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Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  ITALIAN RIFLE MODEL 1941 6.5MM SN# H9215
Maker/Manufacturer:	MANNLICHER-CARCANO
Date of Manufacture:	1941
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 725
Measurements:	OL:116.8CM 46" BL: 68.5CM 27" 8.21 lbs. empty

Object Description:

ITALIAN RIFLE MODEL 1941 6.5MM SN# H9215
Manufactured by Terni Arsenal, Terni, Italy in 1941 - Standard infantry, bolt-action Model 1941 rifle. Developed in 1940 to replace the M1891. 6-round in-line non-detachable box magazine. Muzzle velocity 2360 fps. Weapon weighs approximately 8.21 lbs. empty.

Markings:
Receiver: proof mark.
Barrel: H9215, rectangle Crown/FAT/41.
Bolt: Rectangle PG DH3649 mismatched M1891 bolt.
Stock: H9215, obscured manufacturer's stamp.

Notes: "Here is a military firearm that was in production from 1891 through World War II. In fact, the Carcano was the first 6.5mm military rifle ever adopted and featured a unique, gain twist barrel. No country is going to arm the forces that insure its survival with a piece of junk. The Carcano is no exception. It just doesn't have the glamour of a Springfield or Mauser, and it doesn't lend itself so readily to conversion into a sporting rifle.
Like most countries in the 1880s, Italy convened a military 'Commission' to guide the country from the black powder era into the smokeless. The first action of the Commission was to adopt the 6.5 x 52 cartridge in 1890. The 6.5mm bore size in many ways was an excellent choice. It permits the use of a bullet with a tremendous sectional density and ballistic coefficient at moderate velocities
The result is a flat shooting rifle with modest recoil. It's interesting to note that following Italy's lead, Romania, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Luxembourg, Japan, Greece, and Portugal subsequently adopted the 6.5mm caliber as well....
Having adopted a cartridge, Italy needed a rifle. The Commission rejected numerous designs like the Mauser and Lee. One of the intriguing aspects of the trials was that the Commission had decided to use a gain twist barrel to overcome the effects of throat erosion. The twist begins with a pitch of 1:19-inches at the breech ending at the muzzle. That fact was to be a guarded military secret. Consequently, none of the non-Italian arms makers were provided with gain twist barrels for their trials guns.
Having rejected all of the non-Italian models, the Commission adopted in 1892 a design developed at the Fabbrica Nationale d'Armi in Turin by a team headed by Lt. Col. Salvatore Carcano. The rifle featured a Mannlicher magazine (for which Italy paid Mannlicher 300,000 lira for the rights to the design) combined with a receiver and bolt designed by the Carcano team.
The first official model of the Carcano was called the Fucile di Fanteria Modello 1891. In collecting circles, it is simply referred to today as the Model 91 Carcano. This is a long rifle with a 30 11/16-inch barrel and an overall length of 50 9/16 inches. It weighs 8 1/2 pounds, the battle sight is set at 300 meters and the adjustable portion of the sight ranges from 600 to 2,000 meters. Most Model 91s were produced at the Terni armory.
In 1941, this basic Model 91 was returned to production as the Model 41 rifle. The only significant differences between the Model 91 and the Model 41 are that the barrel of the Model 41 is 3 7/16 inches shorter, measuring 27 1/16", and it is not rifled with a gain twist." - Holt Bodinson, GUNS, April, 2004.

"MODEL 1941 RIFLE - The Mo. 1941, credited to Major Robert Boragine, was recognizable by its shortened barrel and reduced-scale 1000m (1095 yd) quadrant sight. Constant-twist rifling replaced the original progressive variety, but few guns were made before the major part of the Italian armed forces surrendered to the Allies in 1943. Perhaps only 1,000 were made in the Terni factory. Chambered for he 6.5x52 cartridge, they were 46.15in long, had 27.15in barrels and weighed 8.2 lbs. empty." - Walter.

References:
Walter, John. RIFLES OF THE WORLD. 2nd Ed. Krause Publications. Iola, Wi. 1998.