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FRANCE

French Military Conflicts, 1870-Present

With the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871, Napoleon III was ousted and the Third Republic established. France was involved in overseas colonial expansion in North Africa and Indochina. The French army bore the brunt of heavy fighting during World War I. During the war, France had 8,600,000 men under arms, of which 5,714,000 were killed or wounded, a casualty rate of 66 percent. France surrendered to Germany in 1940 and was occupied by German troops. In unoccupied France the Vichy government was headed by Marshall Petain. General Charles de Gaulle led the Free French government in exile. In the summer of 1944 the allied armies drove the German troops out of France, and when the end of the war came in 1945 a Fourth Republic was formed in 1946. The French Army received a stunning defeat in Indochina at Dien Bien Phu (1954) and other elements of the French military were busy in Algeria in that country’s war for independence against France. In 1958 Charles de Gaulle returned to power to lead the Fifth Republic and attempted to restore French world prestige. France was involved with the U.S. in Desert Storm in Kuwait as well as a NATO member in various “peacekeeping” ventures.

HANDGUNS

NOTE: At the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War the French military purchased a large number of revolvers from Colt, Remington, and Starr. These revolvers were percussion arms.

Bibliographical Note: For additional historical information, technical data, and photos, see Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon, Military Handguns of France, 1858-1958, Excalibur Publications, 1993.

Model 1870 Navy (Navy Contract)

This 6-shot solid-frame fixed-cylinder revolver uses a mechanical ejection system. Chambered for the 11mm cartridge and fitted with a 4.7" round barrel. Smooth wooden grips with lanyard loop. Adopted by the French navy in 1870 and remained in service until 1900. Built by the French firm “LEFAUCHEUX” in Paris. Marked “E LEFAUCHEUX” on the top of the frame, and on the right side “BVT. S.G.D.G. PARIS” with a naval anchor on the butt cap of the grip. This revolver was the first centerfire handgun to be adopted by any nation’s military. About 6,000 revolvers were built under contract.

A modified version of this pistol was built by the French arsenal at St. Etienne (MAS) designated the Model 1870N. About 4,000 of these revolvers were produced and are marked, “MODEL 1870” on the top strap and “MODIFIE N” on the right side of the sighting groove. The military arsenal proof of MAS is on the cylinder and the underside of the barrel.

Revolvers fitted with military extractors have the extractor located along the barrel while civilian revolvers have the extractor located offset from the barrel.

Military Extractor

Courtesy Geschichte und Technik der europaischen Militarrevolver,

Journal-Verlag Schwend GmbH with permission

Model 1873 with barrel and frame markings • Paul Goodwin photo

Civilian Extractor

Model 1873 Navy

Built on a Chamelot-Delvigne type locking system with a solid frame, fixed cylinder, and mechanical rod ejection. Chambered for the 11mm cartridge and fitted with a 4.7" half-round half-octagon barrel. Non-fluted cylinder. It is both a single- and double-action revolver. Finish was left in the white. Marked “MRE D’ARMES ST. ETIENNE” on the right side of the frame. On top of the barrel marked “MLE 1873 M” or “NAVY.” There are many other small markings on the revolver as well. Weight is approximately 36 oz. Used by the French navy for its NCOs from 1874 to 1945. Built by French military armory at St. Etienne. Between 1873 and 1886 approximately 350,000 of these revolvers were produced.

Navy

A Model 1874 Army revolver sold at auction for $805. Condition is 90 percent original blue.

Amoskeag Auction Company, Sept. 2003

Model 1874

The Model 1874 was essentially the same as the Model 1873 but with a fluted cylinder. Used by French naval officers from 1878 to 1945. Between 1874 and 1886 approximately 36,000 of these revolvers were produced.

Model 1892

Chambered for an 8mm centerfire cartridge and has a 4.6" barrel with a 6-shot cylinder. Weight is about 30 oz. It is erroneously referred to as a “Lebel,” but there is no certainty that Nicolas Lebel had anything to do with its design or production, but was the chairman of the selection board that chose the design. This revolver is a simple double action, with a swing-out cylinder that swings to the right side for loading. The design of this weapon is similar to the Italian Model 1889. There is one redeeming feature on this revolver, and that is a hinged side plate on the left side of the frame that could be swung away after unlocking so that repairs or cleaning of the lockwork could be performed with relative simplicity. The cartridge for which this weapon was chambered was woefully inadequate. This revolver remained in use from its introduction in 1893 until the end of WWII in 1945, mainly because the French never got around to designing a replacement.

Model 1892 with frame markings • Paul Goodwin photo

NOTE: There are a number of commercial variations of this revolver, some of which are Spanish-made copies and others are St. Etienne commercial examples.

Close-up of the barrel marking indicating year of manufacture on Model 1892 • Courtesy Stoddard Martial collection, Paul Goodwin photo

Model 1892 “A Pompe”

As above, except that the cylinder latch is a sleeve around the ejector rod that can be moved forward to release the cylinder.

Le Francais Model 28 Type Armee