Anyone else collect carcanos???

[frank30]

Now they're coming out of the woodwork!

Little story behind my little 7.35. There used to be a really neat gun shop north of Moosomin, SK, operated by Ken and Marshall McLeod. They were two real gentleman. Ken put me under his wing and would phone me whenever he got a military rifle in. I never turned him down on a deal, and he would wrap up the rifle and put it on the bus for me. I bought some real dillies from those boys. Oh, for the good old days.

that’s awesome, i feel like i was born too late to collect carcanos. theres no imports for me to sift through with dealers. the next one on my list is a torino m91 or a Mida. it seems like only ternis show up in the long rifle. you said you picked up the 7.35 ts 40ish years ago, do you mind if i ask what they were going for at the time?

 

[kjohn]

that’s awesome, i feel like i was born too late to collect carcanos. theres no imports for me to sift through with dealers. the next one on my list is a torino m91 or a Mida. it seems like only ternis show up in the long rifle. you said you picked up the 7.35 ts 40ish years ago, do you mind if i ask what they were going for at the time?

Don't remember what I paid for it. Probably $50-$100, at the most. Ken & Marshall weren't into milsurps, so they were happy to have me take these rifles off their hands. I also scored an unissued No. 4 Lee Enfield with no serial number, and a nice 1950 Long Branch DCRA, among others. Some I bought weren't "collector" items, but were cheap and functional.

 

[green]

Carcano, the Rodney Dangerfield of military rifles, they don't get no respect.
When they came on the market in the 50s all the gun writers panned them for being hard to convert to 30-06 etc so they were no good junkers and that rap stuck to them.

 

[Snider shooter]

About a year ago I went to a fellows home to buy a package deal of reloading gear and guns. One of the gun was a Carcono. I didn't really look to hard at it as I already knew what I was getting was an excellent deal even without the Carcano. About 2 weeks later I decided to see what kind of shape the bore was in and the more I looked at the rifle the more I thought it might be an untouched 91. So I had to look it up , yep. It looks well used with its battle scars but in decent shape to shoot. I never set out to buy a 91 but it kind grew on me. I also have a shorter model 41 which has a different rear site than what I have normally seen on other Carcano's. Totally different style than others. A couple of bubba's also. Use the right size bullets and they shoot decent.

 

[kjohn]

Great site here for info on Carcanos:

http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/models.html

Also, a real nice pic of a 41 sight:

View attachment 223434

 

[frank30]

that sites great, i believe theres some load data on there too. if anyones looking for data on reloading 7.35 thats the only place ive found it

Great site here for info on Carcanos:

http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/models.html

Also, a real nice pic of a 41 sight:

View attachment 223434

 

[frank30]

any chance any one out there has an m91 long rifle from the 30s or 40s? i let one pass me by and i regret it

 

[fredqc]

Here is my collection about 10 years ago. Soory for the bad quality. Have sold and bought since... I will try to take a new picture some day.

I had a nice 1934 m91 i sold a few years ago and regret it, but was lucky enough to find a very nice unrefurbished 1933 m91

 

[pcvando]

Eveyone has posted some neat rifles! ^That 1933 is very unique.

Here is one of my Carcanos...

1891 Terni, 1918, matching. This rifle is rather unique as it has the deepest struck cartouch and serial number I have ever seen on any rifle stock! It has a pristine bore and factory accuracy inspection marking. This gun was most likely a late arrival to World War 1, and was never issued or refurbished, it is also depot marked likely before long term storage.

Pics don't really do it justice.

 

[frank30]

THATS BEAUTIFUL. i love that 1933, now im really itching to find one. I wonder where all the carcanos are, i dont see these later dates turn up often

Here is my collection about 10 years ago. Soory for the bad quality. Have sold and bought since... I will try to take a new picture some day.

I had a nice 1934 m91 i sold a few years ago and regret it, but was lucky enough to find a very nice unrefurbished 1933 m91

 

[frank30]

Here is my collection about 10 years ago. Soory for the bad quality. Have sold and bought since... I will try to take a new picture some day.

I had a nice 1934 m91 i sold a few years ago and regret it, but was lucky enough to find a very nice unrefurbished 1933 m91

are those trainers on the far left? the ones that fire blanks?

 

[fredqc]

on the left they are balilla youth rifles. I have a vetterli trainer in .22 LR made by beretta in the 1930, but it is not on the old pictures. I will take a newer one this week end with all the family.

 

[frank30]

id love to see the vetterli, ive read about them. ill take some closer pics of mine as well and post. btw we never spoke after our last trade, the greek used 91/24s awesome. thanks again.

on the left they are balilla youth rifles. I have a vetterli trainer in .22 LR made by beretta in the 1930, but it is not on the old pictures. I will take a newer one this week end with all the family.

 

[fredqc]

THATS BEAUTIFUL. i love that 1933, now im really itching to find one. I wonder where all the carcanos are, i dont see these later dates turn up often

According to Ross Arendell/ Steve Woodrum book, very few m91 made by terni between 1932 and 1936. There seem to be errors with some numbers because mine is 1933 and 2F, and some years named twice (from his carcano book). but here the serial numbers:
1932: 2A476 to 2b121
1933: 2b457 to 2b2453
1933 (?): 2b9110 to 2c2860
1934: 2c3405 to 2h7021
1935: 2i397 to 2i9046
1936 : 2k359 to 2k8892
1936 (?): 2b3297 to 2b8865
1941: 01060 to 01075

The real gem is finding a 1941 made by terni as only 16 produced that year

Beretta also made some in the 30' and are harder to find (very few made, some for the civilain market)

 

[frank30]

were you able to find your m91 in canada? the one i tracked down was a 1934 terni in the US with a light stock like the m41s. I convinced myself i didnt need another m91....

 

[fredqc]

were you able to find your m91 in canada? the one i tracked down was a 1934 terni in the US with a light stock like the m41s. I convinced myself i didnt need another m91....

yes, all my carcano have been bought in Canada, except for the Type I that is a mix of an arisaka and a carcano. I had to import it from the US few years ago to fill a italian/japanese space because they are very hard to find in Canada and were very cheap in the US at that time.

Very happy with our trade, i was looking for a 1889 belgian mauser for a long time as i missed a very nice one at P&s militaria few years ago. I love the geman capture feature and 8mm caliber!

 

[fredqc]

Eveyone has posted some neat rifles! ^That 1933 is very unique.

Here is one of my Carcanos...

1891 Terni, 1918, matching. This rifle is rather unique as it has the deepest struck cartouch and serial number I have ever seen on any rifle stock! It has a pristine bore and factory accuracy inspection marking. This gun was most likely a late arrival to World War 1, and was never issued or refurbished, it is also depot marked likely before long term storage.

Pics don't really do it justice.

Very nice! Here is mine just beside the 1933, the stock cartouche is not as clear, but still a rare find in this condition (also bad picture quality...)

I also have a rare unrefurbished 1918 Roma made m91. Only problem is that has been varnished. Will try to post pictures

 

[fredqc]

As we rarely have an Italian tread open, i will put some pictures i already have taken. here is my 91/28 trombocino missing the grenade launcher...

 

[fredqc]

Carcano youth made by Brescia. With a plaque in honor of or for Gulli Tomaso (young man who got it or in honor of a wwi hero). Missing bayonet, often removed by worried parents...

 

[fredqc]

Carcano german capture. Serial number fall in number seized by german in 1943 when italian changed side and a faint eagle on bottom of stock (they took control of Brescia factory fast and sent these newly made carbines to germany). Also interesting is that FNA Brescia never simplified the rear sight of their 1891/39 cavalry carbines, so they are technically a 1891 cavalry

Enough for tonight