The French small arms seem particularly afflicted by this. The Lebel rifle is notable for being the first rifle which used smokeless gunpowder. (This made the

The French small arms seem particularly afflicted by this. The Lebel rifle is notable for being the first rifle which used smokeless gunpowder. (This made the bullet much faster; but also didn't reveal the shooter's positions in the same way that blackpowder did). Smokeless was so good, that the rifle's development was rushed, in secrecy. Aside from being smokeless, the Lebel had technology that was the state of the art at the time... but, within a few short years, was almost obsolete for its lack of rapid loading, and its awkwardly shaped cartridge. I think the French were working on replacing their infantry rifles with the next-generation technology of repeating rifles, but were unable to do so before WWI.