The worst military rifle

[Adam Helmer]

Jack,

I gotta agree with you about the Lebel. I never understood the French Military thinking about NO safety on their issue rifles when every other nation incorporated a safety. I have asked before, hopefully from a French GI, to explain to me how they carried their rifles: Chamber empty or chamber loaded and muzzles up? If chamber empty, cranking the bolt would alert the invading Huns to draw down on the French soldier.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I have asked before, hopefully from a French GI, to explain to me how they carried their rifles: Chamber empty or chamber loaded and muzzles up? If chamber empty, cranking the bolt would alert the invading Huns to draw down on the French soldier.

I think that the correct answer is "none of the above"....from what I understand, they carried their rifles empty and then just dropped them on the ground and threw their hands in the air at the first sign of any oppositional forces.

Not really a 'rifle', but I've heard that the Chauchat was pretty wretched....exposed magazines and the gun itself looks like it was made out of refuse from a junkyard!

[dovehunter]

Why don't we just simplify things a bit and say all French military rifles up through WW2. Why do you think they were so good at surrendering and/or running away? We may want to add the Italian Carcano to the list too.