The Lebel R35 was a development to produce a carbine-length gun to supply the French second line troops. It is a curious item as everything is reduced, yet other than the overall reduction in the length, it epitomised no real advancements. The R35 used standard 8mm Lebel Balle N ammunition, but was restricted to only three rounds in the tubular magazine located underneath the barrel. These were, however, not conversions of existing full length Lebels, but purposely produced as such. Our example was re-issued in the German Army (aftert the collapse of France) and had got as far the gates of Moscow before resurfacing on the collectors' market and being sold at an Antwerp militaria fair. Under Belgian law, there was no requirement for the gun to be deactivated; however, due to its overall condition and our subsequent importation into the United Kingdom, it has now been neutralised in accordance with UK law.
The images show the gun and a shortened Lebel bayonet.
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