07-02-2014, 11:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-02-2014, 04:57 AM by Bob Prudhomme.)
One distinguishing feature that seems to identify older Carcano M91 long rifles, and possibly older carbines, is the shape of the outside of the chamber, just behind the rear sight. In the two photos below, which I believe are of an M91 long rifle and an M91/24 carbine, the external shape of the rifle chamber is hexagonal.
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4pt2ifitpfLzfKSeybVu...IhrS_slcAA]](https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4pt2ifitpfLzfKSeybVuH9ZVGk66yATlx23Hb5VXQIhrS_slcAA)
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjBCzUV1FfsXWTmvElSRd...nE_t6pLo2A]](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjBCzUV1FfsXWTmvElSRdh8kL8LgR77Tlj9QkmwcCqnE_t6pLo2A)
In the next two photos, which are clearly of M38 or M91/38 short rifles (the groove on the wooden stock in the first photo and the famous serial no. in the second photo give them away), it can be seen that the outsides of the rifle chambers, in these newer rifles, now have a round shape.
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfKFWp2yg57lj3D0vylfu...dLA3lrR3uF]](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfKFWp2yg57lj3D0vylfuavGj9jycTmCRPiIVagbdLA3lrR3uF)
![[Image: images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMe5jeC9EMI0hsHs2jLhq...K0-G9D6B81]](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMe5jeC9EMI0hsHs2jLhqKbQibeCvOuYL30GlGrlK0-G9D6B81)
What I am trying to find out is, did all Carcanos prior to 1938 have hexagonal rifle chambers, and were the round rifle chambers introduced with the introduction of the first short rifle in 1938, the 7.35x51mm M38?
In the next two photos, which are clearly of M38 or M91/38 short rifles (the groove on the wooden stock in the first photo and the famous serial no. in the second photo give them away), it can be seen that the outsides of the rifle chambers, in these newer rifles, now have a round shape.
What I am trying to find out is, did all Carcanos prior to 1938 have hexagonal rifle chambers, and were the round rifle chambers introduced with the introduction of the first short rifle in 1938, the 7.35x51mm M38?
Mr. HILL. The right rear portion of his head was missing. It was lying in the rear seat of the car. His brain was exposed. There was blood and bits of brain all over the entire rear portion of the car. Mrs. Kennedy was completely covered with blood. There was so much blood you could not tell if there had been any other wound or not, except for the one large gaping wound in the right rear portion of the head.
Warren Commission testimony of Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill, 1964
Warren Commission testimony of Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill, 1964