stamped on the Lebel rifles. They were serial numbered, however, with the full number usually stamped on the bolt handle base, barrel breech, receiver and carrier plate— last two digits of this number were stamped sights. It is one of the shoulder arms used by the French army during WWII, indicating the reluctance of France to discard old rifles.
Lebel rifles were not very satisfactory militarily; the tubular magazine could not be loaded quickly and it could be dangerous if loaded with spitzer-point bulleted ammunition.
Quite to my surprise, on taking apart the Lebel rifle (illustrated) I found the entire rifle well made. The action parts were very nicely finished, fitted and polished. In fact, parts like the springs, levers, sear and some bolt parts were flawlessly polished. While the design of the action and rifle can be criticized, quality workmanship is evident, especially in the action.
All true French rifles are much more common in the United States than are the body. Turn the firing pin button so its slot aligns with the notch in the rear of the thumbpiece on the cocking piece. Grasp the bolt and cocking piece firmly and, placing the firing pin tip on a hard surface, press down on the bolt until the firing pin button clears the cocking piece and can be slipped off to one side. The firing pin and mainspring can now be removed. Reassemble in reverse order.
To remove the carrier plate assembly, remove the rear tang screw and the carrier plate screw from the left side of the receiver and, grasping the trigger guard bow, pull the assembly out of the receiver. The buttstock can now be removed by turning out the front tang screw. Take off the forend by removing the two barrel bands, depressing the magazine follower with a finger from inside on some of the other important parts. Various inspector’s arsenal and proof marks are stamped on the breech end of the barrel, receiver and bolt. Date of manufacture (year) is usually stamped on the breech end of the barrel, as well.
French Lebel action, open.
Lebel Models
There were three principal models of the Lebel: 1) the 1886 rifle has a 31.4” barrel, is 51.3” overall and weighs about 9.3 pounds; 2) the 1886/93 rifle has the same specifications as the 1886, but has the improved action; and 3) the 1886/93 R35 carbine has a 17.7 ” barrel, is about 37.65” overall and weighs about 7.84 pounds. The carbine is merely a modification of the Model 1886/93 rifle— shorter barrel, forend and magazine tube holding only three cartridges, and different French Gras and Gras-Kropatschek rifles. The Lebel rifles are of more value and interest to the collector than to anyone.
Takedown and Assembly/Lebel
To remove the bolt, raise bolt handle and pull the bolt back about halfway. Turn the large-headed screw out of the forward bolt lug, turn the bolt head one-quarter turn clockwise and, while holding the bolt head, pull the bolt from the receiver. The bolt head can then be removed. Reassemble in reverse order.
To disassemble the bolt, remove the extractor by raising the hook end with a screwdriver, then drive the extractor to the rear. To remove the firing mechanism from the bolt, first rotate the cocking piece counterclockwise so it falls against the bolt the receiver, and then lifting the front of the forend away from the barrel until it is free. Reassemble in reverse order.
To remove the carrier plate assembly, remove the rear tang screw and the carrier plate screw from the left side of the receiver and, grasping the trigger guard bow, pull the assembly out of the receiver. The buttstock can now be removed by turning out the front tang screw. Take off the forend by removing the two barrel bands, depressing the magazine follower with a finger from inside the receiver, and then lifting the front of the forend away from the barrel until it is free. Reassemble in reverse order.
Disassemble the trigger and carrier mechanism as follows: remove the screw from the right side of the carrier plate which aligns with the bottom leaf of the trigger spring and, using pliers, pinch the spring together, pull it to the right and remove.
Remove the screw from the left front of the carrier plate and remove the magazine cutoff spring and carrier lever spring; with the magazine cutoff button straight down, lift it out. The cartridge carrier, sear and carrier lever (cartridge stop) can now be removed and separated. Drive out the trigger pin to remove the trigger from the sear. Turn out the carrier lever spring screw to separate it from the carrier lever. Remove the trigger guard front screw and drive the guard rearward to separate it from the carrier plate. Reassemble in reverse order.
