| Modèle 1892 Revolver | |
|---|---|
| Type | Service Revolver |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1882–1960s |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | French colonial expeditions World War I, World War II, First Indochina War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne |
| Produced | 1892–1924 |
| Number built | approx 350,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1.88lb (.8 kg) unloaded |
| Length | 9.3 in. (286 mm) |
|
|
|
| Cartridge | 8mm French Ordnance |
| Action | Double Action/Single Action Revolver |
| Muzzle velocity | 720ft/sec (219 m/sec) |
| Feed system | 6 round cylinder |
The Model 1892 Revolver (also known as the Lebel Revolver or St. Etienne 8mm) was a French service revolver produced by Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne as a replacement for the MAS 1873 revolver. It was the standard issue sidearm in the French military during World War I.
The Modèle 1892 Revolver is a solid frame revolver with the cylinder on a separate frame swinging right for manual reloading. The Modèle 1892 was first fielded in 1893 and was prominent among French Military Officers during World War I and later French Police until the mid 1960s
Firing an 8mm round, the Modèle 1892 fires a smaller round than many other revolvers of the time period including the Webley Revolver or its predecessor the MAS 1873 revolver.
Contents |
Originally designed to serve as a commissioned officer's personal sidearm, over 350,000 Mle 1892 revolvers were manufactured between 1892 and 1924 and issued to officers in the French Army, Navy, and National Gendarmerie amongst others. It is commonly called the Lebel Revolver after the gun designer Colonel Nicolas Lebel despite the fact that there is no evidence that Colonel Lebel had any involvement in the creation of the gun or ammunition.[1] Non-commissioned officers continued to carry the older Mle 1873 service revolver, but were also frequently issued .32 ACP automatic pistols (the Ruby pistol) during World War I. The Mle 1892 was later officially replaced by semi-automatic pistols in 1935 but many saw service during World War II and brought to the United States as souvenirs.[2]
Originally chambered for an 8mm black powder cartridge closely resembling the .32-20 WCF round, later models issued during World War I and thereafter fired the same 8mm cartridge loaded with smokeless powder. The Mle 1892 revolver was a double-action solid-frame design, with chambers being accessed by swinging out the cylinder to the right. The fired cases could then be pushed out of the cylinder at the same time. After reloading, the cylinder was swung back into the frame and locked into place with the case-hardened loading gate located on the right side of the frame.[3] In addition, the left sideplate of the frame could be swung back on a hinge to give access to the gun's internal parts for oiling or cleaning. These parts were individually numbered to indicate the order in which they can be disassembled. The year of manufacture of each revolver was engraved on the right side of the barrel, for instance " S 1895 ". The inscription " Mle 1892 " is hand engraved on top of the barrel. It was carried in a large closed leather holster, which held an additional 12 rounds of ammunition hidden below the flap.
The Mle 1892 was a mechanically tight, accurate and very well finished revolver. It was fired single action by cocking the hammer first or else double action by a full trigger pull. Its downside was the relative weakness, for a military handgun, of its 8x27mm ammunition .[4] In terms of striking power, it just barely reached the level of the .32 ACP.