Modele 1892 revolver

Modèle 1892 revolver
Type	Service revolver
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1892–1960s
Used by	See Users
Wars	French colonial expeditions, World War I, Rif War, World War II, First Indochina War
Production history
Designer	Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne
Manufacturer	Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne
Produced	1892–1924
No. built	c. 350,000
Specifications
Weight	1.88 pounds (0.85 kg) unloaded
Length	9.3 inches (24 cm)
Cartridge	8mm French Ordnance
Action	Double-action/single-action revolver
Muzzle velocity	730 ft/s (225 m/s)
Feed system	6-round cylinder

The Model 1892 revolver (also known as the "Lebel revolver" and the "St. Etienne 8mm") is a French service revolver produced by Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne as a replacement for the MAS 1873 revolver. It was the standard issue sidearm for officers in the French military during the First World War.

The Modèle 1892 revolver is a solid frame revolver with the cylinder on a separate frame swinging right for manual reloading. The Modèle 1892 was first fielded in 1893 and was prominent among French military officers during First World War, and later the French police until the mid-1960s.

A mechanically tight and very well finished handgun, the Modèle 1892 fires 8mm rounds with a striking power equivalent to that of a .32 ACP round. It also features a smaller calibre than many other military revolvers of that time period, including the Webley revolver and its predecessor the MAS 1873 revolver.

Though it was originally designed to serve as a commissioned officer's personal sidearm, over 350,000 Modèle 1892 revolvers had been manufactured between 1892 and 1924 . It was issued in the French Army, navy, and National Gendarmerie, amongst others. It is commonly, but mistakenly, called a "Lebel revolver" after the name of Colonel Nicolas Lebel, although there is no evidence whatsoever that Lebel had any involvement in the creation of the gun or its ammunition.Non-commissioned officers continued to carry the older Mle 1873 service revolver, but were also frequently issued .32 ACP automatic pistols (the Ruby pistol) during World War I. The Mle 1892 was later officially replaced by semi-automatic pistols in 1935 but many saw service during World War II and were brought to the United States as souvenirs.

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