Quote Originally Posted by Eaglelord17 View Post
Its not the upgrades were in progress before the 'M16icon' designation, it is that they upgraded rifles post-war to the M16 configuration (in fact they made quite a few 'M16' without the 'M16' features as it was easy to change the receiver markings, harder to actually get the proper parts).

The M16 wasn't used that much in WWI as the M16 pattern was only standardized in 1916, and it took a bit to get them fully manufactured. Plus they didn't issue the M16 out piecemeal as it would be dumb to issue the 5rd rifles mixed in with the 3rd rifles or even Lebels, as it would have created ammo logistical issues. By the end of WWI they were issuing 8mm Lebel in 4 different forms just for small arms (not including MGs) depending on what you were issued. Packets of loose rounds for the Lebel, 3rd loaded clips for the Berthiers, 5rd clips for the RSC 1917, and 5rd clips for the M16 Berthiers. Must have made there poor logistics department head spin.
That's pretty much the answer I was looking for. I just found a photo of a 1907/15 sans upper hand guard..that's how I'm going to approach this one.