[en] Total scattering cross sections of the rare gases He, Ne and Ar have been measured, for electrons in the energy range from 4 eV to 2 keV. The measurements were performed using a linear transmission device and an electron energy analyser, with an angular resolution better than 1.1 x 10^-3 sr and with an energy resolution far below the first excitation threshold in the three atoms. The uncertainties of the experimental results are generally smaller than 3%. With a few exceptions, the present results are in good agreement with the data of other authors. Systematic deviations were found between the present results and the data available for the total scattering cross sections of He at high electron energies. The deviations increase with increasing energy and reach about 13% at 2 keV. It appears that different levels of the separation of forward-scattered electrons are responsible for these systematic deviations