Its a Lemauserfield!

Heres one you dont see everyday..picked this up at the gunshow today. Its an 1886 St Etienne Lebel that was brought back from Afghanistan. The soldier I bought it from said it was found under a mattress during a raid. It appears to have a Czech Mauser barrel, and a modified Ishapore Lee Enfield mag. Bolt matches the receiver! I have never seen one like it, reminds me of the 'Enfausers' that were converted after Gallipoli. Enjoy the pics!


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Wow, what a weird combo! I wonder if this was a one-off or if a larger qty were converted?

No idea! It's definitely one of the most unusual pieces I've ever seen. Actually, nothing surprises me that comes out of that region.

I vote this "Mixmaster of the Year" for 2012 !
A real eye-catcher if you take that to the range!

They even threw in a Persian front sight for style.

A little update..took it completely apart this morning to really look it over. The barrel is, in fact, the original Lebel barrel. Cut down, and indeed set up with a Persian type front sight.
The work done to this rifle appears to be higher quality than what you normally see in these cases. Everything is tight, not 'shoddy' looking, etc. Again, it amazes me what some of those guys can do over there with what they have.

Another update on this rifle...removing some dirt from the bolt head, I discovered what appears to be a Broad Arrow marking on the extractor. The extractor does appear to be handmade and fashioned to fit the Lebel bolthead. A .303 round fits perfectly into the bolthead as well. Would it be possible to convert a weapon originally in 8mm Lebel to .303?
Absolutely the damndest thing I've seen in awhile. I'll have a pic of the extractor up tomorrow if I can.

I think I have really, really, really, Really, REALLY seen 'em all now!

Come to think of it, the French should have done this to all of them.

Might have had a few hundred thousand less heroes and a few hundred thousand more husbands going home.
.

The French did start to convert some M1886/93 Lebel rifles to 7,5mm with a box magazine, they are quite rare but still around if you want to pay the price. The cost of converting the Lebel to use a box magazine and new barrel and bolt head was very expensive even back in the 1930's !

Have you or are you going to attempt to shoot it? I would have though that I was the only one dumb enough to attempt it. lol I don't beleive in wall hangers. But I would only IF I could be certain what it shot. Wouldn't about any rimmed round fit in the extractor? IE 7.62X54R. The supply for that round over there would be more plentyful. It's a very interesting rifle for sure. I have never seen anything like it.

Well guys, I ran into someone at the gun show who just about was going to run me crazy if I didn't sell it to him. And I DID. And I regret the hell out of it now! Jerry, I never tried to fire it. I wasn't so much worried about it blowing up, as much as maybe something getting damaged.
I usually don't regret selling firearms, but this one I do. Dang!

Dang, and not even to a fellow forum-er. Would have made an interesting photo thread. (Which may soon happen to another oddity recently featured on this site.)