Please Help - Finding WWI French Rifles

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Kwantung Armyman

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Hello fellows, I'm hoping for those who know can tell me from whom or where can I find WWI French Rifles? I'm looking for the two in particular:

Berthier Model 1916 Infantry Rifle
Lebel Model 1886 Rifle

Thank you so much, an hints will be really appreciated !! :) I don't mind the price just as long as they are in good condition, thanks !
 
Goto Pullens Gunsmithing in the Highlands of Victoria...I saw that he has some in the racks a few weeks back, not sure which ones.
 
Most still have the French army issued white underwear attacted to the muzzle : end :D relax all just couldn,t let that go ;)
 
In January 1914 the French Army had 47 divisions (777,000 French and 46,000 colonial troops) in 21 regional corps, with attached cavalry and field-artillery units. Most these troops were deployed inside France with the bulk along the eastern frontier as part of Plan 17.

With the fear of war with Germany a further 2.9 million men were mobilized during the summer of 1914. Heavy losses on the Western Front during the first months of the war forced the French government to conscript men up to the age of 45.

The structure and balance of the French Army changed during the war. By 1918 about 40% of all French troops on the Western Front were artillerymen. Increasing use of machine-guns, armoured cars and tanks also reduced the numbers in the infantry. The growing importance of the French Army Air Service also had an impact and whereas there were 1,5 million in the French infantry in June 1915, this dropped to 850,000 in 1918.

By the end of the First World War, a total of 8,317,000 men, including 475,000 colonial troops, had been called up to fight in the French Army. France suffered 4.2 million casualties, including 1.3 million dead.
 
Claven2 said:
Umm... your guys' history sucks. The French WW1 army was FAR from an army of surrender. You're thinking of WW2 ;)
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No, just one of desertion. :D

I'm sure he could find plenty around Verdun... might not be in the best shape though. :p
 
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A few cheap US comedian make some lousy jokes and the memory of millions of brave men get tarnished forever.
 
MD said:
In January 1914 the French Army had 47 divisions (777,000 French and 46,000 colonial troops) in 21 regional corps, with attached cavalry and field-artillery units. Most these troops were deployed inside France with the bulk along the eastern frontier as part of Plan 17.

With the fear of war with Germany a further 2.9 million men were mobilized during the summer of 1914. Heavy losses on the Western Front during the first months of the war forced the French government to conscript men up to the age of 45.

The structure and balance of the French Army changed during the war. By 1918 about 40% of all French troops on the Western Front were artillerymen. Increasing use of machine-guns, armoured cars and tanks also reduced the numbers in the infantry. The growing importance of the French Army Air Service also had an impact and whereas there were 1,5 million in the French infantry in June 1915, this dropped to 850,000 in 1918.

By the end of the First World War, a total of 8,317,000 men, including 475,000 colonial troops, had been called up to fight in the French Army. France suffered 4.2 million casualties, including 1.3 million dead.
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If France suffered that many casualties in WWI then we shouldn't be joking about them I guess...although after that comment today about Quebec I'm not feeling very favourable towards them...
 
Tyler said:
No, just one of desertion. :D

I'm sure he could find plenty around Verdun... might not be in the best shape though. :p
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In 1917 there was various degrees of munity in the army, involving about 54 divisions. 3,472 soldiers were convicted of offenses in the munity with 554 sentenced to death. However, only about 60 were executed. Amazingly, although the muties started on April 16th. The british were not informed until one of Petains staff was sent to advise Haig. The Germans never learnt about the mutinies in any detail.
 
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