Carcano Rifles

[Bob Prudhomme]

That sounds about right. It was made at the P. Beretta arms factory in Gardone. Usually, just after Gardone, are seen the initials "V.T." that stand for "Val Trompia" or Trompia Valley, in English. The XVIII is the Fascist Date, and means this rifle was made between Jan. 1 and Oct. 22 of 1940.

The oval stamp with the crown is supposedly a proof mark, but collectors disagree on whether or not this stamp is only put on superior quality rifles.

I looked to see if UC1882 was registered on the Carcano Database, but could not find it. If your friend would like more info on his rifle, or would like to register on their database, this is the site to go to:

http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/ca...91_38.html

Interestingly, I did find a Beretta-Gardone M91/38 short rifle on the database with a serial number close to that of your friend's, that number being UC1262. It, and a number of other M91/38's, are registered as possessing something the LN's claim they cannot have; bottom and side mounted sling rings. This phenomenon shows up on some of the Terni made short rifles, as well; meaning, of course, that the rifle "Oswald" is holding in the Backyard Photos might very well have had bottom mount sling rings.

[Albert Doyle]

Shoot. Not a Lee Harvey Oswald Terni run rifle.


Bob: This gun is a 40 inch?


I think you would agree that to actually handle one of these rifles is to instantly understand that there's just no way that Lee Harvey Oswald either smuggled it in to the Depository or used it to shoot a moving target in short time from an oblique angle on the 6th floor.

Just no f****** way.

[Bob Prudhomme]

No, it's not a Terni rifle, but it is identical in every respect to a Terni rile, and should be roughly 40 inches long. Not all of these M91/38's will be precisely the same length, as the lengths of the stocks will vary, depending upon who the rifle is made for.

I agree it would have been a neat trick getting this thing into the TSBD, even broken down into several components.

[Albert Doyle]

Bob: Can you point me to information on the specific ammunition allegedly used that day? I've found that it was Winchester 6.5 Mannlicher Carcano ammunition ordered by CIA in the 50's. I read that there was Solenite nitroglycerine-based explosive in the original Italian cartridge charge that didn't leave any nitrate residue. I found that while the original Italian ammunition was indeed Solenite-based that there is no reference to the charge used in Winchester 6.5X52 Mannlicher Carcano ammunition. I seriously doubt it was Solenite. I would guess it was a normal gunpowder charge.

Also, I doubt the original Italian cartridge charge left no nitrate residue since it did produce a type of nitrate after pyrolizing.


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