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Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  FRENCH RIFLE MODEL 1917 8MM SN# F2739
Maker/Manufacturer:	RIBERYROLLE/SUTTER/CHAUCHAT
Date of Manufacture:	1917
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 4153
Measurements:	OL:132.7CM 52 1/4" BL: 79.3CM 31 1/4" 11.6 lbs.

Object Description:

FRENCH RIFLE MODEL 1917 8MM SN# F2739
Manufactured by M.A.S., St. Etienne, France - Standard Model 1917 French rifle. Gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle. Fed by 5-round non-detachable box magazine. Blade front, leaf rear sight. Full-length walnut stock with cleaning rod. Muzzle velocity of 2380 fps. Weapon weighs approximately 11.6 lbs. Metal scratched. Nicks and gouges in stock. Cocking handle cover missing.

Markings:
Receiver: LP J in circle/F2739. MA T1917.
Slide: 2739.
Triggerguard: 2739.
Stock: C.S. MARS M. 1917 cartouche. MA in circle. F2739.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 8 January 1940. At that time weapon was appraised at $100.00.

Notes: Weapon assembled at M.A.S.

"Officially designated the RSC Modele 1917 (after the designers Ribeyrolle, Sutter and Chauchat), this semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle had a clip-feed magazine holding five-rounds. It was selected from several competing designs mainly because it was the only one that used the standard 8mm Lebel cartridge, which was then produced in large quantities. The weapon was far from ideal as it was large (52 inches) and heavy (11 lb. 9 oz.) and used a non-standard cartridge clip. The St-Etienne rifle was used by the French army in limited numbers in the last year of the war; an improved version - the Modele 1918 - did not materialism until after the Armistice." - Bruce

"French RSC Semiautomatic Rifle. As a brief footnote, the French adopted a semiautomatic service rifle in 1917. The weapon was the 'Fusil Mitrailleur, RSC, Model 1917.' 'RSC' were the initials of the designers Rebyrolle, Sautter and Chauchat. The weapon was manufactured at the St. Etienne Arsenal. It was chambered for the standard 8mm French cartridge. A shortened and somewhat improved version was developed in 1918. Very limited numbers of RSC rifles were manufactured, and only a small number saw front-line service. The weapon proved to be inaccurate and unreliable. It was tested by the U.S. Army but was not considered for adoption. It was, nevertheless, a forerunner of later semiautomatic service rifles such as the M1 Garand." - Canfield

References:
Bruce, Anthony. AN ILLUSTRATED COMPANION TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR. Michael Joseph. London, England. 1989.
Canfield, Bruce N. U.S. INFANTRY WEAPONS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR. Andrew Mowbray Inc. Lincoln, R.I. 2000.
Schwing, Ned. STANDARD CATALOG OF MILITARY FIREARMS. Krause Publications, Iola, Wi. 2001.