Fusil Automatique Modele 1917 (Model 1917 RSC)

History

The work started by French arms specialists in the early 1900s culminated in the production of the now largely forgotten "Fusil Automatique Modele 1917" - this was during the First World War (1914-1914-1918). This rifle is the product of a team called Ribeyrolle, Sutter and Chauchat, which alternates with the Modele 1917 under the name "RSC". The core of the rifle appears to be a typical standard long gun of the time, with wooden furniture and a one-piece magazine with a fixed stock.

It was used by French front-line troops from 1917 to 1926, and a group of people was forced into action during the German invasion of France at the beginning of World War II (1939-1945).

As World War I engulfed Europe and the French army was marginalized, all kinds of weapons came into play. While better service rifles were available, shortages saw the Modele 1917 be commissioned as a viable replacement - the main factor being its ability to hold and fire the once revolutionary 8x50mmR Lebel rifle cartridge, of which there was a significant portion. Cartridges originated in a bygone era of standardized warfare, dating back to 1886, and continued to be used surprisingly well into 1944. Therefore, the choice of Modele 1917 proved to be a logical proposition in terms of logistics and complemented the existing strength of the active French army.

The Modele 1917 was officially adopted in May 1916, but delays in the final design meant that serial production began in April 1917.

Overall, the layout of this rifle is popular - key parts of the case are the metal and wood furniture used above and below the barrel and on the stock. The slightly ergonomic shoulder rest forms the handle with a trigger underneath for easy operation.

The magazine - with 5 rounds - is included as part of the gun and is (integrally) held in place as a curved metal protrusion that hangs under the gun in front of the trigger. The magazine was loaded via a 5-round "clip", which made forced reloading difficult (and slow) and caused the magazine case to pivot open via a hinge to allow necessary access to the receiver.

Unlike other clip-on rifles that are loaded from the top down, the Modele 1917 is loaded from the bottom up. Also, the clip for this French rifle is unique and it doesn't work well with the standardization of modern armies that rely on 5-round Berthier clips.

Modele 1917 magazines are considered very fragile in combat conditions. The gun body consists of a two-piece lug - one part forms the front end and the other part forms the barrel. Aiming is carried out by means of typical iron fittings in the middle of the gun and at the muzzle. The rifle is operated by a gas system that manages the rotating bolt.

Usually, there is an ejection port above the magazine.

In practice, the Modele 1917 proved to be a long and bulky rifle that was not favored by its users. Its mechanical action also proved unreliable when pressed into battlefield environments full of debris, dirt, dust and mud. Nor was the build quality up to the demanding, experienced soldiers whose lives depended on the perfect weapon. Nonetheless, French factories produced some 86,000 of these guns, although a large number of them were never officially issued to the French army.

Those that really see the light of day are usually in the hands of the most reliable rifleman or commander in the group and are used as specialty rifles rather than general issues. The last guns rolled off the assembly line in November 1918.

Before the end of the war, work had begun on a shortened version of the Modele 1917, which became the Modele 1918. These are known for the extended barrel guard (which now meets the nose shroud), a manual "stop .-open", a dust cover near the pull handle, and support for standardized French rifle magazines - All changes were made to improve compactness and reliability on the battlefield.

However, these guns did not arrive until after the armistice in November 1918, leaving new variants to be determined. About 4,000 Modele 1918 by Manufacture d'Armes Manufactured by de Saint-Etienne (MAS). Early production of the Modele 1917 was by Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle (MAT).[/p ]

In 1935, the rifle was resolved by introducing a manual straight-pull bolt action, blocking its gas port, and eliminating the semi-automatic firing feature. In this form, these weapons were later used by French colonial forces overseas - mainly in Africa.

The revised Modele 1917 and Modele 1918 were recognized under the new names Modele 1917/35 and Modele 1918/35 respectively.

At the time of the German invasion of France ("Battle of France") in May 1940, the weapon was still in use - some had been converted back to its original semi-automatic form. Captured samples were reconstructed by the Germans and issued to the Volkssturm under the designation Selbstlade-Gewehr 310(f) - a small "f" for their French origin.

Volkssturm was the paramilitary "people's army" of the Third Reich.

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