French Foreign Legion: Arms Contexts

Jim McDougall · 11th September 2025, 10:21 PM

In the study of North African edged weapons of the 19th-20th c. the spectrum of tribal arms varies and can in some cases be placed along with the presence and activity of the French colonial contingents, especially the French Foreign Legion.

I recall approaching this topic several years ago, and as might be expected, I was highly influenced by the novel "Beau Geste" by P.C.Wren (1924) and the numerous films made from the book. As an arms historian, I was interested in the types of weapons used by the Legion in its various conflicts. While the Legion of course used rifles of variously forms depending on locations and period.

While the rifle was of course important, the Legionnaires bayonet was a prized possession, and in the case of "Beau Geste", the particular type bayonet in use in the presumed period of the novel, was the M1886 Lebel rifle epee bayonet.
This form bayonet became key in the 1939 remake of the "Beau Geste" films, in the most important scene in the arrival at the fort where it seemed abandoned. At the parapets however, there were dead Legionnaires all propped up as if alive, and the commandant dead with one of these epee bayonets sticking out of his chest.

These bayonets were affectionately called by the Legionnaires "Rosalie", as noted, prized to each man.

Although the period of "Beau Geste" is in the years before WWI, probably 1910-14, the novel itself was based by material from other works which described events and the issues of life in the Foreign Legion in earlier years. This bayonet form had a 'starring role' in the drama of the film, but the elements of the novel were comprised from events, places and situations from many instances of earlier years.

For example, the fort itself in the film, called Fort Zinderneuf, was fictional, and probably the name came from the city of Zinder, in the Air region of Niger, a prevalently Tuareg occupied area. In the film, the tribesmen who plagued the Legionnaires were Tuareg.

Most Legion activity was to the north, in Algeria, and far to the north there was Kabylia, where the Kabyle tribes of the Berber confederation were their primary adversaries. To the west were Berber tribes of Morocco.

While not heavily present in Morocco, the French did enter and occupy the border city of OUJDA in 1844 and in 1859.

What comes to mind here, is there was probably one of the first Foreign Legion stories, "Under Two Flags", written by a British female author who used the pen name.......OUIDA.
It does not seem that anybody ever associated her pen name with the city in Morocco , which coincidentally was a notably associated city in history of the Foreign Legion in the Sahara.

The idea of this thread is to look into the Foreign Legion, and the weapons notably familiar that they would have seen.

These weapon forms are traditional, probably mid 19th into early 20th century.
first picture is a M1886 French Ledbel epee bayonet. With nickel hilt and the sword guard this is pre 1914, after that brass and no guard.
the frame from the 1939 film "Beau Geste" with 'Rosalie' clearly seen.
the novel.......P.C. Wren was often thought to have been in the Foreign Legion, but that has never been proven.
the set for the movie, Fort Zinderneuf.
the weapons:
Top, a Taureg takouba
Next, a Kabyle flyssa, northern Algeria
then a Manding sword, primarily Mali, but moved in degree in accord with trade routes, controlled by the Manding.

bottom the Rosalie M1886 Lebel rifle epee bayonet, with rarely accompanying leather frog holding steel bayonet case.

Regarding OUIDA, the sensational lady author of what seems one of the first Foreign Legion books.
By 1890, a popular novelty 'game' was the talking board, using a planchette to guide ones hand to letters on the board and at a seance.
The medium asked by what name should this be called. ......the name spelled out O-U-I-J-A .
Apparently visible to her was a locket with likeness of Ouida, the author, and her name below.
The medium was Helen Peters Nosworthy, who was married to Elijah Bond, who partnered with Charles Kennard in 1891 and patented the OUIJA board.

Jim McDougall · 11th September 2025, 10:57 PM

First: a takouba form with slightly curved SE blade, probably European so
falling into the takouba spectrum as 'aljuinar' (=curved)

Moroccan sboula. Interestingly these often have been found using
French bayonet blades, not of epee type but earlier sword types.
Moroccan sa'if (nimcha)

Jim McDougall · 14th September 2025, 05:29 PM

For those of you reading this soliloquy, I wanted to thank you for your interest.
It is a wildly esoteric topic, and as known here, I often write on such topics which have piqued my interest through the years. Often I am simply revisiting questions and interests generated by old adventure novels and the films they inspired.

In a concurrent thread, the subject of the historical context associated with weapons as one area of collecting enjoyed by many, while others collect for many reasons which are of course important as well. Often these variable elements can enhance each other, such as highly embellished and historic examples which have been preserved as associated with important figures.

For me, this entire adventure in the Saharan deserts of North Africa came from boyhood fascination with the movie "Beau Geste", the adventurous intrigue with the French Foreign Legion, and when it comes down to it.......a simple, inherently mundane bayonet, which took center stage in the dramatic scene central to the story.

I am still fascinated by the Foreign Legion as my interests expanded through the years to the kinds of weapons which these forces would have encountered in their contacts and conflicts with the widely varied tribal groups in over a century of French interests there.

How many types of ethnographic edged weapons used blades from French sabers and bayonets? with the varied factions of their colonial forces, which included in large proportion, the Foreign Legion?

I think of the research over the years on the curious sword of the Kabyle tribes of the Berber Confederation in northwest Algeria, Kabylia. These distinctly unique and indiginous character has brought more questions than answers as far as just how old the form really was, how did it develop, how was it used?
It seems the form in the familiar character typically recognized had largely waned by the later years of the 19th century, and one example I found still in that distinct form was in the French Foreign Legion museum in Paris.....apparently collected about 1857. There was no mention of being taken in combat.

The Foreign Legion was simply another element in the context of the arms of North Africa I wanted to study.

So the idea is to add more on these various arms, aligned with the presence of the Foreign Legion through the many occupations and conflicts through the years.
I will certainly be adding more, and I would be grateful if others out there would contribute in kind. There is far more dimension to these tribal arms than simply examples of varied forms.

Thank you everyone
Jim

gp · 14th September 2025, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

For those of you reading this soliloquy, I wanted to thank you for your interest.

How many types of ethnographic edged weapons used blades from French sabers and bayonets? with the varied factions of their colonial forces, which included in large proportion, the Foreign Legion?

Jim

Thank you very much for addressing this issue!
Best answers you will get directly from the source:
https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl...sier.php?id=72

for inquiries you can contact them:
musee.legionetrangere@gmail.com

Good luck hunting !

for their Spanish brethren:
https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/unid...ion-ceuta.html

Jim McDougall · 14th September 2025, 05:53 PM

Brilliant gp!!! and excellent links!!!
Thank you so very much,
Hopefully this perspective might bring some new horizons to this adventure

Jim McDougall · 14th September 2025, 06:10 PM

In keeping with what has just been noted, the questions I have concerning the Foreign Legion are, it seems the concept began with the Chasseurs d'Afrique in 1831, which was essentially a colonial contingent of the French Army.

Since foreigners were not allowed to join the French Army, they arranged a special type unit which was comprised of foreign nationals. This evolved into units into a larger contingent which it seems to have coincided. Here things get conflicting for me, as in the book (realizing of course it is faction) "Under Two Flags" (by Ouida) has an English noble escaping scandal enter the Chausseurs d'Afrique, under assumed name of course.

There were apparently other cavalry as auxiliary forces known as 'Spahi' (from the Ottoman light cavalry) made up of numerous tribal groups. This is where much of the connection between native and French arms come in.

I have also not found examples of weapons with regimental or 'rack' markings directly aligned with Foreign Legion units, and it would be pretty exciting to see an example of a native weapon with such marks!

Norman McCormick · 12th December 2025, 06:25 PM

Hi Jim,
Photo of a French M1845/55 infantry officers sword which I suspect would be the issue arm for F.F.L. officers as I cannot find any specific variation for the Legion.
On another note, your Lebel bayonet is a cut down version. The issue size has an approx 20 inch blade tapering to a needle type point. Possibly yours was cut down as a WW1 trench knife or maybe it was captured by tribesmen and reduced to more convenient fighting knife proportions. Regardless it is an interesting conflict theatre variant.
My Regards,
Norman.

Jim McDougall · 12th December 2025, 10:02 PM

GP, thank you again for adding more of these fantastic pictures!!! Really adds to the perspective in these studies!!!

Norman, thank you for adding this information on the Lebel I have, adds more intrigue to its character. We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out.

I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going!

All the best
Jim

gp · 13th December 2025, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Jim,

On another note, your Lebel bayonet is a cut down version. The issue size has an approx 20 inch blade tapering to a needle type point. Possibly yours was cut down as a WW1 trench knife or maybe it was captured by tribesmen and reduced to more convenient fighting knife proportions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out.

I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going!

All the best
Jim

both comments reminded me of my 2nd trip to Morocco early 1980ies :
driving in a not second but sixth handed Simca from Holland to the Ourika valley, south of Marrakesh....a four day's drive.

On our way back to Sale a few parts broke..which was not that strange and could be expected☺
Waiting for spares coming from France or a Simca dealer would cost days and be expensive.
No problem as along the highway ( the Moroccan route 66) there were containers with some guys in it , repairing cars. From a simple can they manually would create excellent spare parts ( it brought us back to Holland and did function another 3 years).
This because they serve the local market cheap and being top mechanics and craftsmen: resourceful and inventive. As they and the local blacksmith have been doing for centuries.
Hence the recycling of cold weapons as well; be it broken or not or, creating daggers from swords is not that strange. and not expensive at all!!
Specially as it did function and meet the new purpose: defend against attackers or be weapon against unwelcome trespassers. A kind of remnant of 6 to 8 decades ago when the tribes bravely battled against the French and Spanish forces or even the local Sultan...

Jim McDougall · 14th December 2025, 12:04 PM

Gp, this is not only a wonderful adventure story! (very reminiscent of "Indiana Jones") but remarkable insight into the ethnographic world and character of tribal peoples. The skills and innovation of these people reveal how truly inept 'civilization' has become with its technology and advances, and they have managed survival for so many centuries.

Fantastic and exciting addition here!!! Thank you!!!

All the best,
Jim

11th September 2025, 10:21 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	French Foreign Legion: Arms Contexts In the study of North African edged weapons of the 19th-20th c. the spectrum of tribal arms varies and can in some cases be placed along with the presence and activity of the French colonial contingents, especially the French Foreign Legion. I recall approaching this topic several years ago, and as might be expected, I was highly influenced by the novel "Beau Geste" by P.C.Wren (1924) and the numerous films made from the book. As an arms historian, I was interested in the types of weapons used by the Legion in its various conflicts. While the Legion of course used rifles of variously forms depending on locations and period. While the rifle was of course important, the Legionnaires bayonet was a prized possession, and in the case of "Beau Geste", the particular type bayonet in use in the presumed period of the novel, was the M1886 Lebel rifle epee bayonet. This form bayonet became key in the 1939 remake of the "Beau Geste" films, in the most important scene in the arrival at the fort where it seemed abandoned. At the parapets however, there were dead Legionnaires all propped up as if alive, and the commandant dead with one of these epee bayonets sticking out of his chest. These bayonets were affectionately called by the Legionnaires "Rosalie", as noted, prized to each man. Although the period of "Beau Geste" is in the years before WWI, probably 1910-14, the novel itself was based by material from other works which described events and the issues of life in the Foreign Legion in earlier years. This bayonet form had a 'starring role' in the drama of the film, but the elements of the novel were comprised from events, places and situations from many instances of earlier years. For example, the fort itself in the film, called Fort Zinderneuf, was fictional, and probably the name came from the city of Zinder, in the Air region of Niger, a prevalently Tuareg occupied area. In the film, the tribesmen who plagued the Legionnaires were Tuareg. Most Legion activity was to the north, in Algeria, and far to the north there was Kabylia, where the Kabyle tribes of the Berber confederation were their primary adversaries. To the west were Berber tribes of Morocco. While not heavily present in Morocco, the French did enter and occupy the border city of OUJDA in 1844 and in 1859. What comes to mind here, is there was probably one of the first Foreign Legion stories, "Under Two Flags", written by a British female author who used the pen name.......OUIDA. It does not seem that anybody ever associated her pen name with the city in Morocco , which coincidentally was a notably associated city in history of the Foreign Legion in the Sahara. The idea of this thread is to look into the Foreign Legion, and the weapons notably familiar that they would have seen. These weapon forms are traditional, probably mid 19th into early 20th century. first picture is a M1886 French Ledbel epee bayonet. With nickel hilt and the sword guard this is pre 1914, after that brass and no guard. the frame from the 1939 film "Beau Geste" with 'Rosalie' clearly seen. the novel.......P.C. Wren was often thought to have been in the Foreign Legion, but that has never been proven. the set for the movie, Fort Zinderneuf. the weapons: Top, a Taureg takouba Next, a Kabyle flyssa, northern Algeria then a Manding sword, primarily Mali, but moved in degree in accord with trade routes, controlled by the Manding. bottom the Rosalie M1886 Lebel rifle epee bayonet, with rarely accompanying leather frog holding steel bayonet case. Regarding OUIDA, the sensational lady author of what seems one of the first Foreign Legion books. By 1890, a popular novelty 'game' was the talking board, using a planchette to guide ones hand to letters on the board and at a seance. The medium asked by what name should this be called. ......the name spelled out O-U-I-J-A . Apparently visible to her was a locket with likeness of Ouida, the author, and her name below. The medium was Helen Peters Nosworthy, who was married to Elijah Bond, who partnered with Charles Kennard in 1891 and patented the OUIJA board. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 11th September 2025 at 11:01 PM.

11th September 2025, 10:57 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	Addendum: Saharan weapons First: a takouba form with slightly curved SE blade, probably European so falling into the takouba spectrum as 'aljuinar' (=curved) Moroccan sboula. Interestingly these often have been found using French bayonet blades, not of epee type but earlier sword types. Moroccan sa'if (nimcha) Attached Images

14th September 2025, 05:29 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	Thank you For those of you reading this soliloquy, I wanted to thank you for your interest. It is a wildly esoteric topic, and as known here, I often write on such topics which have piqued my interest through the years. Often I am simply revisiting questions and interests generated by old adventure novels and the films they inspired. In a concurrent thread, the subject of the historical context associated with weapons as one area of collecting enjoyed by many, while others collect for many reasons which are of course important as well. Often these variable elements can enhance each other, such as highly embellished and historic examples which have been preserved as associated with important figures. For me, this entire adventure in the Saharan deserts of North Africa came from boyhood fascination with the movie "Beau Geste", the adventurous intrigue with the French Foreign Legion, and when it comes down to it.......a simple, inherently mundane bayonet, which took center stage in the dramatic scene central to the story. I am still fascinated by the Foreign Legion as my interests expanded through the years to the kinds of weapons which these forces would have encountered in their contacts and conflicts with the widely varied tribal groups in over a century of French interests there. How many types of ethnographic edged weapons used blades from French sabers and bayonets? with the varied factions of their colonial forces, which included in large proportion, the Foreign Legion? I think of the research over the years on the curious sword of the Kabyle tribes of the Berber Confederation in northwest Algeria, Kabylia. These distinctly unique and indiginous character has brought more questions than answers as far as just how old the form really was, how did it develop, how was it used? It seems the form in the familiar character typically recognized had largely waned by the later years of the 19th century, and one example I found still in that distinct form was in the French Foreign Legion museum in Paris.....apparently collected about 1857. There was no mention of being taken in combat. The Foreign Legion was simply another element in the context of the arms of North Africa I wanted to study. So the idea is to add more on these various arms, aligned with the presence of the Foreign Legion through the many occupations and conflicts through the years. I will certainly be adding more, and I would be grateful if others out there would contribute in kind. There is far more dimension to these tribal arms than simply examples of varied forms. Thank you everyone Jim

12th December 2025, 06:25 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,650	Hi Jim, Photo of a French M1845/55 infantry officers sword which I suspect would be the issue arm for F.F.L. officers as I cannot find any specific variation for the Legion. On another note, your Lebel bayonet is a cut down version. The issue size has an approx 20 inch blade tapering to a needle type point. Possibly yours was cut down as a WW1 trench knife or maybe it was captured by tribesmen and reduced to more convenient fighting knife proportions. Regardless it is an interesting conflict theatre variant. My Regards, Norman. Attached Images

14th September 2025, 05:53 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	Brilliant gp!!! and excellent links!!! Thank you so very much, Hopefully this perspective might bring some new horizons to this adventure

14th September 2025, 06:10 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	In keeping with what has just been noted, the questions I have concerning the Foreign Legion are, it seems the concept began with the Chasseurs d'Afrique in 1831, which was essentially a colonial contingent of the French Army. Since foreigners were not allowed to join the French Army, they arranged a special type unit which was comprised of foreign nationals. This evolved into units into a larger contingent which it seems to have coincided. Here things get conflicting for me, as in the book (realizing of course it is faction) "Under Two Flags" (by Ouida) has an English noble escaping scandal enter the Chausseurs d'Afrique, under assumed name of course. There were apparently other cavalry as auxiliary forces known as 'Spahi' (from the Ottoman light cavalry) made up of numerous tribal groups. This is where much of the connection between native and French arms come in. I have also not found examples of weapons with regimental or 'rack' markings directly aligned with Foreign Legion units, and it would be pretty exciting to see an example of a native weapon with such marks!

12th December 2025, 10:02 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	GP, thank you again for adding more of these fantastic pictures!!! Really adds to the perspective in these studies!!! Norman, thank you for adding this information on the Lebel I have, adds more intrigue to its character. We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out. I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going! All the best Jim

14th December 2025, 12:04 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,730	Gp, this is not only a wonderful adventure story! (very reminiscent of "Indiana Jones") but remarkable insight into the ethnographic world and character of tribal peoples. The skills and innovation of these people reveal how truly inept 'civilization' has become with its technology and advances, and they have managed survival for so many centuries. Fantastic and exciting addition here!!! Thank you!!! All the best, Jim