Fusil Automatique Modele 1917
Encyclopedia
The Fusil Automatique Modele 1917 (also called the RSC M1917) was a semi-automatic, gas-operated, infantry rifle that was placed in service in the French Army
during the latter part (1918) of World War I
. It was chambered in the then-standard 8mm Lebel rimmed cartridge used in other French Army infantry weapons of the time. Altogether, eighty six thousand RSC M1917 rifles had been manufactured by MAT (Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle), when their production run ended in late November 1918. However very few have survived and those are actively sought after by collectors .
with a more advanced semiautomatic design in the years before the outbreak of the First World War. In 1913, a semi-automatic rifle was selected to be adopted as a replacement for the Lebels and Berthiers
in the army's inventory. It was the semi-automatic long recoil operated Meunier rifle
which was tentatively adopted in 1910 as a replacement for the Lebel rifle. Considerable delays were experienced in the final choice for the ammunition which ended up being a powerful rimless 7x57mm round. Only 1013 Meunier rifles had been manufactured by 1916 and about 300 were sent for field trials in the trenches. They were well received but the special ammunition problem was a major handicap.
The Mle. 1917 RSC ( for: Ribeyrolles, Sutter and Chauchat) was formally adopted in May 1916 and a fairly large number (86,000) had been manufactured by November 1918. It was less expensive to manufacture than the Meunier rifle since it used standard Lebel rifle components, notably: the barrel, stock, handguard, barrel bands and trigger guard. Above all else, it was chambered for the standard 8mm Lebel ammunition, which was loaded on special five round clips. The Mle 1917 RSC was gas operated with a rotating bolt, the gas port being located underneath the barrel and near the muzzle as in the much later to appear Garand rifle. The Mle 1917 was widely distributed among French infantry during 1918 but it was not well received by the troops, being found too heavy, too long and too difficult to service and maintain in the trenches. The weak point of this rifle was the very small inside diameter of the gas port located below the front end of the barrel. Because of its diminutive size the gas port fouled easily thus creating weaker and weaker bolt returns. As a result the gas port had to be frequently cleaned out (every 100 rounds or so) after removing the large brass screw located underneath the front end of the barrel. Furthermore, the special clip for the Mle 1917 was not particularly strong.
Following as a substantial improvement, the Mle 1918 RSC was adopted in 1918 as a rifle planned to replace all other rifles in 1919. It had a shorter barrel than the RSC 1917, all the Mle 1917 RSC drawbacks had been corrected and it used the standard and better 5-round Berthier clip instead of the proprietary clip of the RSC 1917. Its manufacture did not begin until November 1918. Only 4,000 were built and many were successfully tested in combat during the Rif War
of 1921-1926 in Morocco.
, Les Invalides, Paris, France, as a part of the permanent WW-1 (1914–1918) arms, uniforms and equipments exhibits. Within the US, excellent specimens of the Mle 1917 RSC are displayed in the collections of the public museum at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and also at the US Military Academy museum at West Point.
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
during the latter part (1918) of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It was chambered in the then-standard 8mm Lebel rimmed cartridge used in other French Army infantry weapons of the time. Altogether, eighty six thousand RSC M1917 rifles had been manufactured by MAT (Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle), when their production run ended in late November 1918. However very few have survived and those are actively sought after by collectors .
Development
The adoption of the Modele 1917 can be traced to early attempts by the French Army to replace its Lebel riflesLebel Model 1886 rifle
The Lebel Model 1886 rifle is also known as the "Fusil Mle 1886 M93", after a bolt modification was added in 1893. It is an 8mm bolt action infantry rifle which entered service in the French Army in April 1887...
with a more advanced semiautomatic design in the years before the outbreak of the First World War. In 1913, a semi-automatic rifle was selected to be adopted as a replacement for the Lebels and Berthiers
Berthier carbine
The Berthier carbine was a French service rifle adopted in 1892, which was widely used during the First and Second World War....
in the army's inventory. It was the semi-automatic long recoil operated Meunier rifle
Meunier rifle
The Meunier rifle evolved as a part of the program initiated in 1890 by the French military to develop a semi-automatic infantry rifle that would eventually replace the Mle 1886-93 Lebel rifle. Four government research establishments proposed over 20 prototypes...
which was tentatively adopted in 1910 as a replacement for the Lebel rifle. Considerable delays were experienced in the final choice for the ammunition which ended up being a powerful rimless 7x57mm round. Only 1013 Meunier rifles had been manufactured by 1916 and about 300 were sent for field trials in the trenches. They were well received but the special ammunition problem was a major handicap.
The Mle. 1917 RSC ( for: Ribeyrolles, Sutter and Chauchat) was formally adopted in May 1916 and a fairly large number (86,000) had been manufactured by November 1918. It was less expensive to manufacture than the Meunier rifle since it used standard Lebel rifle components, notably: the barrel, stock, handguard, barrel bands and trigger guard. Above all else, it was chambered for the standard 8mm Lebel ammunition, which was loaded on special five round clips. The Mle 1917 RSC was gas operated with a rotating bolt, the gas port being located underneath the barrel and near the muzzle as in the much later to appear Garand rifle. The Mle 1917 was widely distributed among French infantry during 1918 but it was not well received by the troops, being found too heavy, too long and too difficult to service and maintain in the trenches. The weak point of this rifle was the very small inside diameter of the gas port located below the front end of the barrel. Because of its diminutive size the gas port fouled easily thus creating weaker and weaker bolt returns. As a result the gas port had to be frequently cleaned out (every 100 rounds or so) after removing the large brass screw located underneath the front end of the barrel. Furthermore, the special clip for the Mle 1917 was not particularly strong.
Following as a substantial improvement, the Mle 1918 RSC was adopted in 1918 as a rifle planned to replace all other rifles in 1919. It had a shorter barrel than the RSC 1917, all the Mle 1917 RSC drawbacks had been corrected and it used the standard and better 5-round Berthier clip instead of the proprietary clip of the RSC 1917. Its manufacture did not begin until November 1918. Only 4,000 were built and many were successfully tested in combat during the Rif War
Rif War
The Rif War, also called the Second Moroccan War, was fought between Spain and the Moroccan Rif Berbers.-Rifian forces:...
of 1921-1926 in Morocco.
Museum displays
Both the Mle 1917 RSC and the Meunier rifle can be seen at the Musée de l'ArméeMusée de l'Armée
The Musée de l'Armée is a museum at Les Invalides in Paris, France. Originally built as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers by Louis XIV, it now houses the Tomb of Napoleon and the museum of the Army of France...
, Les Invalides, Paris, France, as a part of the permanent WW-1 (1914–1918) arms, uniforms and equipments exhibits. Within the US, excellent specimens of the Mle 1917 RSC are displayed in the collections of the public museum at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and also at the US Military Academy museum at West Point.
External links
See also
- Meunier rifleMeunier rifleThe Meunier rifle evolved as a part of the program initiated in 1890 by the French military to develop a semi-automatic infantry rifle that would eventually replace the Mle 1886-93 Lebel rifle. Four government research establishments proposed over 20 prototypes...
- Pre-World War I French semi-automatic rifle - 8mm Lebel - The chambering of the Mle. 1917
- MAS 49 - A later French semi-automatic rifle
- FA-MAS Type 62 - A later French battle rifle