One hundred and two years ago, the Guns of August spoke as German troops invaded Belgium, beginning four years of horrific bloodshed on the Western Front. American Rifleman’s panel of firearms experts discuss the infantry rifles used by the Great Powers in the opening battles of World War I. This included the French Lebel 1886 in 8 mm Lebel, the German Gewehr 98 (ever heard of the Mauser 98?) and the Belgian Model 1889 in 7.65 mm.
For more American Rifleman TV segments, go to americanrifleman.org/artv.
Infantry Rifles of The Great War: Mausers and Lebels
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Interests
New for 2026: EAA Balikli BLK Bolt-Action Rifles | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- SK Guns Marks America’s 250th With Limited-Run 1911 Commander | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- Safariland and Travis Haley Reengineered the Gun Belt From the Buckle Out | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- Federal’s 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak Adds 300 FPS to a Cartridge You Probably Already Shoot | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal











