The Ribeyrolles 1918 was an attempt to manufacture an automatic rifle for the French forces. It was chambered in the experimental 8×35mm round, used straight blowback, was fed from a 25-round detachable magazine and had an effective range of 400 meters. The cartridge, which some argue was the first purpose-built intermediate cartridge, was obtained by necking down the .351 Winchester Self-Loading. Another source indicates that it was chambered in a cartridge designated 8×32mmSR."Re: FRENCH WEAPONS" #56 has info from Cf. "Re: FRENCH WEAPONS" #58.
Its official name was Carabine Mitrailleuse 1918 ("Machine Carbine 1918" in English); in a 2007 book it appears as "fusil automatique Ribeyrolles 1918". The Ribeyrolles had the distinction of being fitted with a lightweight bipod on the front (indicating an intended use as a squad automatic weapon) and a rifle bayonet identical to that of the Berthier Model 1907/15.
See also Chauchat-Ribeyrolles 1918 submachine gun Fedorov Avtomat Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917 MP 18 Vollmer M35
References
External links
Ribeyrolles 1918 - France's First Assault Rifle or a Failed Prototype? on Forgotten Weapons Image of the Ribeyrolles on Forgotten Weapons Carabine Mitrailleuse 1918 at Historical Firearms