French handgun

sdphillips2

December 27, 2003 09:38

My husband was given a French handgun that is inscribed "M re d'Armes
Lt Etienne" on the frame above the grip.

Also, below the cylinder it is inscribed with "F80281".

The barrel is inscribed with "Mle 1892" (this is in script) and under that inscription is "S1895".

.32 ammo is too small, .38 ammo is too large.

We're assuming it's some kind of service weapon. Can you offer any insight?

Thank you.

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  rufe-snow

  December 27, 2003 12:05

  Your revolver is the "Model 1892 French Ordnance" also sometimes known as the "lebel"
  
  It was used by the French military as late as W W II.
  
  It's chambered for a 8mm revolver cartridge that is very difficult and expensive to obtain in shooting quantites, as the cartridge was particular to the French military and only used by them.

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  Ross

  December 27, 2003 18:04

  Offer .32-20 WCF cases to it. My spanish revolver uses them. (Not the High Speed rifle stuff) The bullets are way too small, so reloads should have the bullets sized to the throats of the cylinder. You get a more pronounced shoulder in the fireformed case, but there is no conspicuous swelling at the base. The .32-20 case is .255" longer than the Lebel case, but you can trim after firing the .32-20 with its .311" bullets. Use .325" bullets to reload. The short cased Nagant ammo from Sweden or Fiocchi may give you some shooting.
  Cheers from Darkest California,
  Ross

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