1886 Lebel with soldier art

[Hickman]

This is my 1886 Lebel, from Tulle Arsenal, modified in 1938 to a carbine. It has likely served in the First and Second World Wars. I don’t know when the original rifle was made. The online info is somewhat confusing. Serial number is 44519. Any help on the production date is appreciated.

There is soldier artwork on the receiver and the wood stock. The crude engravings on the metal seem to be depictions of a house, with a fence, and on the other side a tree, maybe a haystack, and possibly a tank. I wonder if this was done during the Great War. 
 

The tribal looking artwork on the wood stock was done after the R35 carbine conversion. The dot patterns could have been done with the tip of a bullet, and have traces of red paint. Maybe this Lebel ended up in North Africa, used by Colonial Troops. 
 

This Lebel is in good working order, and kicks hard. Accuracy with the short barrel is fair. 

[Gabelou]

Hi, 

The Lebel round is bad placed and masks an important info. Under it probably 1886/93 R 35. Means the rifle was modified ( officialy shorted)  according to 1935 model.

This kind of Mousqueton was given between 1935 and 1940 to transport units.

If the barrel was changed when shorted,  44519 is the late number of the gun and not the original one . 

The "ornements"? are possibly  post war. The tank has a www2 aspect . ; rather a tribal african style than soldier art, probably made after the gun "leave" the army ( stolen, lost... everythink is possible) ,by a veteran  in remembrance of an army campain.

The fence could be an evocation of Maginot line or an other line of defense.

If a regular  soldier , even from colonial troops have done that, he had been immediatly punished for deterioration of army material.

Gabelou

 

[Gabelou]

Some added info.

Your gun is the artillery  (and transport unit) model, according to strap fixations.

The date of transformation is mentionned on the barrel, at the opposite of 44519 number. Picture 4.

At the bottom of the barrel, picture 5,the system ( rail) for fixing the lebel bayonnet is missing.

Picture 6  the mark must be "1886 R 35"  ; there are several variations 1886 /1893 R 1935. 

[AndyBsk]

Yes as mentioned by Gabelou  and You is a Racoursi M35. Possible use in Africa region, when looking to engraving.same opinion there is no fixing for a bayonet on end of barell.

Edited 2 February , 2021 by AndyBsk

[Hickman]

It is marked R35. Serial number on barrel matches the ones on the stock and receiver. Stacking lug was ground off and metal smoothed over. In the area where a bayonet would fit, an 1878 Mexican silver coin has been shaped to fit. 
Thanks for your feedback and opinions. 

[Gabelou]

Production about 25 000 items. 4000 with new barrel.

Someting with letters and date on the opposite side of 44519? Why do you mention specialy 1938 ? The transformation took place  from 1935 to 1939.

This model was largely spred in French Africa .

G

[Hickman]

It is marked, MAC 1938, on the right side of the new barrel. It is also marked “N” for the Balle N ammo.
 

[Gabelou]

Mac means Manufacture d'armes de Chatellerau 1938 the transformation date.

[Gabelou]

Sorry , the exact orthograph is Chatellerault , a  city and famous arms Manufacture  in Center  West of France. The "Manu" was created in 1819 and closed in 1968. One of it famous production, for the men who does military service between 1950 and 1980 is the post war PA MAC 50 (9 mm).