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APX 1916/1917/1921
APX L718/L810
8×50mmR - France - Lebel





The APX mle 1916 was initially designed as a 2.5x telescopic sight for use on the 37mm TRP mle 1916 infantry gun. With the outbreak of WWI and the French military's realization that it would need to develope its own scoped rifle for use by snipers the APX 1916 was modified for use with sniper rifles (Pegler, 2022).

The resulting 3x scope made from drawn brass tubing weighed 1.5lbs and measured 9.5in. Elevation was controlled by a top mounted dial marked out to 800m and windage was set by a small grub-screw mounted at the front of the body. Focus was controlled by a ring forward of the ocular lens. The reticle was a fine crosshairs (Pegler, 2022). Scope would see widespread use with French forces during WWI mounted on Lebel rifles with a small number of Berthier rifles having scopes mounted. The scope would be supplied to Italy where it would be mounted on Carcano rifles (Pegler, 2022).

After WWI the scope would be updated along with its mount to the APX 1921. The APX 1921 can be easily identified due to its unique elevation turret and shorter scope body. In the mid 1930's the APX L718 would be built. It's unclear how far the APX L718 went in development and adoption before WWII.

After WWII the design would again be updated and sold as the APX L810 on the commercial market fitted to either a MAS Sterna or MAS Fournier rifles (both factory sporterized MAS36 rifles). The L810 was described by Saint-Etienne as being a 3.5x scope.

Prior to the APX 1921 the naming and marking conventions are unclear, most references refer to the APX 1916 and APX 1917, yet scopes can be seen marked APX 1915, APX 1916, APX 1917, and APX 1918. Internet posts regarding scopes marked APX 1934 (possibly refering to the APX L718) also exist. To add to the confusion scopes from the 37mm mle 1916 are also marked APX 1917 (and possibly other years also). Scopes with no serial number have also been observed. With the exception of the APX 1921 and APX L810, the differences between the other scope models is at times unclear. Latter scopes like the APX1917 and APX 1921 appear to have shorter overall lengths, but this can be hard to make out in photos. It may be also be connected to the either the mount used or the year of production.












Images







The 37mm mle 1916 scope from which the APX 1916 was developed. Note the larger controls that would be replaced by a turret and screw when turned into a rifle scope.



The scope for the 37mm mle 1916 infantry gun.



1916 marked scope (65522) in what is usually refered to as APX 1916 mount.



1916 marked scope (72736) in what is usually refered to as APX 1917 mount.
This is probably the most comment mount found today on surviving scopes.



Elevation dial of the same scope marked out to 800m.



Diagram from Grenadiers-Bombardier School of Instructors of the 9th Region (Les Machines de Tranchée-Instruction Technique-Tactical Instruction) Angers, 15 January 1917.
It shows the same mount as seen above on scope 72736.



1916 marked scope (68364) showing a third pattern of scope mount.



A 1916 dated diagram showing the mounting plate as seen on scope 68364 above. This mounting plate was retained for use with the APX 1921.



On Lebel rifle with French forces in WWI.
Note most of the rifles show the second APX1917 pattern scope mount.





An APX 1921 scope and mount in rather rough shape. It appears to have no markings. Note the new elevation turret design.



Excerpt from the 1933 edition of Instruction on Armaments and Shooting Materials (Instruction sur l'armement et le matériel de tir) regarding the APX 1921 scope.



The 1935 APX L718.











RETICLES


1916 (scope 69432)
1918 (scope 1392)
1921 (manual)
L810 (scope 1)









VIDEOS

Video by Forgotten Weapons




Video by Le Feu aux Poudres







Serial Numbers

Scopes and mounts were supposedly serialized to match their host weapon. Existing scopes often have matching mounts but are mounted on non matching rifles.

Some scopes have a "T" before the serial number. Possibly short for Tireur d'élite. Some are also marked "Mle 1886" in reference to the Lebel Fusil Mle 1886.

Serial Model Images Notes
173 1915 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Has a unfamiliar mount, which is matched to the scope. Possibly an artillery scope?
57335 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sunshade is reproduction.
57967 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
58024 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 Missing mount.
58174 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marked mle 1886 in addition to year and serial.
63171 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
65522 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Marked mle 1886 in addition to year and serial.
66173 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rifle and scope mount marked 59551.
67602 1916 2 3 4 5 Seen in forgotten weapons video on rifle 15309.
68364 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photos published by SniperCollection.com.
69432 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
71526 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Polished scope mounted on a drilling rifle. "5" in serial number looks to have been stamped over another number.
72736 1916 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
75509 1916 2 Rifle bolt is 55127.
5980 1917 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
38491 1917 2 3 4 5 6 7
46208 1917 2 3 4 5 6 7
51453 1917 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Includes matching carry case.
55103 1917 2 3 4
73073 1917 2 3
92097 1917 2 3 4 5 Mounted on a hunting rifle.
1392 1918 2 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 No markings, for sale by an Italian dealer. Possibly scopes supplied to Italy had no markings?
1921 1 2 3 4 5 6 No markings. Note the turret design is different from the damaged APX21 pictured above, sharing looks instead with the APX L718.
1 L810 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
48 L810 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
51 L810 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10





References

Pegler, M. (2022). Sniping rifles in World War I. Bloomsbury Publishing.


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