The APX M686 was a French interwar scope designed by APX (Ateliers de Puteaux) that did not progress beyond the testing phase. While it made use of a mounting system similar to that of the earlier APX 1921 scope, it was a new prismatic design that allowed for the objective lens to be mounted over the rifle's bore while the eye piece was offset to the left preventing the top of the action from being blocked by the scope body.
The APX M686 was trailed by the French Army in May of 1940 along with the new MAS 40 semi-automatic rifle. While the MAS 40 showed much potential and would eventually result in the post war MAS 49, the APX M686 performed poorly and appears to have been dropped from further development (Huon 1995).
Images
On MAS 40 rifle.
MAS 40 receiver showing screw holes left from removing APX M686 mounting rail.
References
Huon, J. (1995). Proud Promise. Collector Grade Publications.
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