Look what turned up in the barn...Carcano?

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So the same friend from work who had the Pattern 14 Lee Enfield training rifle last week dropped in at the shop today. He told me he had a present for me. I think its a Carcano, but I have no knowledge on these at all and I have no idea what is there and whats gone. Definitely an interesting curiosity none the less!

Barrel actually looks pretty good inside. Every part that is numbered is 781 or 81. Its a shame that it is in this condition but what can you do. It needs a firing pin, a lot of wood work,and I have no idea what else.

Is the front magazine screw on these really all that holds the barrel in place? What a neat bolt design, completely tool-less dis-assembly/assembly.

If it is doable I would love to try and bring this thing back. I bet that 6.5 is a pussycat to shoot and this thing or one like it would make an awesome transition rifle for my wife from .22s to something larger. Do you guys think trying to save it is realistic?

I guess pics would help, sorry got to fast on the trigger finger there, update in a few minutes...













 
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The 6.5x52 round is pleasant to shoot and the Carcano can be an accurate rifle if the proper .268 dia bullets are loaded. I had one with a bubba side mounted scope on it and it easily shot 1.5" groups at 100yds. If it's restorable then go for it.

How about some pics?
 
If it is a Carcano, the front magazine screw does not hold the barrel on.
Photos would really help.
 
Looks like a Cooey Carcano. Check to see if it is chambered in 6.5x54 MS, and see if there is a set screw at the bottom of the receiver. Do not fire if the set screw is not there.
 
mr.e moose said:
Looks like a Cooey Carcano. Check to see if it is chambered in 6.5x54 MS, and see if there is a set screw at the bottom of the receiver. Do not fire if the set screw is not there.
Click to expand...

The set screw does not hold the barrel in place, all it does it keep it indexed into the barrel stub in which it's affixed.
 
Will do, and can not fire it even if I wanted. The firing pin was broken off about halfway down. Yes it appears to be missing the set screw. Anyone know what thread it should be? Should there have been a detent in the threads or something to lock the barrel in the right spot? Top of the barrel is only marked 6.5.

Wheels are turning...
 
Did you use tools to remove the barrel assembly from the receiver, or was it only hand tight?
It should be torqued in.
The original barrel was cut off, and the stump bored out and threaded. The barrel itself was then threaded to match, and screwed into the stump. No shoulder, thus the set screw.
This was done in Canada, so the threads will almost certainly be Imperial.
 
Cooey Carcano's were 6.5x54 and used regular .264 bullets so disregard my post about .268 dia stuff. I had an Eatons/Cooey Carcano as well at one time and it shot well with regular Hornady 140gr bullets. Recoil is very light and should work well for all sorts of game. Not really restorable to military trim at this point but it would make a fun target/hunting rifle.
 
Thanks Tiriaq, I think that about settles it. The barrel was less than hand tight at the receiver, if tightened it doesn't time right, the sights are pretty far off to the side. Was there an indexing washer or something along those lines at the receiver? The main barrel is timed right to the stub and is tight there, the set screw there is missing though, I think. There is some rusty dirt down in there, maybe it is there not sure.

This one is over my head! It has sparked my interest a bit though.
 
It is also missing the second (rear) trigger and the associated parts. These rifles had a set trigger mechanism so that you could get a very light pull on the front trigger by pulling back the rear trigger first, thus cocking the front trigger. You could also fire the rifle using the front trigger, but the weight of pull was horrendous.
 
mr.e moose said:
Do you usually fire rifles in which the barrels are not indexed? Can I borrow your rabbit's foot?
Click to expand...

The point is that the set screw does not retain the barrel in the stump. There have been claims that it was only the setscrew that help the barrel in the gun - no threads.
The setscrew may be redundant; tools may be needed to unscrew the barrel from the stump when the screw has been removed.
 
tiriaq said:
The point is that the set screw does not retain the barrel in the stump. There have been claims that it was only the setscrew that help the barrel in the gun - no threads.
The setscrew may be redundant; tools may be needed to unscrew the barrel from the stump when the screw has been removed.
Click to expand...

The point is, I am kind of fond of my face and I am even fonder of my wives face. The OP said it might be his wives gun and so if the rifle over indexes and the sights are off I would be concerned of a headspace issue.
 
Likely it would be practical to set up the barrel indexing with a lead crush washer, quite thin.

These were Italian Model of 1891 Carcano rifles which were modified in the late 1920s by Howard W. Cooey and sold by the T. Eaton mail-order house.

As said, lots of threads on them, especially in this forum. ANDY did a superb TEST series on one of these, shot it to destruction. They are STRONG.

The 6.5x54 MS cartridge is a great little low-recoil round. Load it with a flatbase 140 OR 160 and there are few rounds better for bush-hunting. EXCELLENT penetration and accuracy.

This one needs work..... but the PRICE was sure RIGHT!

Great find!
 
BTW, ANY Carcano firing-pin will work in your rifle, regardless what it came out of. They were identical, all makes, models, calibres.

Likely pick one up on the EE for $10 or so.
 
Smellie, any idea where I could find a suitable lead washer to work with? I'll see what I can find on the EE for the missing bits and pieces. Nicki is now in love with the thing, as soon as she found out it was converted by Cooey it is now on the MUST SAVE list! Ha ha. The wood work should be easy enough, its really dry so half of the work is done already. I'll have to spin a number of hardwood dowels, clean the thing spotlessly, build a patch for the side where the chunk is missing, open and clean all the cracks etc. Will be a challenge but it is all do able and only takes time. Now I need to build a rust blue tank and box, thats four rifles in dire need of a replacement finish.
 
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