The APX L806 is a post WWII French scope first adopted by France in 1953 as the Lunette de tir modèle 1953 for use on the MAS 49 rifle (Huon 1995). Designed by APX (Ateliers de Puteaux) it showed influences from the German ZF4 in both the scope and scope mount design, breaking from earlier interwar French scopes like the APX 1921 and the rejected APX M686.

Although designed by APX the scope was produced by three factories: SOM (Société d’Optique et de Mécanique de précision), OPL (Optique de Précision Levallois), and JN (unknown manufacturer, sometimes cited as Carl Jena). The scopes would first see combat in Indochina followed by extensive use during the war in Algeria. They would stay in use with French forces into the 1990s, possibly even latter. Total production seems to have been around 31,000 units with the highest known serial numbers in the 30400 range.

The APX L806 would become an universal scope in French service with various mounts produced such that the scope could be used on the FRF1, FRF2, AA52, and FAMAS. Dedicated versions of the scope offering finer adjustments would be developed for use on the FRF1 (APX L806-3) and FRF2 (APX L806-4).

The elevation knob on right side of the scope body is cammed to 7.5x54 (7.62x51 in the case of the APX L806-4), with top dial adjusting for windage and protected by a cap.

Images



On a MAS49 rifle.




On a MAS49/56 rifle.




APX L806-3 scopes on FRF1 rifles.




APX L806-4 scopes on FRF2 rifles.




With Estonian soldiers on FRF2 rifles, probably in the 1990s.




Mount and scope for use on AA52 machine gun.




The APX L806 was also tested on the MAS FA Type 62, a French derivative of the FN FAL rifle design that did not go beyond testing.




Reticle. No changes were made between the different versions of the scope.




French manual with a 8 June 1959 approval date. The manual cover refers to the scope as the Model 1953, on page 5 is the only time it is called the APX L806. The photos show the use of the second pattern mount with the first pattern rubber sunshade.




Cover to a French manual with 1965 approval date.




APX L806 as seen in the 3rd edition Technical Guide for the MAS 49/56 and MAS 49/56 MSE. Guide has a 1994 print date.




Cutaway view of the APX L806 from an unknown French publication.



VIDEOS

Video by Forgotten Weapons

Video by Le Feu aux Poudres

Video by 9 Hole Reveiews

Serial Numbers

It appears that all three manufactures used the same serial number range being assinged blocks of serial numbers as required.

Some scopes have markings milled out and redone. This was probably done as part of the FRF1 and FRF2 weapons programs, as it appears some regular APX L806 scopes were refurbished and convereted to APX L806-3 specifications and then latter some AXP L806-3 scopes were converted to the APX L806-4 pattern.

Serial	Manufacture	Model	Mount	Serial recut	Model recut	Images	Notes
135	SOM	806	prototype			1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	https://www.tircollection.com/t53625-lunette-apx-806-particuliere
777	SOM	806	NA			2 3	Scope markings painted black.
780	SOM	806	First			2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	Still in a clear varnish used for long term storage.
1114	SOM	806	First			2 3 4
1137	SOM	806	First			2 3 4 5 6	Has a refurbishment sticker dated December 1974, from DCAN (Direction des constructions et armes navales) Toulon.
1200	JN	806-04	NA	Yes	Yes	2 3
1447	JN	806-04	NA	Yes	Yes		Probably a 03 convereted to a 04.
1532	OPL	806	First			2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	Mount and scope covered in thick glossy black paint. Refurbed?
1552	JN	806-03	FRF1	Yes			Seen in Forgotten Weapons' FRF2 video.
1626	OPL	806-04	NA	Yes	Yes	2 3 4 5 6 7	Included paperwork for conversion from a 03 to a 04 in Oct. 1988.
1662	OPL	806-04	FRF2	Yes	Yes		Seen in Forgotten Weapons' FRF2 video mounted on rifle 06709, with mount 07111, and rings 2504.
1805	JN	806-04	NA	Yes	Yes	2 3	Probably a 03 convereted to a 04.
1955	OPL	806	Second			2 3 4 5 6 7
4823	SOM	806	Second			2 3 4
4965	SOM	806-4	FRF2	Yes	Yes	2 3	FRF2 rings marked 5226.
5683	JN	806-03	NA	Yes
5796	SOM	806	Second			2 3 4
6105	OPL	806-03	Second	Yes		2 3	Serial number reengraved. Seen in Forgotten Weapons' MSE video mounted on rifle 96452.
6715	OPL	806	Second
7044	OPL	806	Second			2 3
8212	SOM	806	Second			2 3 4 5 6 7
9329	SOM	806-04	FRF2
13913	SOM	806	Second			2
14965	SOM	806-04	NA			2	04 engraving not encased by a box.
15273	OPL	806-04	FRF2			2 3	04 engraving not encased by a box and off center. Hard to make out serial number.
15543	OPL	806				2 3	Scope crushed and destroyed.
15681	OPL	806	Second				Painted in flat black paint, except area around markings.
15708	OPL	806				2	Painted in flat black paint, except area around markings.
16354	OPL	806	Second			2
17431	SOM	806	Second			2
17561	SOM	806	Second			2
17641	SOM	806	Second
17783	SOM	806	Second
19744	JN	806	Second			2 3 4 5 6	Painted in flat black paint, except area around markings.
20533	JN	806	Second			2	Painted flat black, except markings area. Metal carry container.
20612	JN	806-04	FRF2			2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	04 engraving not encased in a box. Mounted in repro FRF2 base, ring inserts, and rings serialized 2884.
24755	SOM	806	Second			2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	Extensive chipping of paint on scope body.
25000	SOM	806	Second			2 3 4 5	Markings painted black. Possibly a refurbed scope.
25655	SOM	806	Second			2 3 4 5
25978	SOM	806-4	FRF2				Last digit missing paint looks like a 3 but is infact a 8.
26724	OPL	806	Second			2 3 4
26849	OPL	806	Second			2
28786	JN	806	Second			2 3
28809	JN	806	Second			2 3 4 5 6	With plastic carry case.
28895	JN	806	NA
30440	OPL	806	Second			2	Painted flat black, except markings area.
30475	OPL	806	Second	Yes		2 3 4 5 6	Included a late pattern plastic carry case. Scope painted flat black except for markings.

References

Huon, J. (1995). Proud Promise. Collector Grade Publications.

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