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Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917

Elements of the French army were extremely forward thinking where small arms were concerned, even before the outbreak of the First World War. As early as 1900 they had been considering the replacement of their bolt action infantry rifles with a semi-automatic rifle. French experimentation with self loading rifles began in the 1890s with rifles including the Meunier rifle, which used a long recoil system and was favourably tested. However, budget constraints and conservative thinking meant that the French army entered the First World War armed with the Lebel.

As the war continued the French began to re-examine earlier experiments with self-loading rifles. In 1917 three designers, Paul Ribeyrolles, Charles Sutter, Louis Chauchat, at Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle developed the Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917, also known as the RSC M1917, after its designers. The Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917 was the first widely introduced semi-automatic service rifle in the world with some 85,000 being built and issued over two years. While other designs such as the Meunier A6 had been produced and trialed in limited numbers the RSC M1917 was the only rifle to use the standard French cartridge, 8mm Lebel.

The rifle relied on some existing parts from the Lebel rifle including the stocks. This gave the rifle more than a passing resemblance to its bolt-actioned cousin. The Lebel had been out of production for a number of years and Berthier barrels were used. The Lebel used a tube magazine running below the length of the barrel and in the Modèle 1917 this space was innovatively utilised by the new rifle’s gas system (see image 5). Instead of the Lebel’s tube magazine the Modèle 1917 used a 5 round stripper clip fed box magazine which protruded below the receiver.

Loading the RSC 1917 (source)

Loading from beneath the receiver with a proprietary en bloc clip which was loaded into the hinged magazine. Initially the rifle did not have an automatic bolt hold open, although the bolt could be locked back manually. A later modification saw the addition of an automatic hold open actuated by the magazine follower. The RSC 1917 used a long stroke gas piston with a rotating bolt. The gas was tapped at the front of the foreend and actuated an operating rod, not unlike the later M1 Garand which some have suggested the RSC 1917 influenced. The operating rod can be seen on the righthand side of the receiver in image #3. The RSC 1917 was adopted in May 1916 and delayed production began in April a year later they were finally deployed to the front in the summer of 1917 with 16 being issued per company when sufficient numbers were available.

At the front the rifle experience problems with dirt and mud entering the action through the opening which the bolt travelled. While the same length as the Lebel its gas system meant it was substantially heavier weighing 11.9lbs (5.25kg) unloaded. This was much heavier than a fully loaded Lebel, which weighed in at 9.7lbs (4.41kg). As a result work to lighten and improved the rifle quickly began and the Modele 1918 was introduced using standard Berthier clips instead of the proprietary one used by the RSC 1917 and a rotating dust cover to protect the action from mud. It was also 1lb lighter and 9 inches shorter. However the Modele 1918 did not enter service until after the war had ended with only 4,000 made at Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne in November.

RSC Modele 1918 Carbine (source)

A carbine version, seen above, was also developed however, the RSC 1918s saw little to no action. A major drawback of the RSC 1917 was its small gas port which was prone to fouling. The port had to be cleaned every ~100 rounds otherwise the weapon would cease to cycle properly. This defect was addressed in the RSC 1918.

With the war over the French army lacked the funding to pursue their intention of arming all troops with semi-automatic rifles. Many of the existing RSC 1917s and RSC 1918s were used in France’s interwar colonial campaigns including the Rif War, remaining in frontline service until the late 1920s. Evidence suggests that in 1935, a substantial number of rifles had their gas ports plugged, essentially converting them into manually-operated straight pull rifles. These were then issued to colonial and reserve troops, the conversion was probably carried out to minimize parts wear and prolong service life. A limited number were still in service in 1940 during the German invasion of France. Captured examples were placed in storage and designated as Selbstlade-Gewehr 310(f), near the end of the war the small number of captured RSC rifles were put into service, along with other captured foreign weapons, to arm the Volkssturm. The French army was ahead of its time in adopting the RSC rifles however, with budget constraints preventing development and rearmament the French would not have a new self-loading rifle until 1949.

Sources:

Images 1-4 source

Image Five Source

French RSC Modele 1917 self-loading rifle (source)

RSC Model 1917 and 1918 semi-automatic rifle (source)

The rifle semi-automatic 8mm model RSC 1917 (source)

Fusil Automatique Modele 1917 (source)

Military Small Arms, I. Hogg & J. Weeks, (1985)

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