In 1886 the French Army introduced the Lebel rifle. It was the world's first modern, mass-produced magazine rifle. Another innovation was the use of smokeless gunpowder. The ammunition was contained in the tubular magazine beneath the barrel.

On the outbreak of the First World War the Lemel was still being used by the French Army. However, by 1916 it had been replaced by the Berthier.

The British Army in World War I is available from Amazon

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