Cadet and School Training Rifle
by "Manufacture d'Armes Damon et cie, St Etienne" ?
This model is not marked with any manufacturer's name, but other similar, although possibly earlier, examples of the "Nationale Rifle" have been reported as carrying the name of the maker shown in the heading.
Cadet and School Training Rifle
by "Manufacture d'Armes Damon et cie, St Etienne" ?
This model is not marked with any manufacturer's name, but other similar, although possibly earlier, examples of the "Nationale Rifle" have been reported as carrying the name of the maker shown in the heading.
The next two images can be rotated and zoomed, either as initially loaded or full-screen for higher definition.
Arial
Bolt locking is achieved by the rotation of the bolt handle rib down against the rear shoulder of the receiver bridge.
There is a fine vertical groove machined into the right-hand-side of thestock, just forward of the trigger-guard,
to accommodate the bolt handle's stem in its vertically closed position.
DATA TABLE - ALL MEASUREMENTS AS VIEWED EXAMPLE |
||
FIREARM |
IMPERIAL |
(METRIC) |
| Designation or Type : | Military Style Cadet Rifle
|
|
| Manufacturer : | Possibly "Manufacture d'Armes Damon et cie, St Etienne" |
|
| Date : | ca 1930 |
|
| Serial No : | 5572 |
|
| Furniture : | Walnut
|
|
| Action Type : | Turning bolt
|
|
| Nomenclature or main marks: | "Nationale Rifle"
|
|
| Calibre : | .22RF |
- |
| Weight : | 5 lbs. 6⅔ ozs. |
2.46 kgs |
| Length - Overall : | 43½ inches |
110.5 cms |
| Length - Barrel : | 25 inches |
64.7 cms |
| Pull : | 13 inches |
33.6 cms |
| Spare row : | - |
|
Rifling - No. of Grooves : |
6 |
tight bore slugged at 0.221" |
| Rifling - Twist & Direction : | 1 turn in 16¼ inches - RH |
1 : 41.2 cms |
| Rifling - Groove width : | inches |
mm |
| Rifling - Land width : | inches |
mm |
Rifling - Groove depth at muzzle : |
inches |
mm |
| Sight - Fore : | long circular bead
|
|
| Sight - Rear : | Tangent leaf with v.fine U-notch |
- |
| Sight - Radius : | 22 inches |
56 cms |
The disassembled parts image below illustrates a number of points. Firstly, apart from the external profile of the receiver and the bolt's cocking-piece arrangement, the remainder of the rifle is constructed with parts that appear, to all intents and purposes, identical with parts of the as yet unidentified Lebel-style training rifle on we show on another page.
The rear-sight, with its windage adjustment, the barrel, barrel bands and fore-sight are certainly all from the same stable. One major difference, though, is the two-part fore-end wood, which has a steel linking piece with wedged lugs. This part is let into the barrel-groove in the wood, and is drilled and threaded to take the combination bedding bolt/sling-swivel which, in common with the aforementioned Lebel trainer, does not fasten into the underside of the barrel, but does locate the rear barrel-band.
Over the time this 6mm rifle model was manufactured, the 9mm model was still available,
with a third option of 5.5mm ' Extra-courte' (22in. Extra Short) chambering.
The example above is marked ".22." on the barrel-LHS immediately behind the tangent rear-sight.
Below is the rifle shown on a page from a 1951 catalogue.
Offered are rifles chambered for the "Double Culot" (double base) 6mm 'Bosquette' cartridge, and for the .22"RF Lon Rifle cartridge. Theammunition was then priced at ?? francs per 250 rounds, and the rifle at ?? francs; this when 1 franc was aproximately the equivalent of ??p. Thus the rifle cost £?, and the ammunition about ?? new pence per round.
The tangent rear-sight is calibrated 25-50-100-200 metres, and the elevation slide moves along a smooth ramp. The finely "U' notched rear plate is windage adjustable by slackening its clamping screw at rear centre. The barrel calibre mark of ".22." is just behind the rear-sight. The serial number is clearly stamped on the receiver ring "5572". The mark immediately above that is the French "BTE S.D.G.D.", which abbreviates the French term "Bréveté - Sans Garantie Du Gouvernment", advising that the rifle carries no Government guarantee; an indication that it is not of military issue.
..
