French RSC MLE1917 - Single Shot Conversion?

[cipherk98]

FRENCH MLE 1917 SEMI AUTO RIFLE 8MM LEBEL : Curios Relics at GunBroker.com

I'm curious as to what people make of this gun. I did hear the French converted some 1917s to straight pull bolt actions after the war by mucking with the gas screw for training and garrison use but nothing about single shot use or chopped like this. Is it possible someone did this after the fact to an aforementioned converted gun to save weight on a hunting rifle?

Just guessing but probably not restorable either? I wouldn't know where to find a magazine or gas system parts, nor know what was done to the feeding system. Wonder if you could at least still put a Lebel stock on to hide the missing gas parts? A real shame either way, I'm fascinated by these guns and it's tough to see one neutered like this, I'd almost rather a completely deactivated, but intact example.

Edit: I'm now aware this gun has been relisted quite a few times... the most bidding reached was $750, no sale. Still curious about it's back ground.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Attachment 74339

Good luck restoring it. They must have worked OK to have been changed into a hunting rifle... I'd like to shoot one though and see.

[RCS]

About impossible to restore to its original configuration and really not worth a lot - but the parts could be used for replacement on other rifles.

Information on the French website does not indicate these were converted to straight pull rifles but rather had their gas system parts salvaged for other rifles

photo of unique clip required for the Mle 1917Attachment 74346

[browningautorifle]

I have one of those five shot clips too...as opposed to the old threes. This would be the new "Hi capacity assault rifle"...

[RCS]

Jim, The RSC Mle 1918 will used the standard French five round Berthier 1916 clip - but the RSC Mle 1917 used the special clip a shown in my photo.

Reproduction RSC Mle 1917 clips use to sell for $100 US and who knows what original clips would sell for now

[cipherk98]

I wonder, if the magazine was removed once it entered the civilian market, maybe it was because someone could not find the clips. I would think this would be hard on the extractor though, as unless you have some way to feed it as it was designed, you'd be forcing the extractor over the rim on every shot if you just dropped a round into the chamber. It's the kind of gun that if it was at a local sale and I could examine it, I'd consider spending a couple hundred on, but considering it seems the seller seems to want more than $750 I can't see anyone ever purchasing it.

[RCS]

I believe the only value is in the parts such as the barrel and internal parts as replacements, the extractor is the same as the one used in the CSRG light machinegun Mle 1915

[browningautorifle]

RSC Mle 1917 used the special clip

Typical of my stuff, I don't have what I thought...so here's what I have. I was also given a round that dates back a ways...as illustrated. An 8mm Lebel... The others have very little headstamp and the soft point are common, but old.

[RCS]

Jim, I have a small collection of 8mm Lebel cartridges but never seen a headstamp as early as your cartridge

[browningautorifle]

It came out of a shoe box of stuff that contained only about 50-60 cartridges, this being the prize. Nothing else was of much consequence. And, they were not for sale, they were free. So finally one came to me. I too have the few that are in the clips and nothing is that old...

That's almost as good as the shoe box that had a #36 grenade, complete but empty in it. All marks were present and perfect.