French Foreign Legion: Arms Contexts

[Jim McDougall]

GP, thank you again for adding more of these fantastic pictures!!! Really adds to the perspective in these studies!!!

Norman, thank you for adding this information on the Lebel I have, adds more intrigue to its character. We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out.

I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going!

All the best
Jim

[gp]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Jim,

On another note, your Lebel bayonet is a cut down version. The issue size has an approx 20 inch blade tapering to a needle type point. Possibly yours was cut down as a WW1 trench knife or maybe it was captured by tribesmen and reduced to more convenient fighting knife proportions.

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out.

I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going!

All the best
Jim

both comments reminded me of my 2nd trip to Morocco early 1980ies :
driving in a not second but sixth handed Simca from Holland to the Ourika valley, south of Marrakesh....a four day's drive.

On our way back to Sale a few parts broke..which was not that strange and could be expected☺
Waiting for spares coming from France or a Simca dealer would cost days and be expensive.
No problem as along the highway ( the Moroccan route 66) there were containers with some guys in it , repairing cars. From a simple can they manually would create excellent spare parts ( it brought us back to Holland and did function another 3 years).
This because they serve the local market cheap and being top mechanics and craftsmen: resourceful and inventive. As they and the local blacksmith have been doing for centuries.
Hence the recycling of cold weapons as well; be it broken or not or, creating daggers from swords is not that strange. and not expensive at all!!
Specially as it did function and meet the new purpose: defend against attackers or be weapon against unwelcome trespassers. A kind of remnant of 6 to 8 decades ago when the tribes bravely battled against the French and Spanish forces or even the local Sultan...

[Jim McDougall]

Gp, this is not only a wonderful adventure story! (very reminiscent of "Indiana Jones") but remarkable insight into the ethnographic world and character of tribal peoples. The skills and innovation of these people reveal how truly inept 'civilization' has become with its technology and advances, and they have managed survival for so many centuries.

Fantastic and exciting addition here!!! Thank you!!!

All the best,
Jim