Lebel "N" Markings

[Aragorn243]

I understand the "N" is supposed to be on the top of the receiver. Did they ever stamp them after the Date?

Looks like:

MA T1888 N

The "N" is a smaller font and crooked.

Information

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[Anzac15]

It's always on top receiver. Mine is marked MAT 1916N...don't know what the 'N' signifies in this case.

[Aragorn243]

Is yours also stamped on top of the receiver/barrel?

My Berthier is stamped on top of the receiver. My Lebel carbine is stamped on top of the barrel with no "N" after the date which is MA 1935.

The rifle in question is not in my possession so I'm just going off photos that don't show everything.

[Anzac15]

Neither my Berthier M16 or my Lebel are 'N' marked. Gotta find some Privi!

[UNPROFOR1994]

I understand the "N" is supposed to be on the top of the receiver. Did they ever stamp them after the Date?

Looks like:

MA T1888 N

The "N" is a smaller font and crooked.

I have a Modèle 1907-15 1st type made by Châtellerault in my collection. The M1907-15 has the N on top of the barrel close to the receiver and once more on top of the receiver.

I know that the 2 letters N on the 1907-15 means that the rifle is changed to shoot the Modèle 1932 N round. Before 1932 they used the Modèle 1886 D round.

They adopted M1932 N round as an intermediate solution untill they could replace all the old stock by new M1936 rifles. They even developed the Modèle 1907-15 M34 that shot the same 7,5x54 Modèle 1929 C round as the M1936 rifle.

[samnev]

IIRC the French rifles with the N marked receiver were modified to fire the N ball as stated above which had a .329 diameter projos compared to the non N marked rifles/carbines which fired .323 diameter projos. The last available 8mm Lebel Ammo was N ball. Usually dated 1948. The ammo with red sealer around the primers was usually DOA. The ammo with black sealer was usable. I have a 1914 Hotchkiss HMG that is not N marked. I have 3000 8mm Lebel with the red primer sealer which was DOA. I pulled all the projos and powder and reduced the charge buy 20% and had no problems with over pressured in the HMG. However I wouldn't recommend that in a rifle or carbine.

[RCS]

I have that owns a RSC Model 1917 semi auto rifle (the one that uses the special clip) and his rifle also has the large N stamp.

[Madmatt]

I don't typically resurrect such old threads but I have recently stumbled upon a similarly marked Level M93 and after some research I did determine that a N or T marking after the date on the right side of the barrel indicates that the barrel was rebored instead of being replaced at some point in its life, typically during a weapon rebuild after 1930.

The N stands for (Nouveau) and the T (Transform).



Here it is on a Tulle 1918 M93's barrel. Everyone above in this thread was talking about the dual N markings on the receiver and barrel to indicate the fact that the barrel neck was increased to handle loading of the MG Balle N ammo. This other N (or T) marking is different and placed after the barrel date.

[Aragorn243]

What is the source for your information: