Carcano stock question....

[montanaoffroader]

Just picked up a Carcano 1891 TS for $20 at a yard sale. Bubba has had his hands on this one, and the stock is in sad shape.

I've been looking around for a stock and have seen a few for the M38 version and I am wondering if my 1891 will fit into an M38 stock. This is going to be a truck gun/backup deer rifle.

 

[boom boom]

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Just picked up a Carcano 1891 TS for $20 at a yard sale. Bubba has had his hands on this one, and the stock is in sad shape.

I've been looking around for a stock and have seen a few for the M38 version and I am wondering if my 1891 will fit into an M38 stock. This is going to be a truck gun/backup deer rifle.

A qualified yes. You may have to do inletting and obviously you have a bayonet channel if you are getting the carbine stock which had a folding bayonet. I don't believe that a long rifle barrel will fit the profile of a carbine stock with inletting the barrel channel and for the sights which differ. It may fit fine in a cutdown long rifle stock which are commonly called carbine stocks or sporter stocks. The receiver, trigger guard, and magazine inletting should be identical.

Few things, the original long barrelled Carcano 1891 and 91 models have a gain twist barrel which can quite accurate. The Italians then made them in short rifles both in the 7.35 caliber and the original 6.5 which is the 91/38. I don't believe that these used a gain twist so you should be ok if that is what you have. Calvary Carbines have the shortest barrels and a swiveling bayonet. However, the need for carbines led Italy to simply chop some of the long rifle barrels as a refit for carbines which leaves them with an incorrect twist, which led to a reputation for inaccuracy. That was compounded by Bubba chopping long barrels as well.

The ones built as carbines don't have the problem but you need to have pictures of the markings on the receiver and barrel, if still present, to be sure what you have. Hopefully you do not have one chambered in 8mm in which case, I would not recommend firing them--Germans altered them as a war time expedient late in WWII. Some others have been rechambered so make sure to have that checked before firing. Clips (yes the Carcano actually uses clips that feed through the magazine) can be had at numrich or ebay. Ammo--Prvi Partisan loads both the 6.5 and 7.35 with good brass, however, may or may not be scarce--try Grafs and Sons or AIM Surplus. Hornady Military ammunition series has the correct sized bullet for the 6.5 which is not the .264-265 (.268-9 was the Italian std.) and is a bit more expensive.

This webpage tells you basic things to look for to find out what you have. http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/models.html

Hope you enjoy your new rifle.

 

[montanaoffroader]

I did some basic research on the rifle and according to the serial number it was originally an M1891 TS (Truppe Speciali). The barrel has not been cut, but an extension has been added, for what reason I can't guess. The TS was nothing more than a shorter version of the standard long rifle, complete with gain twist rifling up until the 1930's. My example was built in 1915 and the barrel still measures 17.7 inches (plus the extension). The bore is still 6.5 mm but I haven't found anyone local with a set of 6.5x52 headspace gauges so I may have figure out a way to fire it remotely and look at the fired cases.

As soon as I pick up a box of ammo, I'm off to the range to see how it shoots. If it is safe and shoots reasonably well, then I will be ordering some enbloc clips and looking for a better stock. Not necessarily a full military stock, just something bit better than what's on it now.

 

[22250Rem]

Real interesting; and for $20. it's beginning to look as though you got a great deal for the intended use (truck gun / backup deer rifle). Post some shooting results if it's checked out as safe to shoot. Seems like it could handle your intended use without having to invest a lot more than it cost you. Oh; and what does the bore condition look like?

 

[Sunray]

The 1891 and TS stocks(sold out) are different part numbers at Gunparts. So I'd guess they're not interchangeable.
Bob's Gun Parts is listing semi-finished walnut sporters stocks for Carcano's at $165. http://www.gun-parts.com/militarystocks/

 

[montanaoffroader]

The bore looks pretty decent with strong rifling. Not perfect but not bad either.

I looked at the stocks at Bob's, not sure I'm willing to spend $165 on a $20 rifle. I'll make that decision after it's been test fired.

Thanks for the replies folks, some useful info and some things for me to ponder.

 

[boom boom]

The bore looks pretty decent with strong rifling. Not perfect but not bad either.

I looked at the stocks at Bob's, not sure I'm willing to spend $165 on a $20 rifle. I'll make that decision after it's been test fired.



Thanks for the replies folks, some useful info and some things for me to ponder.

Good. The carbine stocks are actually easier to find. Long stocks were cut years ago. Ebay has them quite frequently and a sporter stock should work with a little inletting of the barrel channel if it was previously a long rifle stock. The sight bases are different in length and in letting. Right now model 38 sporter stock on eBay for $57 and s/h. Boyds has also carried them in the past. 4d reamer rentals in Montana has carcano gauges for rental. They mail you the gauges and you pay rental plus deposit up front. Then you mail them back when finished. Snap caps by azoom if still available can serve as a go gauge. Good luck.