French 1892 Revolver Serial Numbers

[sail32]

MAS Official 1892 Production;

Serial Numbers at the Beginning and the End of the Year


1892 F1000 F5000
1893 F5001 F30000
1894 F30001 F60534
1895 F60535 F81734
1896 F81735 F98823
1897 F98824 G28937
1898 G28938 G43043
1899 G43044 G56865
1900 G56866 G76303


French officers in charge of supervision, for the period of the 1892 revolver.

1891 to 1894 Col. Percin
1894 to 1897 Lt. Col. Mourret
1897 to 1900 Lt. Col. Souffray
1900 to 1907 Lt. Col. Lefebvre
1907 to 1912 Col. Verneuil
1912 to 1915 Col. Chatain
1915 Col. Anus
1915 to 1918 Lt Col. Charpy
1918 to 1924 Col. Stegens
1924 to 1926 Lt. Col. Berne
1926 to 1934 Gen Gressier

From page 52 of “ Military Handguns of France “;
by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon

Note; Barrel dates may not match serial number dates because of rebarreling at a later date.


Also Production of the 1892 ( In French )

http://www.le1892.fr/les-n-de-serie-p165428.html

http://armesfrancaises.free.fr/revolver Mle 1892.html

Lebel Sniper Rifle

http://armesfrancaises.free.fr/FR Mle 1886 M93 sniper.html

 

[pcvando]

Don't we all love French guns. Good quick reference list, it should help some people on this forum.

As for the 1886 M93 sniper, It's "Lebel" not "Label."

Im happy you didn't call the Mle 1892 a Lebel revolver.

I should note there are more pistols made than pictures in the range you provided, such as pre production and the French made replacement frames during ww1 and receivers which can sometimes have a pre war barrel installed. Lots of fun stuff like that, and a few contracts.

Those sources you provided are excellent works and anyone with any interest should consider picking up a copy. Anything by Huon.

Cheers,
Pcvando

 

[Tyockell18]

Don't we all love French guns. Good quick reference list, it should help some people on this forum.

As for the 1886 M93 sniper, It's "Lebel" not "Label."

Im happy you didn't call the Mle 1892 a Lebel revolver.

I should note there are more pistols made than pictures in the range you provided, such as pre production and the French made replacement frames during ww1 and receivers which can sometimes have a pre war barrel installed. Lots of fun stuff like that, and a few contracts.

Those sources you provided are excellent works and anyone with any interest should consider picking up a copy.

Cheers,
Pcvando

The French definitely make good quality arms. The steel on these old revolvers from that era are second to none. You just can't go wrong with a good Model 1892, it will last forever.

 

[sail32]

Corrected.

The new Fusil Mle 1886 was soon and informally designated as Fusil Lebel (Lebel rifle) "against the protestations of the Commission, including colonel Lebel himself" as quoted verbatim from Challeat's classic Histoire Technique de l'Artillerie de Terre en France pendant un siècle, published in 1935. The historical record shows that the Lebel rifle was the result of teamwork carried out against time and under great pressure exerted from above by War Minister general Boulanger. The original bullet or "Balle M" designed under colonel Lebel's direction was flat nosed in order to pose no risk of accidental ignition in the Lebel's tube magazine. The "Balle M" bullet has a full metal jacket made of cupro-nickel and a lead core. Its weight is 232 grains (15.0#g). Its muzzle velocity is 2,000#ft/s (600#m/s). Its maximum range is 3,500 yards (3,200#m). It was propelled by 46 grains (3.0#g) of the new smokeless "poudre B". Its ballistic properties were superior to anything else in existence at the time (1887).
Lebel was promoted to the rank of full colonel in 1887 but, because of cardiac problems, he took early retirement in 1890 and died on May 6, 1891 at the age of 53.
He was decorated with the rank of Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Lebel
http://dkleinwca.tripod.com/mle92-27/mle92-27round.html