French & Italian Rifle Forum

8mm Carcano questions

feeds@yuku.com (Bruno Kampfe) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:19:02 GMT

Working on a 8mm carcano project and have a few questions.

First I need a new upper handguard, what should I ask for? Seems the one on mine is short (maybe made for the "flip" sight of the earlier model.)

Also, how are the front and rear sight attached? Are they pressed, silver-soldered? Both of mine are loose, and need to be re-centered and permanently affixed.

Finally, does the 8mm accept a standard 6.5 or 7.35 extractor? Mine is chewed up pretty...

Pictures my Remington manufactured Lebel

feeds@yuku.com (Carl Gustav) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:31:40 GMT

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/7316157

I posted these some years ago and am doing so again for those who might not have seen them. This is really a beautiful rifle. I just bought some Prvi Partisan ammo for it (ouch!!) and hope to try it out soon. Carl

M1938 Carcano bolt question

feeds@yuku.com (maineack) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:24:14 GMT

I have just aquired this rifle. When i take the bolt out to disasasemble, I grasp the bolt body and pull back on the cocking knob and rotate counterclockwise. This allows the firing pin to move foward. What bothers me is that in this position the firing pin is protruding about 1/16" of a inch beyond the bolt face, and you cannot push pin back in without pulling back on cocking knob. It looks to me like it might pierce the primer. Also I see some of these rifles with stright bolts and...

Mas 1936

feeds@yuku.com (zeebill) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:17:35 GMT

My Lord I don't believe I did it! I bought a French rifle in a moment of weakness. Never looked twice at them before they just weren't my cup of tea I guess. I own a rather beat up MAS 1936 rifle which appears to have a fairly nice bore and much wear and tear on it otherwise. For $70 out the door I could not resist. The first thing I did was pinch my finger with the bolt! Not a great start huh? Well here we go again another rifle to learn the ins and outs of I guess. Is this thing...

MLLE 1916 Carbine

feeds@yuku.com (wsmrto) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:47:09 GMT

I am away from home and came across a MILE 1916 that is VG condition and have no referances on it. The metal has mostly gone to a light gray and the wood is very nice with some marks on it but no chips or gouges. Bore has very good distinct rifling but is filthy. This is a very short barreled carbine at about 17 inches. The rifle is on consignment and is listed at $300. I think it will clean up to be a very nice collector and with the availability of 8MM Lebel brass it may be a fun shoter...

Carcano Bolts Exchangeable?

feeds@yuku.com (kenshi4lyfe) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:13:12 GMT

Hi guys,

Is the Carcano 6.5mm bolt exchangeable with a 7.35mm bolt? Thanks

Carcano 1891/38 TS vs. M38 Carcano

feeds@yuku.com (kenshi4lyfe) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:12:03 GMT

How can you tell the difference between a 1891/38 TS Carcano and a M38 Carcano? Thanks.

49/56 trigger spring

feeds@yuku.com (F4D) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:48:53 GMT

Anyone know where a trigger spring can be had? Mine broke into three pieces and I managed to make one from piano wire but would like an original. I have tried E-gun parts to no avail.

Thanks, Jerry

French military primers

feeds@yuku.com (MIKE412) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:04:50 GMT

Does anyone know why French military primers "give up the ghost" so early? I see so much of the Lebel military ammo that looks brand new, but most of it hang fires or dosen't fire at all.
I've always wondered if this was built in for some reason.

First use of Beech wood stocks?

feeds@yuku.com (RayGr) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:37:20 GMT

I posted this question on a couple of forum sites also.
Anyway I just got this all correct, no upgrades, all matching May 1940 K 3184 Mas 36 that has a Beechwood butt stock and forearm. Now from everything I have read Beechwood wasn't used for stocks until 1944. Could this be an earlier first use of Beech wood when the arsenal began implementing/substuting that wood for stocks or did it sit in the arsenal until fully assembled in 1944 even though it has a low K serial number well...

Model 1938 Terni

feeds@yuku.com (AlleyOop007) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:17:29 GMT

Back in the 1950s I acquired a small folding bayonet and metal scabbard at an "old time" army surplus store. It was 40 years later with the advent of the Internet that I found out the little bayonet fit the Italian Model 1938 Carcano and I naturally had to have the rifle that fit the bayonet (at least thats what I told my wife).

I bought this little rifle at a gun show back in the...

49/56 Problem

feeds@yuku.com (Colin) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:41:21 GMT

I have a MAS 49/56 that thinks it's an FM 24/29. I shortened the firing pin at the tip from 4.162" to 4.152" and it still doubles every 5 or 6 rounds. Don't know how much more I can take off before it doesn't protrude enough to set off a primer when the trigger is pulled. Any idea of what to do next? I've heard of gunsmiths who turn down the firing pin to lighten it about 30%; does anyone have experience with this or knows who does the work. I've also heard...

Italian Vetterli and current Carcano ammo

feeds@yuku.com (bkbville) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:07:25 GMT

Is current 6.5 carcano ammo the same as was shot in these things?

(i.e. is it safe to shoot?)

WWI Carcano bayonet

feeds@yuku.com (pastmaster1610) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:56:04 GMT

I have a WWI 1891 Carcano long rifle (1917), and I want to equip it with the correct bayonet and scabbard. But all the Carcano bayonets look the same to me! How do I identify a WWI bayonet? What codes, or other identifying marks should I be looking for?

Need help with a Carcaco

feeds@yuku.com (Eat Dirt) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:45:35 GMT

just picked up this carcano and I heed some help to I D it

says "300 SAV " on top of barrel / is that possible ??

Also the plate on the bottom of mag well is missing / Where can I find one and will the rifle still work ??

Need random info on Italian and French revolvers, Bodeo and 1892......(pics added)

feeds@yuku.com (stantheman1986) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:35:22 GMT

I have some various quick questions......

Around what time frame where the Bodeo revolvers refurbished, for the ones that were? I have 3 right now, 2 of them look like they were refurbished and then used again, and the other one looks like a fresh refurb, like a typical 1895 Nagant type reblue and all the parts are fresh. Looks like it was hardly even turned after the refurb. Were these done like the...

Crazy Auction Price for a Carcano TS carbine????

feeds@yuku.com (eagle7) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:56:11 GMT

A Model 38 TS carbine with an anchor stamp on the bolt handle root and the naval shield cartouche on the butt sold today on Gunbroker for a winning bid of $870. The stock number matches the barrel serial number, and the butt is also stamped 7.35, as most of the M38s that stayed in Italy were after most 7.35mm Carcanos were sold to Finland in 1940.

The starting bid was $149, and there were a total of 14 bids. Evidently a bidding war developed between four individuals. The $32...

Lebel rifle confusion, bulged brass when fired?

feeds@yuku.com (stantheman1986) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:44:56 GMT

I fired 1 round of the PRVI 8mm Lebel through my Lebel rifle, and immediately stopped and didn't shoot any more when I examined the brass. The sides were bulged out more than an unfired case, and it looks like the shoulder of the case had moved up as if to form to the chamber. IMO looks like the chamber was longer than the casing and so the brass expanded to fit an oversize chamber.

The rifle is not "N" marked. Could it possibly have been reamed for the "Balle...

Anyone fire their Carcano 1871/87/15?

feeds@yuku.com (stantheman1986) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:39:45 GMT

I may have gotten the model numbers wrong, but the converted 11mm Italian rifles, converted to 6.5mm.

I know they are totally unsafe to fire with full power 6.5, but I just got one on the cheap to fill out my "Italian WWI" collection and go with my Bodeo revolvers. Picked up a decent one for about $150, which seems fair to me because they can't easily be fired. I have seen them listed for over $400, way high IMO because there are so many of them around.

I was...

Bastille Day 2009

feeds@yuku.com (1886lebel) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:36:31 GMT

Here are a few pictures of the event that Tony and myself did for Bastille Day.
I am sorry the pictures are a bit dark but we were inside all day as it was 100 degrees outside and A/C was going so you can imagine where we stood around for the event ... Inside.
We had alot of people come visit us, there were a few gentleman who were in the French Army at one time, they liked my impression and knowledge on the WWI French poilu, weapons and equipment.
Alot of people commented...