I was wondering if anyone had any info on these if they were used by the french, either active or reserve, during 1940 when the Germans invaded. I was thinking of getting one for a match that involves military rifles, as long as they were used by someone in any of the fighting, no matter how small, in WWII.

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Vaya con Dios

The French were infamous for never throwing anything out.
The "last" Lebel was the Model 1886/M93/R35 issued in 1935. I don't remember what the "M93" mod consisted of, but the R35 had its barrel shortened to 17.7" and the mag only held 3 rounds. They were used through WW2. There are even examples known with Nazi markings

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Lebels were still in use with French reserve troops and colonial troops in Africa, Indochina, and Madagascar at the outbreak of WW2. They also saw later use with the French Resistance and Vichy French troops. As Dean said, while these were primarily the M93 rifles (which had a slightly different bolt) and the modified M93R35 carbines, it's plausible that some of the original model ones were still around. Though if I had to guess, I'd say that the 1886 Lebel that you found is already the M93 version, which was the most common.

Lebels that fell into German hands after the fall of France also made some appearances in the hands of last-ditch Volkssturm units in late 1944 and 1945.


However, unless you're dead-set on a French rifle, I think you'd be better suited by going with a more common rifle, like a M1903a3 Springfield, K98 Mauser, or Mosin-Nagant (especially one of the more accurate Finnish M39s), as ammo would be significantly easier and cheaper to find.

If you already have a Lebel or a Berthier, don't shoot it with any of that French surplus stuff that comes on feed strips for the Hotchkiss MG, unless your rifle is marked 'N' on the receiver. The Balle N was used from the 30's on, and has the bore diameter portion of the bullet placed differently than on older ammo. The throat of rifles has to be reamed out a little to accomodate the Balle N.

All of that French military ammo is corrosive, and much of it has dud promers by now I once fired 15 rounds of Balle N out of a Berthier. One round went off as expected, one was a complete dud, the other 13 were hangfires. At least that lot was uniform.

Prvi makes the ammo again, whether your rifle is 8mm or one of those converted to fire 7.5mm.

There are numerous photos of WW2 French troops on the Maginot line and what not (Fortress troops apparently didn't get the latest gear) using various Lebel rifles. The troops guarding the border with Italy on the fortifications there likely had the same.

I believe that some of the French troops sent to Norway also had Lebels based on photos, but that is going from memory.