French 1917 Semi-Automatic Rifle?

[Badger Arms]

Found this article. Here's a link to the Google-translation:

http://translate.google.com/transla...&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=/language_tools

I was surprised that this rifle is a fairly advanced system with an en-bloc clip, trigger group, follower system, gas system, and bolt cam arangement very similar to the later M1 Garand. Julian Hatcher wrote of this rifle and Garand SURELY had examined it. Of course, the French rifle was strongly influenced by Browning's model 8. The bolt cam arangement, however, is strangely similar to the later Johnson/Stoner system with a Weatherby type multiple-lug system.

I knew there was nothing new under the sun, but this rifle seems almost a direct ancestor of the Garand rifle.

Does ANYBODY have any more information on this rifle?

 

[Third_Rail]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chauchat

Unless I missed something on that page, it's the Chauchat LMG.


EDIT: The first time I clicked the link, it took me to the Chauchat. Now it's showing what you're talking about. Neat!

 

[Cosmoline]

Nope. Not a Chauchat. It is the RSC modèle 1917, a semi-automatic battle rifle based on the Lebel '86. Like many French designs, it included some good engineering concepts but poor execution. By most accounts it was a poor performer, and not as good as the Meunier Rifle it had beat out for economic reasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebel_rifle

 

[Badger Arms]

Yeah, I had the link wrong and edited it. You weren't mistaken this time. Somebody on Wikipedia put a link to the French language site and I found this file. I was aware of it in name and through a picture, I just had never seen such a detailed review.