Carcano, what do I have?

[merrbarb]

A friend gave me a short barreled Carcano (rifle or carbine?). What research that I have done shows about 16 variants from its inception in 1891 (through about 1950?). I cannot identify this one from the many photos that I have seen. Sorry, no pics but I will try to describe as best I can. This firearm is 37.25 inches long from muzzle to toe of stock. The barrel is 17.25 inches long. Inscription near the muzzle shows import marks : CAI. ST. ALB. VT. Below that inscription is: CARCANO 6.5 ITALY. The barrel just ahead of the receiver has 5 flats; the bottom is rounded. Just ahead of the flats is the adjustable sight. By pushing in a button on the left, the sight swings upward in increments indexed by grooves on the right, and from numbers 6 to 15. The top of the flat says TERNI, The right says 1930 VIII, and the right side flat says FP. The left flat says G5 243 (serial number?, and the left side flat has an oval stamp that probably is an identification mark, that is identifiable if I knew what it was. The metal ferrule near the muzzle has a bayonet lug on the bottom, is held on by one screw, and is 1.25 inches wide all the way around. Just 2.25 inches from the bayonet keeper is a metal band that is removed by depressing a band spring. The band has a sling swivel on the bottom and a fixed sling slot on the left side. Likewise, the butt stock has a sling swivel on the bottom, and a fixed sling holder on the left side. The bottom of the left side butt stock has a number - 0006 - that is to correspond to the serial number of the receiver, but doesn't in this case. There is also a circle within a circle on the left side but the wood is so "used" one cannot discern any markings. The bolt handle is turned down. The blueing is about 80% with about 5% of the the area pit corrosion. The stock is "gawd awful" but no cracks, or missing wood- just hard "honest" use. There is no serial number at the base of the bolt, and the bolt works "unsmooth", but this is probably normal for the Carcano? The bore has sharp rifling but there may be some slight corrosion. The question is what do I have, and what is the probable range of value given the description above? Thank you in advance.

 

[DiN_BLiX]

Sounds like a century import, carcanos are not really desirable for several reasons. The main ones beeing the rough action and the dependence of an en-bloc clip. This is the type of rifle Lee Oswald supposedly used to shoot pres. Kennedy, and has been discribed by many as "the worlds worst shoulder weapon". Should make a nice beater, or wall hanger.

 

[Vaarok]

And to completely counterargue, the Carcano's a dandy little quarter-bore carbine or rifle with light recoil, great battle sights, usually has excellent accuracy, and is very inexpensive. Yes, it loads with clips unless you put a mag block in there, but still, a good rifle.

Sounds like you've got a M38 Carcano Carbine in 6.5mm, which is a nice handy little rifle. Value's between $100 and $250, with $250 being for a top-of-the-line nice one. Probably $150 is more or less average.

I really like my 1891 Carcano long rifle. Very accurate, very elegant, and a fun gun to shoot. And yes, the bolt's a little coarse to operate. So's a Mosin, and ask a couple million Germans how much of a problem that was for the Russians.

Most of the bad press for these rifles comes from the fact that the Carcano is small-bore (just like the Type 38 Arisaka, it got dismissed as a pipsqueak in WW2 by allied propaganda), and should use a .268 cylindrical round-nose bullet, not a .264 spitzer like a Swede or other 6.5mm rifle. Improper loads is probably why the accuracy of a Carcano isn't fully recognized.

Plus all the propaganda about how Oswald somehow couldn't take a couple sixty-yard shots at a slow-moving target from a rest.

 

[cracked butt]

^^^Completely agree with the above post^^^

Carcanos are often poo-poo'd by people who haven't shot them.


The only exception are some of the carcano rifles that have been cut down to carbine length- they had gain twist rifling, and lopping off several inches of the tighter rifling left them unable to stabilize heavier bullets.

 

[Essex County]

Let Me stick up for the poor old Carcano. A close family member bought one in the fifties for 9.95 from the old Hunters Lodge. I think it was the first centerfire rifle I ever touched off..the action was rough, the sight poor...but it accounted for a bunch of deer and God knows how many Woodchucks. I'm fully aware of all it's short comeings. I've owned three or four and at one time handloaded for them. I still have a soft spot for them. Essex

 

[Joe Demko]

I will also take up for the Carcano. They are nifty little rifles. Most of the criticism for them comes from people who have never fired one.

 

[dagger dog]

i believe one of the major bullet manufactuers is producing Carcano bullets in 6.5 mm the correct size.
i once owned a carbine and was thinking about reloading for it, and found the info Varrok previously stated , about the bullet dia. and the bad rap of being inherently inaccurate.
the safety takes a little getting used to. but its handy size would make a perfect truck gun.

dd