Carcano Moschetto 91 Carbine and its Folding Bayonet

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Following rapidly on the heels of the M91 rifle, the Italian military adopted the Moschetto M91 in 1893 as a carbine to equip a variety of forces. They were issued to cavalry, Bersaglieri, Carabinieri, and others who needed handier weapon with an attached bayonet. This is a remarkably light and handy weapon, which is still not uncomfortable to shoot thanks to the light-recoiling 6.5x52mm cartridge.
Production continued until 1938, when an M38 pattern of the Moschetto appeared in 7.35mm and then reverted to 6.5mm in 1940. Production really took off after 1940, as this was the most economical pattern of Carcano to produce and was widely issued during World War Two.
Thanks to InterOrdnance / Royal Tiger Imports for providing these carbines from their Ethiopian imports for the video!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
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Tucson, AZ 85740

[@Scourgething]

With Ian talking about how ugly the bayonet is i'm picturing a soldier being stabbed and complaining about how the enemy couldn't have used a nicer looking bayonet.

[@BleedingUranium]

I think it looks awesome. :( The Carcano carbine is probably my favourite bolt action rifle of all time, aesthetically.

[@F4Wildcat]

*Greek soldier gets stabbed "What kind of ugly piece of Skata is this! You call that a bayonet? As to thialo!

[@exploatores]

It sucks as a letteropener, It sucks as a canoperner and It´s no good to have to put the barrel over the fire to roast a chicken. I think all those three things are a lot more common use of a bayonet then stabbing someone.

[@pumpkin91ful]

@@exploatores No, it give a wound impossible to cure ,so...

[@ostsan8598]

You'd think with all the attention the Italians give to their uniforms, that they would have hired Armani or somebody to have designed the carbine as well.

[@linusbol]

this video brought me back in 1967, when at 20, enrolled in the Carabinieri, I was given a 91-38.

[@linusbol]

@@toki89666 it's not the number of years, it's the brain's use!

[@williamhenryharrison644]

This video brought me back to 1963 when I was in the Dallas book depository

[@OhBoysPaintball]

@@williamhenryharrison644 Lol. This isn’t the same type of carcano Oswald used tho.

[@ngzcaz]

@@williamhenryharrison644 Yeah, not funny or humorous. I lived thru that time period when JFK JR was saluting his Dad at his funeral. No one was laughing.

[@hansgruber9685]

@@ngzcaz Ok boomer

[@bami2]

When you want to ride the hills like winged hussars and stab your enemies to death but you only have a bicycle.

[@alexander1485]

Bicycles downhill can be faster than some armored cars

[@kantenklaus9753]

@@alexander1485Blitzkrieg on the bicycle!!

[@theultimatederp3288]

​@@andrehashimoto8056 France: Hold my wine. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespa_150_TAP

[@HingerlAlois]

kantenklaus Also the Wehrmacht used bicycles...

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Bicycle troops were common in the years prior of WWI. They obviously didn't replace cavalry, but mounted infantry. A man on a bicycle can travel longer distances in shorter time than one on a horse actually.

[@JerryEricsson]

I had one of those on my gun table at a gun show back in the late 80's. A fellow brought it in and traded it for a knife I had on display. It wasn't much of a knife and all my fellow gun dealers laughed at me for even displaying it because it was considered about on the same scale as an old H&R 32 top break revolver. To everyone's surprise a fellow came in to the show and walked straight over to my table, offered me 30 bucks for the rifle. I sold it to him for that and was happy since the knife I had traded for it cost me 2 bucks, one of those crap Pakistan knives. Seems the fellow swore by the Carcano rifles for deer hunting, had lots of clips and ammo, he wanted the short version for his son who was just getting into hunting White Tail Deer.

[@gilbeck1972]

Me when looking at that bayonet “man I could cook so many hotdogs on that”

[@Mavd-mk9iq]

Me in a trench cooking a rat

[@NicksAcct]

Italian sausages*

[@matteograssi5898]

I bet they did it

[@huckleberry602]

I have one of the 1938 models that I picked up at a gun show for a steal. It’s a very proud member of my collection.

[@nottheatf5608]

I also have one of these I got it for 50 bucks at a pawn shop but the bayonet was snapped in half I repaired it though

[@Redbird1504]

@@nottheatf5608You got the whole rifle for $50? Was it in fireable condition?

[@nottheatf5608]

Red Powell kinda a whole rifle but no, the firing pin was broken but I own a forge and replicated one, same with the bayonet

[@Jeqavy_Wavy]

huckleberry602 I picked a Berreta M91/38 that was a vet bring back. The soldiers Social # is on it in two places. Bought it from the nephew of the vet.

[@giterdone246]

Huckleberry602. IM YOUR HUCKLEBERRY

[@joegoetz8884]

Over the years, I’ve owned all the famous military bolt guns. They all have their pros and cons. I had a carcano carbine like this for a while, and found it to be one of slickest bolt guns ever. The clip loads easily, and the bolt was very smooth and fast. The 6.5 Carcano cartridge was derided back in the day for not being as powerful as the rest,but it actually offers a very good level of power. A semi auto scaled to and chambered for the 6.5 would have been ahead of its time.

[@RedXlV]

I'd say it was a mistake for Italy to switch to 7.35mm, and not just in terms of logistics. They would've been better off just switching to a spitzer bullet for the 6.5mm. Also, they *did* make some semi-auto rifles in 6.5mm Carcano. But none ever got past the prototype stage.

[@ultor__]

The bolts on two of my three Carcanos are terrible. They can be operated but are a far cry from all the other bolt actions from that era. That being said, it speaks volumes for Italy's industrial capacity in those days. It was among the poorer countries in Europe and this reflects in the quality of their guns. However, they functioned (and killed...) none the less.

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

@@ultor__ it really depends on condition and manufacturing location. My Cardone is one of the smoothest bolt guns I own whilst my brecias are nothing special.

[@benjamink3730]

Bullet geometry makes a huge difference!

[@hansgruber9685]

@@RedXlV Everyone is hot on the 6.5 now but the Italians and Swedes had it figured out back in the 1800s.

[@LUR1FAX]

Speaking of bicycle cavalries, there's a Danish film called "9. April" which is about the German invasion of Denmark in 1940. It follows a group of Danish bicycle soldiers.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Bicycle troops were common in those years. They obviously didn't replace cavalry, but mounted infantry. A man on a bicycle can travel longer distances in shorter time than one on a horse actually.

[@brittakriep2938]

@@neutronalchemist3241 But only on good roads, or on flat terrain. The bicycles of those days are not the ones of today!

[@mattymattmatt7640]

I’m glad to see the Carcano getting some love after it being given so much crap over the years

[@johnstacy7902]

The bayonet was mainly used for cooking sausages over a fire

[@briansmithwins]

My guess is that most bayonets have been used more for food preparation than as weapons.

[@saburosakai9129]

O to skewer rangers in Gela ( Sicilia )

[@herodes8770]

@@briansmithwins maybe use 2 of it to eat Spaghetti japanese Style.

[@pumpkin91ful]

That bayonette gave a "wound impossible to cure", if i recall well.

[@bigredwolf6]

John Stacy When used with the French Standard issue Baguette, you get one of the earliest forms of hot dog.

[@riccardostognone1282]

Moved my comment here from the Carcano 1891 video after seeing this one, because I thought the long version, being "older", was the one given to not frontline soldier, in fact I checked my grandfather's war diary (as I should have in the first time) and he says "Moschetto". Older comment: "My grandfather took his Carcano back home after ww2 with a lot of ammunition, together with some machine gun belts and other things (sincerely I don't know what he was thinking to do with them), he proceded to hide everything at home using his carcano to shoot down foxes and marten, unfortunately in the '80s he gifted the rifle to one of his friends... He still kept a big chunck of the bullet (probably another caliber) that I found when I was 8 or so in his hen-house, I thought it was a pirate treasure 'cause they were all shiny like gold coins, after I told my discovery to my father he probably was listening and the day after the box was gone :/ " I know it's a silly thing moving comments on youtube and that nobody really cares about it, but I feel better with the comment under the right video.

[@methodeetrigueur1164]

Riccardo Stognone Silly ? Not at all, they are only childhood memories. You said « pirate treasure ». You saw it with your child eyes.

[@riccardostognone1282]

@@methodeetrigueur1164 Thanks man! Even though the silliness was more for the thing of moving comments around youtube

[@methodeetrigueur1164]

Riccardo Stognone You are welcome. Keep your child vision !!!

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

I enjoyed reading it! Thank you for the story

[@M.M.83-U]

To anybody interested, the old (1700-1945) official Italian names translate as follow: Fucile=rifle/musket Moschetto=carabine Carabina=sniper rifle/DMR

[@riccardobassetti5446]

What do you mean by "old"?

[@M.M.83-U]

@@riccardobassetti5446 pre-NATO

[@ronal8824]

fucile relating to fusil of France, the French fusiliers who would unleash a fusilade with there fusils.

[@Ghost_Of_SAS]

For those who care about details: - Carcano is pronounced "càrcano" with the accent on the first A. - "Bersaglieri" is pronounced with a _gl_ sound you don't have in English, so a good compromise is saying "bersalieri" which actually sounds better than what Ian said in this video. - Moschetto is pronounced "mosketto", like others have pointed out.

[@Awikenano1]

Who asked

[@Simone.v]

I appreciated.

[@davidbrennan660]

Grazie.

[@stevailo]

I think they have the sound, it could be wrote bersajieri or bersajeri

[@d33b33]

It's probably "car-CAH-no" because the stress in Italian words usually goes on the second to last syllable. ("lam-bor-GHI-ni") Good call on simplifying to 'bersalieri', the strange Italian 'GL' to English ears is something halfway between a 'Y' and an 'L'. Or just call them "the ones with the chicken feathers on their helmets". ;P

[@stephanl1983]

The Bersaglieri were the Italian version of the German Jäger or the French Chasseurs a pied. Traditional a light Infantry, armed with rifles and fight as skirmishers, also the Jäger used often cycles for more mobility. When the Italians started to use motorized Infantry, this role goes to the Bersaglieri, still in this days, they are the Armoured Infantry of the Italian Army, still wearing this popular bush of cock feathers on their combat helmets, and also on their hats on parade.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

I love the look of their feathers on their helmets. especially if its combined with a pair of goggles.

[@LAHFaust]

The Bersaglieri are fulfilling the same role as the French Gendarmerie nowadays, no? I remember seeing their barracks in Rome down the road from the presidential palace.

[@stephanl1983]

@@LAHFaust no, the Italian counterpart of the Gendarmerie are the Carabinieris. Maybe there is a Battalion of Bersaglieri based in Rome, but they still serve as Armoured Infantry.

[@MaveRick-on2cm]

I'm mean. I called them "Burleygirls" in wargaming adventures. No slur intended.

[@LAHFaust]

@@Fuma._. The Carabinieri, that was them! The specific building I was thinking of was the Reggimento Corazzieri on Via Venti Settembre.

[@trr94001]

Nothing more embarrassing than letting the enemy see you walking around with a flacid bayonet flapping in the breeze.

[@markreeter6227]

A bent, rusty and flaccid bayonet with misaligned lugs even worse.

[@rogerjohnson8707]

Guys, give Ian a break. His knowledge is firearms not the languages of the world.

[@kantenklaus9753]

That's right but we can't leave it like this.

[@cyrneco]

No, he is not a language expert, but he is an intelligent and curious fella who I'm sure won't mind learning something new.

[@stevailo]

As far as I’m concerned nobody disrespects Ian for is language knowledge, but as his German pronunciation got better with time, also his Italian one can, and both me and the other Italians watching are happy to help him.

[@wolfganghuhn7747]

Don’t worry, I speak German, French and Italian and I get only mortally offended when he butchers German 😂 no he is doing a good job.

[@kantenklaus9753]

@@stevailoI'm not questioning that. He is very well versed in cultural and historical contexts, especially with regard to German history.

[@johnnyappleseed6415]

Europe: Bicycles will be obsolete by WWI. Viet Cong: Hold my beer...

[@isaactoh7652]

The Japanese also got a fair bit of use out of them in Malaya

[@tuomasniinivirta2323]

Finnish army still uses them! Very good transportation

[@HingerlAlois]

That’s really not true bicycles were used a lot during WW2. A German infantry division had about 500 bicycles for its reconnaissance units.

[@brittakriep2938]

@@1BigBen : The german Bundeswehr still has a transport company with Mules and Haflinger horses for the mountain troops.

[@Emdee5632]

In the Netherlands in May 1940 there were I believe still regiments of bicycle troops. I don't know the number of variants of the M95 Mannlicher rifle and carbine that were in use, but there were a lot of them.

[@soothsayerofthedarkandexis8525]

One of my ancestors was an Alpini troop from Aosta and most certainly had one of these at some point. I took a chance and ordered one a few weeks ago and to my utter shock I got one from 1910 in damn near pristine condition. Not sure if I’ll be firing it ever, but it really goes well with his medals and Cappello Alpino. Next thing I need is a semi-decent Bodeo to complete the museum exhibit.

[@pussyslayer2295]

The lever on the second version looks like the lever to remove the gas tube on a ak

[@brenwoodard1832]

Our local gun store had several on the shelf, so I walked out to the car and sat and watched this, getting super impatient the whole time because I was worried the whole time that someone more knowledgeable about them would walk in and snatch up the coolest one while I was still trying to figure out what all the features meant.

[@nicoladesogus8643]

Thank you Ian for making all these videos about carcano's rifle series

[@justacentrist4147]

The under folding bayonet is what makes these rifles cool. I have both a breccia M91/38 with the adjustable sight and a 1936 produced M91 Gardone VT. Both with fantastic bores

[@rockets4kids]

I'm trying to picture someone on a bicycle wielding a carbine with the bayonet deployed....

[@M.M.83-U]

That war not part of the standard doctrine.

[@PorchPotatoMike]

rockets4kids You mean bayonet flopping around?

[@kino_61]

Dont forget the bicyle with mounted mg....

[@jjarechiga]

Bicycle bayonet duels !

[@jjarechiga]

@@peterthepeter7523 would the British hold the Lance on the other side?

[@TheKMG365]

I have a 1918cavalry carbine- all matching numbers. My uncle brought it home from WWII. I also have the leather scabbard, which is absolutely beautiful.

[@USMC--me3ig]

My dad has a 38 with the old style rear sight. He’s had it for 30 years and it’s one of my favorites... And I think the bayonet looks awesome.

[@lmyrski8385]

One weak point on the M91 carbine is the lock bar spring on the adjustible rear site. They are a bit fragile compared to other designs, and if you break yours, good luck finding a replacement. Always check that spring before buying.

[@koopaconroy]

A shooting club near me here in Norway has one of these, but they're mixed? lighter coloured stock, button style bayonet mechanism, bolt design of the one that is darker in the video and the non-adjustable sight.

[@piergiorgiocaroli9201]

They probably used parts of various model to replace the damaged ones. It's not uncommon.

[@scipio10000]

Not necessarily. Towards 1943 factories were often using spares from different suppliers so it is not surprising to see a mix of components.

[@knova7597]

I’ve been very stumped with my rifle I just got it has a small fixed iron sight(it was actually put on backwards) it had no hand guard despite having the configuration for it and several other parts that I’m going to purchase to put it back to 100%

[@glacialmobbs7657]

@@knova7597 sounds like you have a 91/38 with the fixed sight.

[@send2georgie_S2G]

Thanks for uploading this excellent vid on these carbine. Nvr knew they existed. Talking about bicycle infantry, there is a fantastic Danish movie titled 9.april on this subject! Lost of interesting firearms were filmed, including a Madsen LMG on a tripod mount! Great movie to watch if you are stuck at home! Cheers!

[@robbrown5702]

I owned one of the model 38 carbines. I had it given to me by a good friend who called it "the boat anchor". I had no use for the bayonet and subsequently removed it and applied some white paint to the sights. It became my bad weather brush gun for deer hunting in the swamps of central Maine. It shot reasonably well with Norma 156 grain ammo. I gave it to my son for his boy to use and He shot several deer with it . It is ugly but functional and the safety is stiff enough that its pretty near impossible to accidently shift into the fire position.

[@LordGrandKaiser]

Thanks for covering this rifle! I've wondered for a long time if I'd ever see it on your channel. A decade or so ago my grandfather gave me an original model 91 that he'd had hanging in his basement workshop for as long as I can remember. Date stamped 1917. Unfortunately mine is missing its bayonet and the rear sling swivel, but it's otherwise in good enough condition to safely fire. Having said that, there are two things that really stand out in my mind about this rifle: 1) It recoils like a bastard. I would rate its pleasantness to shoot as "significantly worse than a 12-gauge shotgun." Considering its surprisingly light weight and the fact that it uses the same 6.5 round as its full-sized cousin that's perhaps not surprising. 2) The fireball it creates upon firing is as ridiculous as it is awesome.

[@justtoolleeow304]

Well to say the Bersaglieri were a bicycle unit is a bit reductive. There were battalions with bicycle of course, but not before 1910 (I can be wrong). The Bersaglieri were the Italian version of the more mobile, modern tactics, flanking units in a period were normal army branches confronted standing in front of each other or in trenches when they were lucky (from early 1840 to wwi)

[@An_Lei_Laoshi]

They are called "bersaglieri" because they were trained in sharpshooting, bersaglieri is from "bersaglio" which means "target".

[@maledetto1221]

As someone else pointed out, the bersaglieri had the same origin of the german "Jagers", they were already a corp before the creation of the Italian kingdom and were a regulated version of some paramilitary groups that were born during the wars for the indipendence

[@barryyoung4982]

I was waiting for this one. I still have my grandfathers 6.5 that he bought at academy back in the 50's. Wish I could find a new bayo lug and bayonet, my dad took it off when I was a kid, ground the lug off, and have it to me. I could throw that bayonet really well, made a holster for it that attached to my boot. Could stick it all the way thru soft pine 2×4s. But it broke in 2 pieces eventually. Lasted thru many throws believe it or not. I reload for it ocasionally, when I can find .268 bullets because .264 fails royally. Thanks for the great video.

[@misguidedsaint3693]

I’ve got an m91 carbine, I honestly love the thing. I got it in pretty roughed up condition and basically restored the entire thing, it is honestly my favorite rifle.

[@giuseppeesposito7094]

Absolutely loving this. I appreciate a lot that you, are doing this videos dedicated to our dear rifle that we had used in two world wars. Just a thing, Moschetto, like Musket, Mosketto, not Moscetto or Moshetto

[@antonioadinolfi4052]

Great video and great series on the Carcano. Just a quick note to clarify that the Italian word ‘Moschetto’ is pronounced with a K sound, Mosketto.

[@jtv6038]

Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in!

[@techsun9581]

I have a 1941 Brescia with the more elaborate adjustable rear site (which is consistent with what the manufacturing inconsistencies Ian mentioned, 7:46)...I love it, very distinctive and that bayonet, regardless of the aesthetic considerations, looks very lethal when deployed.

[@erichill2656]

I just got one yesterday...thanks for the info

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian.

[@CrudeConduct666]

There's one of these in a local gun store, if it's still there next week I think I just might have to pick it up

[@F4Wildcat]

Do it.

[@CrudeConduct666]

@@F4Wildcat damn, well now I feel obligated xD if I do I'll post a video and update this comment

[@F4Wildcat]

@@CrudeConduct666 Cant wait! I once had carcanos but i sold them to a real collector. An infantry rifle, a first model carbine like in the video and a M91/38

[@colin1818]

I have a 91/38. Ammo is kind of a pain to get. Fairly expensive. But the gun is really easy to handle and shoots well. If it's a good price it's not a bad buy.

[@davidwallace5738]

Great video lesson. Thank you sir.

[@joey243win]

Love these ...need to find one

[@lukasnebesky717]

A good friend of mine bought one of these for quite a low price, which is surprising because it's 1918 production and it's in awesome condition. When we took it to the range, I was surprised that after only one clip (6 rounds) the barrel was pretty much impossible to touch, they really do heat up quickly

[@pumpkin91ful]

My father used it during conscription period in Italy (now ceased) ,belong to his experience ,it was a precise rifle but the recoil was devastating for the shoulder.

[@harveywright8711]

My favourite carbine is the mosin nagant m41/44 I forget which one it is. But it's solely because of its folding bayonet on the side

[@Guntaku_Gaijin]

M44. Would rather have a type 44 Arisaka over the M44 Mosin.

[@doraran2138]

On collector's market, you may occasionally find some of these with a short tube welded at muzzle. In addition to Carcano, there are other short barreled military carbines with this welded tube. At time if importation in 1950's, minimum rifle barrel length was 18", just like shotguns and this was done to allow importation without SBR problems with ATTU (predecessor to ATF). Law was eventually change so carbines, including M-1, would be legal.

[@frankmoreno6866]

This was the first surplus rifle in my collection... excellant pig n deer rifle, even with the bayonet attached!

[@Emibro]

These remained in use up until the late 70s/early 80s with Carabinieri, Fire Department, Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies. Some '91 were used by Police until the earlu 2000s as CS/Smoke grenade launchers.

[@Slav_Master_2000]

I just recently bought a M91/38 Carcano from 1942 and it looks lovely. Definitely going to shoot it as soon as I get the ammo for it

[@luciferrutherford4446]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@Palaemon44]

My Dad was a tanker in the Italian Army reserve from 1931 on, and then served in WW2 through the Balkan campaign. I have photos of him with this type rifle standing for a group photo with the other members of his unit, minus the tanks. I don’t know if they were issued as a tank weapon the way that US tankers got the “tanker” version of the Garand, or if the photo was basic training. My Dad looked too old for this to have been back in the early 1930’s, he seemed to be the same age he was in other photos posing with his CV33 tankette, which were taken when he was in his early 30’s. On the other hand I would think it would be pretty tough to stow a pair of carbines even this small in something as tiny as a CV33 which was basically little more than a self-propelled machine gun nest.

[@Sivartius]

Ian: "Think of them as Bicycle Cavalry." Me: "Wait, when did Ian start working for Monty Python?"

[@Chasmodius]

At first I misread the title of this video as a Dr. Seuss rhyme: The Carcano Moschet and its Folding Bayonet. ... I don't know what's wrong with my brain (other than having young children).

[@Ostenjager]

At the beginning of WWI, my understanding was the each regiment of Bersaglieri had three battalions on foot, and a fourth on bicycles. Throughout WWI, this four-to-one ratio looked like it stayed relatively consistent. So, most Bersaglieri were never on bikes, but mostly on foot.

[@scoutsnkniv]

Italian gunmaker: To improve efficiency in production, I saw the Carcano in half

[@thebcjungle4721]

I had a 6.5mm pattern 3 with the old style sights '38, my dad got it in the 80's as a boar hunting gun. Fun gun to shoot and I always liked the look and handle.

[@jaydenhelwig2858]

A moment of silence for all the bolt guns that get the khyber pass treatment especially the rare guns

[@DOPRDragon]

I literally just picked up one of these at the local gun show. It finished out my "Major Powers of WW2" collection.

[@Fjasjdnwsussj]

Yay a cool new gun too look at for my birthday

[@deadflowers7017]

Happy birthday!

[@timothykeagle2512]

Hey ian, I just pickup up an old 1916 stamped brescia carcano and I was wondering about a couple things. First, mine doesn't have a bayonet lug on the front and doesnt appear like it ever did. It also doesnt have that top cover either. Nor does it have the trap door in the butt for the cleaning rod. It doesnt have a cleaning rod at all but there does appear to be a slot in the front of the stock for one. I know mine hasn't been sporterized because the barrel and stock numbers match. So my question is, do I have a potentially torn up rifle? Or do I have some weird one?

[@sorwdzord360]

I recently got an m91/38 but it’s missing the bayonet and nose cap. It also has one of the bolts that sticks straight out (I just assumed it was put together from parts). Any idea where I can find parts for one of these guns?

[@miatafan]

I have one of these, it’s missing the bayonet and seems to have an aftermarket sight added

[@polygondwanaland8390]

Good morning, everyone! Time for Forgotten Carcanos!

[@squeakychairproductions6813]

Man what a cool piece of history for a decent price!

[@auxmike718]

Those are SO cool. Baby rifles with nifty tiny bayonets:)

[@chrislaws4785]

I just got one of these, my standard gave it to me for my birthday yesterday on the 7th. It was made in 1931, has no front upper handguard, has the folding sight that actually goes up to 2k meters on it, and is in caliber 6.5 x 52mm. But I'm missing the bayonet and the from nose ring for it. I actually literally finished refurbishing it like 20 mins ago. The last owner had allowed the barrel to rust some. I haven't decided if I want to reblue it or not yet. I'd like to hear some comments on what other people think I should do. The stock is still in near perfect condition.

[@AustinLutz01]

I have a 1935 stamp Brescia Carcano that seems to have a crudely carved out M91/38 handguard for the fold down sight. The wooden parts such as the stock have serial numbers written in pencil inside them

[@m1994a3jagnew]

I love moschetto. Tastes great with chicken Alfredo.

[@appalachianexploration5714]

Moschetto with proschetto

[@m1994a3jagnew]

@Leviathan TM I named it "future big bill coil" actually

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

Everything in italian sounds like a dish

[@SpluaMLG]

@@appalachianexploration5714 prosciutto idiot

[@occhiodisauron25]

but who is Alfredo? but who knows him?

[@andreadavide]

The front sight on the 91/38 in the video looks like a modified one from the previous version, and this explains the blade not at hte muzzle. I am inclined to adopt this explanation because you can still see the two holes that were the stops for the lever of the bayonet lock second type.

[@dimmuborgir1066]

I have one without an upper handguard, is there an easy way to tell if it was just lost at some point or originally made without one? It's a 1915 and has the early latch style bayonet so it makes me wonder if maybe the missing upper handguard is correct?

[@dand4139]

Bit of a problem with a comment Ian made. He said prior to WW1 bikes were used most. I’m sure it was an oversight on his part but bikes were actually used in high amounts in WW1. Funnily enough considering the video, the Italians were known for their bike mounted troops which acted as scouts and messengers.

[@nk-dw2hm]

So with sights zeroed at 300 yards, where does it cross the zero first? Does point of aim and point of impact also line up around 75-150 yards?

[@charlene2400]

Mine's a 91/40 or 91/41, when they went back to the original sights. So, it has the rounded barrel shank, old sights, and year 1941 on it.

[@PltOffPPrune]

I think it's probably fair to say the troops are bicycle dragoons rather than bicycle cavalry. A dragoon rides a horse to the battlefield and then dismounts to fight, as opposed to the cavalry who fight on horseback.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

dragoons are a type of cavalry, historically they fought just as much mounted as dismounted during the period they were actually different to other cavalry we even have a ton of documentation about dragoon units refusing orders to dismount (by 1800 most dragoon units very much disliked fighting dismounted). by the 1890s+ all cavalry operated both mounted and dismounted although most fought almost 100% dismounted. the type of troop you are looking for is mounted infantry, the first dragoons were mounted infantry but they quickly became a type of cavalry.

[@PltOffPPrune]

@@matthiuskoenig3378 thank you, that's interesting information.

[@M.M.83-U]

Pedantic but correct. The Bersaglieri are light infantry; nowadays mostly mecanized.

[@DevinAlden]

Anyone know where I can get the bayonet bracket. I can't find one. Just picked up a 40 dated one from fna brescia. Missing front sight, bayonet and mounting system, bottom of magazine and butt plate. Has older rear sight not the fixed one. Appears to be in 6.5

[@m1994a3jagnew]

Ian only got this so he could attack the Isonzo River for the 163rd Battle of the Isonzo next month.

[@Ni999]

Arizona is dry because its residents attack bodies of water? Interesting if true.

[@giacintoboccia9386]

@@Ni999 During the first world war we fought 12 different battles of the Isonzo. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_the_Isonzo

[@piero1962]

Love your videos. Just a heads-up, in Italian the "ch" letter combination is pronounced like the English "k", so it sounds like "mosketto" as like "musket" in English.

[@andreabeltramini5207]

Right clarification about pronounce, my friend. Just a question: your image is the "maple leaf" like Canadians but your surname is Friulian, is it just a coincidence?

[@piero1962]

@@andreabeltramini5207 Ciao Andrea. No coincidence, I am originally a Friulano from Udine now in Canada for over thirty years.

[@andreabeltramini5207]

@@piero1962 Se e je cusì, ti mandi un salû de nesrte tiere in Marilenghe. Un mandi a ducj i furlans sparniçâs pal mont!

[@andrewrobinson9825]

Hey there, what sorta sling would be a good fit for my m91/38?

[@serPomiz]

* Sui monti del Cadore echoes in the distance *

[@0ptera]

Now I can't get the image of bicycle mounted cavalry charging into battle out of my head.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Bicycle troops were common in those years. They obviously didn't replace cavalry, but mounted infantry (troops that traveled by horse, but fought without them). A man on a bicycle can travel longer distances in shorter time than one on a horse actually.

[@maledetto1221]

They were born as a running unit, they are only two unit of the Italian army that are allowed not to march: Alpini, because they walk on the mountains, and Bersaglieri, because they have to run

[@davidkermes393]

The more I see, hear and read about the Carcanos the more I like them, especially the Moschettos . (I have a sneaking lust for the 91-38. I don't care if others call it ugly.)

[@davidgcalderone]

I have a M38 pattern in 6.5mm, but it has no barrel markings on it at all. I was wondering if there would be a reason my rifle has no barrel makings, and no signs that it ever did have barrel markings

[@ousiavazia]

it took me a while to subscribe to the channel, even if I've been watching the videos for over a year. I'm not sure if I started with your channel or Othais', but I'm sure it was via The Great War. I live in a country where weapons are strictly forbidden, but we live in a state of calamity because we have an apparently stupider president than the rest of the world. I'm Brazilian and, for all intents and purposes, left-wing. I know that you try to avoid current topics in politics, and I actually approve of that strongly. I would just like to say that, despite a certain taboo around the subject of "weapons", here defended by proto-fascists, and despite my initial caution and a certain embarrassment, I recognize a scientist and a historian when I see one. In this way, I would feel in debt if I didn't recognize it publicly. Thank you for your videos and keep making them, they're very good. Information isn't bad in itself, but it's always bad when you don't have it. i should post this on primer too hehe

[@TheWhoamaters]

Looking at getting one of these as my first non .22

[@roosterrugburn]

Can you discuss the 6.5 mm ammo and why it’s so hard to find today?

[@maledetto1221]

I've just read that prvi partizan has started to make some 6.5 carcano calls for handloading, factory made rounds are not a good idea due to the different ball

[@robbrown5702]

Try gunbroker and look for the 156 grain Norma loads. Not cheap but great ammo when you can find it!

[@jiandani6450]

Got my hand on one made in 1893, Serial# A8773. Shining bore and all match, with a rod in stock. Fires perfectly with deep strike in primer. Never gonna sell it.

[@cbh123456789]

My Great Grandpa took his when the US was in Italy back in WWII. He still has it and the only thing his doesnt have is the bolt assembly. Not sure if he took it from one of the Italian children training camps or if he took it from a fallen enemy but he passed away several years ago, so sadly I cant ask.

[@tac2oo7]

Does anyone know the bluing process that was used on the metal? Was it a chemical blue or done by another method?

[@asoutherngentleman7517]

A gun that has very little information on the internet about it is the M1873 Dutch army revolver, i've always thought they looked cool but have never known much about them.

[@brooksbrown580]

I love these Carbines, they are cool as cool gets, with that sweet folding bayonet, in the 1980s you could but these for $ 80.00, All Italian Rifles were cheap, they flooded the U.S. Markets with these from late 1970s to the end of the 1980s, Century Arms of St. Albans Vermont, imported thousands of these guns, I bought I think about about 15 of these, and would sell them at gun shows, they sold well, I worked at a Surplus Store on Nevada that would buy 300 to 400 surplus guns mostly rifles and carbines, they came in WW2 wooden shipping crates from 1945 and 1946, I had to sort them, clean them, inspect them each one, and then I would test fire lots of them, I loved that job....

[@troy9477]

The fixed rear sight certainly seems more practical. By the late 30's most armies had learned that the long range rear sights aren't really very useful. I have always wanted a Carcano. I think your ammo choices are limited to Prvi though, unless u want to cast 6.5mm bullets and then swage them out to .268". Or would u have to cast .277" and swage them down? I'm not sure. Anyway, interesting that it was virtually unchanged for so many years. Obviously it worked, and it eventually became the standard. I wonder about the durability of the bayonets, but i doubt they were used in combat much. Probably more as a roasting spit, as a few of the commenters have said. Great video as always. Thank you

[@mexicanrice1997]

So I just bought a Carcano cavalry carbine. My stock looks nothing like any of the other ones I have seen. And it only has the serial number and it says fna-b on top of it. Can anyone give me any additional info about this rifle?

[@halfeatentacostacos222]

Well Ian based on my observation you’re m38 has a repurposed second style locking block for the bayonet. It has the recessed dimples for the locking lever

[@ringowunderlich2241]

Soldier: This is not a carbine. It is a full length rifle Instructor: folds down bayonet Soldier: Still not a carbine. Now it's a pistol

[@hendriktonisson2915]

I think the best course of action that the Italian military could have taken in the 1920s or 1930s would have been to copy the 7.5mm Swiss cartridge and use it on both rifles and medium machine guns. Using different ammo for rifles and machine guns created logistical problems to Italians during the war. And then they could have created an universal 7.5mm short rifle to replace long rifles and carbines to ease manifacture.

[@M.M.83-U]

7.5x55 is a lot more hig pressure from 6.5x52, and more stll from 7.35

[@hendriktonisson2915]

@PAOLO GASTALDI Not quite. I don`t think the Italians built any Fiat M1935 or Breda 37 medium machine guns in the 7.35mm cartridge. They only built some 7.35mm versions of Breda M30 light machine guns.

[@DBoone123]

This video brought me back to 1891.

[@Nordy941]

In WW2 the Japanese used bicycles to great effect in the invasion of Malaya hastening the fall of Singapore.

[@SoCalCigars]

I know this is a 3 your old video...but I just ran across it and am hoping for a little help. I bought a Carcano with the Lever type of bayonet locking system. And as it seems to be common, it is VERY loose. I was hoping someone could tell me how to adjust or tighten it up. Also, what is the name of that lever and nut (domed nut with two notches, one on each side) combo. I am thinking it needs some sort of Spanner Screwdriver...but what size and style? The only suggestion I have seen was to bend the lever so it rubs harder on the metal siding...which I would prefer not to do. I am hoping for a proper fix and not a work around if possible. Any help would be appreciated.

[@Jack72607]

Ian butchers Moschetto so beautifully

[@stefanopegoraro1819]

Everybody telling you mispronounced moschetto, they are right, but hey man, video is great nonetheless, thank you Ian ! Just wanted to say u did a great job! Best regards from italy