Lee Harvey Oswald's Model 1938 Mannlicher-Carcano rifle, in the US National Archives

Carcano is a series of Italian bolt-action rifle military rifles. Introduced in 1891, this rifle was in caliber 6.5x52 mm. It was developed at the Turin Army Arsenal in 1890 and called the Model 91 (M91) It was produced from 1890 to 1918.The M91 was issued in both rifle and carbine form to most Italian troops during the First World War.

Although this rifle is commonly termed the Mannlicher-Carcano, that name was never official, rather the correct official name is the "Mauser-Paravicino." The name Mannlicher-Carcano is also misleading because the rifle's bolt action was based on a German Mauser-style bolt action, not the Austrian Mannlicher-style. The Mannlicher designation comes from the fact that the rifle uses a Mannlicher-type magazine system.

A shorter variant called the M1938 (M38) began production in both rifle and carbine form in 1937 and had been issued to Italian troops during World War II, though many M91s also saw service as well. A longer-barreled sniper version called the Model 1941 (M41) had been produced as well. Some M38s were produced in the larger 7.35x51mm caliber, but most retained the smaller standard 6.5x52mm caliber of the Model 91. A few M38 rifles issued to Italian troops in Africa were chambered for the larger caliber German 7.92x57mm Mauser ammunition. These were sometimes called the Model 1943 (M43.)

After World War II, Italy replaced its Carcano rifles with the US .30 caliber M-1 Garand semiautomatic rifle which the Italians labeled the Model 1952 (M52.) Large quantities of surplus Carcanos were sold in the USA and Canada beginning in the 1950s.

The most famous example of a Mannlicher-Carcano was the one allegedly used by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963 to assassinate U.S. President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Oswald had purchased the surplus rifle from a sporting goods mail order firm in Chicago for $12.78.

Specifications

• Country of Origin: Italy
• Type: Bolt action rifle
• Magazine: six rounds, single-stack, fixed box type, Mannlicher type charger (clip)
• Length: 102.1 cm (40.20 inches)
• Barrel Length: 53 cm (20.87 inches)
• Weight: 3.40 kg (7.50 lbs)
• Caliber: 6.5mm X 52 mm
• Rifling: four grooves, right hand twist (early models had gain twist rifling)
• Front Sights: Blade
• Rear Sights: Notch

Variants

• Fucile di Fanteria Mo.1891 (long infantry rifle Model 1891) adopted 1891
• Moschetto Mo.91 da Cavalleria (short cavalry carbine) adopted 1893
• Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mo.91 (or M91TS, carbine for special troops) adopted 1897
• Mo. 1938 (Model 1938) modernized version adopted 1938

See also

• List of common WWII infantry weapons

External links

• Carcano Model Identification (http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/models.html)
• Modern Firearms (http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl21-e.htm)