History of WWI Primer 030*: Italian Carcano 1891 Rifle Documentary | C&Rsenal

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

Yes! Thank you for loudly and directly calling out the Mosin vs Carcano simplicity thing. I’m tired of the Mosin getting credit it doesn’t deserve while the Carcano gets brushed aside

[@genericpersonx333]

It is fascinating how people read later perspectives back into history so much. People really struggle to understand that just because a milsurp is cheap doesn't meant it was cheap to the original purchaser a century ago. It apparently is equally difficult for people to appreciate that just because the USSR would LATER make simplicity a prime requirement for military weapons didn't meant the Russian Empire shared the same requirement when adopting the Mosin decades earlier. People are funny creatures, no?

[@aker1993]

i can take this rifle to a local good gunsmith to make 1 to 1 replica of a carcano the can make it in a shed because its so damn simple and straight forward bolt action design.

[@nebiyuesayas5600]

This. I do think the Mosin is a historically interesting and fun gun, and I want to get one someday (especially the Finnish guns, I actually think the Finnish guns are both the best and the only "good" Mosins, maaaaaybe the Polish one in 8mm Mauser but not much is known about those), but mechanically it's a terrible gun. Interesting, but overcomplicated and it underperforms. If I were a soldier in WW1 (say a Russian soldier, or a Serbian or Romanian receiving Russian aid), I'd want literally any other repeating rifle. Standard-issue Mauser, captured Mannlicher, gifted Berthier, purchased Arisaka, whatever-unless it's a Lebel or a black powder rifle it's probably better than a Mosin. WWII, same deal, even more so since SMGs and semi-automatic rifles are commonplace.

[@nebiyuesayas5600]

@@aker1993 It'd be even easier to make the Carcano a better gun if you did that-just by default, your gunsmith would probably take his time and fit the bolt properly, adjust the sights, tighter tolerances, etc. More so if they made changes, even super small ones. Extend the bolt handle root so you have an extra lug like a Krag or Mauser? Easy. Lower minimum sighting by default? Not difficult. Different caliber or loading style? Not as simple, but much easier than modifying an existing gun.

[@F1ghteR41]

Simplicity is a hollow virtue, as it is useless to have a simpler in some sense design that doesn't fit your manufacturing capabilities and tactical needs. Carcano's rifle could be as simple as it was by virtue of having a low-power rimless cartridge and industry that could make en-bloc clips at the required rate and allow for cheep retooling of your numerous arsenals. Even at that it couldn't be made at a rate high enough for Italy's WW1 needs, as evidenced by vast numbers of Mod 1870/87 still in service at the time and the whole Mod 1870/87/15 fiasco. To return to the 6.5×52 mm cartridge which allowed Mod. 91 to become as as simple as it was, its drawbacks caused the adoption of both the 8×59 mm and the failed 7.35×52 cartridges, as well as the German 7.92×57 mm later during WW2, and later an altogether switch for the 7.62×63 & later the 7.62×51. Meanwhile the 7.62×54R, for all its shortcomings, still soldiers on, having survived numerous well-thought out attempts of replacing it by virtue of being better future-proofed when it comes to bullets and powders. Already in the early XX century it was understood that magazine rifles weren't the arm of the future, and the time of self-loaders is coming, so the relative merits and downsides of particular bolt-action rifles mattered little when compared to the ability to retain the same cartridge during the next big rearmament (the French had learned this the hard way), even if it causes headaches when designing feed systems. Belt-fed machineguns (not that Italy had them, being stuck with crazy feeding systems), in turn, have no trouble using rimmed cartridges (except in very hot & sunny weather), and WW1 had shown them to be of much greater importance in war than any rifle. What they had trouble with is lack of cartridge potent enough for long-range area-denial indirect fire, which was a very important role for medium machineguns until roughly the mid-'30s, and for anti-aircraft role, which arguably was still relevant for them early in WW2. Thus you have a simpler bolt-action rifle and have trouble with everything else with no costs saved at all. This lack of holistic approach and short-sightedness is sadly all too common in these debates. People fail to see the battlefield as anything more than sporting grounds at best.

[@newpeupyoass]

I personally think this episode should be called "Episode 030A1".

[@beargillium2369]

or whatever the Italian equivalent is? 😮

[@BleedingUranium]

"star" is the same thing but British, while being more subtle/neutral/readable.

[@Moondog66602]

Perhaps Mk1*

[@newpeupyoass]

@@beargillium2369 Episode 030/199

[@wangl601]

Episode 030 M Episode 030 MOD 1 Episode 030 Ausf. B Episode 030 Neue Art .............

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

I was looking for something to listen to while working on restoring a Carcano. Lo and behold, C&Rsenal delivers.

[@1SilverDollar]

I hope it's looking beautiful

[@engine4403]

+1

[@Tunkkis]

Restoring, or conserving?

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

@@Tunkkis De-sporterizing.

[@TheBetterBleedingBladesYouTube]

⁠@@PrebleStreetRecords”De-sporterizing” sir you are beautiful.

[@williamobrien6418]

Love going back to these old episodes. I have a 1891 in my collection. It’s a great shooter! The trigger is like butter, and using Stienel ammo I’ve had no problems. It’s a real joy. Thank you for all the two of you do.

[@danielnauta5689]

THEY RE-DID THE CARCANO!!!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@beargillium2369]

seems fitting with recent events

[@dobridjordje]

​@@beargillium2369Isonzo?

[@davidhansen5067]

With the new animation, it's much more clear how elegantly simple the Carcano is, with no parts or space wasted on "maybe" features. The Italians got an excellent modern rifle for a remarkable bargain!

[@GeFlixes]

I love the Carcano. The simplicity of it is beautiful and has me hot and bothered.

[@RAM4elightbars]

These episodes balance historical information and hands-on demonstration perfectly. The animations look great and add to the narration, but the pacing and style are what carries it. It's nice to see a channel grow by building on what made it good to begin with with vs. abandoning their roots in favor of "flashy graphics". Keep it up!

[@VladSparaStoria]

The Italians in the first months of 1867 started two rifle programs: one for a quick adoption of a needle-fire conversion for their rifle muskets, and the other for a new, better, breach-loading rifle. Carcano actually competed in both programs, and his 1867 was adopted but his lesser known Carcano 1870 lost to the Vetterli in the second program.

[@albertov5933]

Apparizione di Vlad!!!

[@bruceabbott3941]

Years ago I picked up a type 38 Arisaka with a ground mum, and a 1941 Terni Carcano for $150 for the pair. The Carcano had been butchered by the importer by heating and bending the bolt handle down; the bolt was heat discolored all the way to the locking lugs. I picked up a surplus original bolt and a field gauge; now she's a shooter. Gun Jesus has a lot of respect for the Carcano, and now, so do I. I got a steal on 200 rounds of original ammo, just for the 0.268" bullets.

[@arseneken]

I’m so glad y’all did the Carcano again! I am just waiting on the redo of the Arisaka type 38 episode and I can die happy

[@bobskool]

Hopefully you get both and don't die

[@themoose6430]

Let’s gooooooo glad to see it done over again amazing work as always

[@Trainman2177WS]

I still thought the original episode held up, and would come back to it, but you guys have really outdone yourselves here! Looking forward to next week!

[@Frank-bc8gg]

making a jank but simple, brilliant and beautiful gun with a weird cartridge and rifling is classic Italy.

[@motorcyclecafe]

One of the best firearm videos I have ever seen! Excellent work guys!

[@nebiyuesayas5600]

The first gun I ever bought was an M91 Carcano rifle for $200, so seeing yall redo the Carcano video was like an unexpected but awesome gift I didn't know I needed today.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

The Italians don't get enough credit. They never get enough credit.

[@dobridjordje]

Carcano was an excellent rifle for the Italian front, flat shooting, extremely accurate, 6,5 x 52 mm Carcano is an excellent mix of velocity and stopping power, 6 rounds instead of 5, the only crappy thing was the en bloc clip only, unless you ram one round into the breech personally.

[@linkfreeman1998]

@@dobridjordje they should've take the hint from the Japanese order and changed the mag system to the Mauser style.

[@avian68tb]

And learned how to make a proper rifle sight

[@CapitanCarter]

The carcano had to be one of my favourite rifles, very happy with your work. I’m so happy with the work you guys do, I’ve upped my contributions!

[@terryhall3907]

Usually simpler is usually better, giving all else is equal

[@flamezombie1]

18:45 A rare correction! I'm a HEMA instructor - pikes were WAY longer than a bayonet fitted rifle, sometimes reaching 20 feet in length. That ponderous length is the reason for their efficacy against cavalry. Bayonets affixed to rifles were closer to spears, and exceled at being used against other infantry when ammo was low. Using a spear against a charging horse is a very good way to get run over by a dead horse. Really interested in these rifles, they're one of the few surplus rifles that won't break the bank anymore.

[@jamesgunn1112]

Definitely experienced the old clip problem with the one that came with my rifle. When extracting the 4th round the 5th would follow it out and the 6th would end up pointing straight up. Bought some repro clip off MARSTAR here in Canada though that work great.

[@nadams01_65]

Releasing this right after I finish rewatching the Vetterli episodes is wild

[@Dogbertious]

Oh boy, it's Carcano season!

[@blanktm228]

I appreciate all the work you do, especially in updating your previous episodes for any reason. You guys are amazing. Thank you.

[@davidhansen5067]

I've been hoping for a new Carcano for a couple of years!

[@mcintoshpc]

Finally, back to the Carcano. Truly, the most rifle to serve in the Great War.

[@tonyk0756]

Having been to a lot of battle sites in the mountains north of Italy, its very rocky and the lines were fairly close together. The rifles would have been knocked about quite a bit in the rocky trenches. Also the soldiers were not highly educated and they had regional units because they spoke a dialect. A lighter bullet would go straighter and they tended to point and shoot. Its more natural. You still find stripper clips, cartridges, food cans, and shrapnel now over 100 years later.

[@dobridjordje]

How ironic considering I rewatched the Carcano epizode some 2 days ago for the simple fact that I absolutely adore the M1891 as a rifle. This is basically a dream come true lmao

[@Lomi311]

As a rifle that you can make a lot of cheaply and quickly, the Carcano is maybe the best rifle of the war. Logistics win wars, even if the soldier wants something nicer.

[@OriginalRizzler]

Probably the most aesthetic main rifle of the war.

[@chrisdooley8155]

IDK man, those Romanian Mannlichers were gorgeous rifles. I do like the Carcano's look, though. Simple and purposeful.

[@wesleygay8918]

​@@chrisdooley8155 either way, I'm playing some Isonzo when I get off work

[@Immafraid]

Not only does that not make sense, but the Lee-Enfield, Gewehr 98, Mannlicher-Schoenauer, and Mosin are all cooler looking.

[@BleedingUranium]

Yep, I have to agree, the Carcano is a beautiful rifle. I'm especially fond of the very short carbine with the folding bayonet.

[@dobridjordje]

​@@chrisdooley8155The bayonet lug and placement kills it for me on the m1893, Carcano is a very aesthetically pleasing rifle in every way

[@timothyedge6100]

I think the “Bigfoot on crack” test deserves more use in the future

[@Lomi311]

Love when a video gets redone. Then I get 2 videos on it! I do miss the “War Were Declared” though

[@rediius]

I assume the joke got stale? Any idea which episode was the last to have one?

[@demos113]

Your updates are always appreciated. 🙂👍

[@cannonfodder4376]

I didn't know the Carcano is a controlled feed rifle. Learned something new today.

[@granapriego]

Love Carcano's great episode, would love to see the ww2 version done one day.

[@andybelcher1767]

Excellent presentation. Throughout you point out the lack of available finance in Italy at the time so it is a big plus that they produce a rifle cheap enough that every soldier gets one. The alternative is the image given in Enemy at the Gates where one rifle is given to two soldiers, and when the soldier holding the rifle is killed the second picks up the rifle. I don't know if there is any truth in that but it makes a valid point in this context. I also love that you use the British style of marking an upgrade with the star. 😁

[@Hosenfuhrer]

23:10 Bada-bing-bada-no-boom made me chuckle

[@dobridjordje]

Probably cost wise the most effective rifle of the war that saw massive use, having read about it, on the Italian front it really didn't matter if you got hit by a 6,5 Carcano or 8,50 Mannlicher, both were equally devastating.

[@dumbboatproject]

i hope youtube doesn't consider ballistol as "gun accessory advertising".

[@douglaskillock3537]

An excellent product for use on a bicycle, they even have a specific product for that these days

[@SamGray]

I used it to clean up an old camp stove a coworker gave me. It worked like a charm and the only result was my fishing/camping trip included fresh cooked food. Ballistol: a delight in peace and harmony.

[@douglaskillock3537]

Another great episode. Thank you

[@vault19entrance60]

If I may, I would suggest trying to redo the Vetterli 6.5 conversion videos using reloads made from any bullet BUT the Hornady .268’s. It is the closest to original spec bullets, but the overpressure that those rounds can cause is likely the reason there were such catastrophic failures with the Vetterli’s. Love the update on the Carcano though, my favorite milsurp rifle by far.

[@jonathanmitchell3733]

Double feed a Mauser with controlled feed. Lot's of Mauser action rifles use standard length actions/frames for their .308win/7.62nato chambered rifles. With these it is VERY easy to short stroke after firing an cartridge and push the fresh round along with the spent case, jamming them very nicely.

[@sirjacobthe8]

I was 25 minutes into the original episode 30 when I saw this pop up. Welp, now I am switching to this one.

[@quentinking4351]

Such a brilliantly simple design

[@johnfisk811]

Nice update. The only complicated bit was the sights which they solved in 1941. Mannlicher en-bloc always beats stripper clips.

[@randyreid8624]

Great content, keep up the good work

[@sun_king777]

I love this channel so much.

[@Charon-5582]

Ballistol may be non-toxic, but it sure does make me cough if I leave the cap off. Still love the stuff.

[@ronalddavis]

smells like ass

[@rickyokogawa6154]

This just made my day!!!!😊

[@martino7263]

At 1:08:11 you are talking about the sights. I know a few people here in Italy that have changed the front sight because it was hitting high. I now think that was because they were using the sights wrong, the front sights is usually aligned with the top of the rear sights not the bottom as you have shown in this video. Probably there are more carcano rifles around that have the front sight changed to "fix" that.

[@iamnolegend2519]

Such excellent research!

[@이동연-c6d]

I love Carcano rifle ❤❤❤❤

[@Thebradycarroll]

Shout out to the gun enthusiast bug getting its 15 minutes of fame during the close up

[@martinm3474]

"War were Declared"??? Did I sneeze and miss this?

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

They discontinued that a long time ago because it was taking too much time to put together, which would be better spent on actual content

[@davidbrennan660]

This will be good, thanks guys

[@stevenwestswanson9263]

Great Video!

[@EXO9X8]

Explains why the attack on titans guys used such a rifle I guess. Also curious about the accidental decocks when running the gun on the clock like Ian

[@klimatiseur1027]

Do you think the gewehr 88 episode will ever be reworked?

[@kamata93]

1:21:45 I dont get it. The 8mm Mannlicher barely got 600m/s while the 6.5mm Carcano got aroubd 700 m/s I think. So how the Italians didnt have the range of that M1895? Generally curious.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

The 6.5X52 Carcano has a flatter trajectory at every distance, and remains supersonic for longer. Even the Carcano carbines outpace the M95 rifle muzzle velocity.

[@nickg4422]

I love the carcano. I don’t love the bugs. For the love of hygiene, fumigate that table. There’s literally little white creepy crawlies running around by your finger around 19:26 .

[@Khanclansith]

Hazzah, senori Carcano and his daughters gets a Reload episode!

[@mike36dc]

I love the way Ballistol works, even with the vomit smell.

[@frankbrowning328]

You can see how little recoil is present with a relatively heavy rifle in a somewhat lightweight projectile at around 2300 fps. The rifle is almost as long as she is tall, yet recoil looks like it's not much more than 30 carbine recoil

[@bryceduvall8090]

You can not single load a Carcano, the extractor is not of the snap over type and will chew the end of the claw up. Use a single loader that allows the round to slide under the extractor or use a clip and load one round. I have had overpressure issues with the hornaday 268 ammo in my 91/24, no longer available. I have some Stienel ammo but had yet to have time to try it. So I guess, by your comments, others had had overpressure issues as well. Keep up the great work😊

[@seanbaker9796]

Ahhh a little Ballistol on my Spaghetti! It actually doesn't taste bad.

[@YerluvinunclePete]

There was debate about 6.5 Carcano causing light wounds but it's 162 grains doing 2300fps and that should be plenty to take down any deer or Austrian sized critter. The trouble is that it doesn't carry long distance.

[@treyriver5676]

I have and have used a single shot adapter, goes in like the enblock and leaves a long loading tray. It ejects using the manual eject.

[@nathanguyon7620]

Still waiting on that Ballistol taste test.

[@pradohealey3000]

Ballistal for the win

[@joemo1033]

This the one with the magic bullets that move like Yondu's arrow?

[@allangibson8494]

You are obviously ignorant of the three shots that actually got fired (and the seriously weird and unique seating in the limo).

[@Tallus_ap_Mordren]

Soooo, is there a market for 3D printed Carcano clips?

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

Probably, but the ones I have tried have been floppy and difficult seat

[@YerluvinunclePete]

Woot! I love my Carcano!

[@salvadorsempere1701]

Every time I see an En bloc clip sisten of ww1, I wonder how hard would had be to make it double stack

[@theodorsebastian4272]

I wonder whether Carcano or Arisaka type 38 is the simpler one. Nambu designs type 38 to have as fews part as possible after all.

[@danielcurtis1434]

I’m surprised he didn’t mention temperature with regard to ballistite/sollenite. My understanding is they switched power because the new domestic powder burned several hundred degrees cooler than the Nobel stuff? So is that just legend or a real issue? I would guess that lower temperature would mean less wearing?

[@jrpgnation6375]

Ah I was thinking of this.

[@donjones4719]

12:40 What is a malacort bullet? I can't guess the correct spelling and thus can't google it.

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

Maillechort is the French word for what we’d usually call nickel silver or German silver. It’s an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc

[@donjones4719]

@@TenaciousTrilobite Thank you! Those Frenchies should learn to spell logically like we English language speakers do. :) Btw, tributes are my favorite Cambriam explosion fossils. I have a pet one on my bookshelf.

[@mattnw42]

The timing!

[@wilsonlaidlaw]

I have just bought a half litre bottle of Ballistol. I think that will see me out but my 1858 Remington New Army .44 needs a good scrubbing.

[@poohssmartbrother1146]

I miss the "War Were Declared" bits. So you've recovered the G98, Lebel, and Carcano. Any others that you want to redo?

[@travischapin886]

Only got this notification two days late.

[@Edax_Royeaux]

Once you figure out how to ditch the scope, it becomes the most powerful bolt action rifle of Red Dead Redemption 2.

[@Leo_Sneedinsky]

looking good guys

[@Leo_Sneedinsky]

6.5 caliber bolt rifles rock

[@greydonstautzenberger3901]

Whoot whoot

[@AsbestosMuffins]

so accurate you can hit a bullseye from a book depository

[@Spartacus-us1eo]

Agreed the Carcano is simpler than the Mosin Nagant, but you emphasize the simplicity of the bolt removal with the trigger when the Mosin Nagant does that as well, lol. Love the episode just as I loved the original, thank you.

[@BakerVS]

I'm glad you redid this episode! It's a bit of a shame though that you still aren't pronouncing 'Brescia' correctly. It's supposed to be 'Bresha'. Also, in 'Bersaglieri' the 'g' is silent, and in 'Giuseppe' the 'i' is silent (pronounced 'Jewseppeh').

[@trsgringo]

This video features some great guns....And the rifle is not bad either! 😅

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Nice

[@Tunkkis]

I still don't understand the CARCAno versus CACARno thing. Is it just a colloquial pronunciation, or something else?

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

Colloquial mispronunciation

[@Tunkkis]

@@TenaciousTrilobite Interesting, sort of endearing, in a way.

[@prjndigo]

That quadrant sight is frost/freeze proof right down to the wood 'donut' that protects your thumb and if it gets bent you can simply re-bend it so it spoons with the battle sight.

[@magna94us]

Is it wrong that when I see anything on the Carcano or handle one, I think about Tim Wilson and Uncle BS?

[@davidmiller9485]

someone missed "war were declared" today... I think i need to lay down before i pass out. :)

[@timblack6422]

It’s out!!’

[@genericpersonx333]

Italy does seem to have a long history of not connecting their excellent engineers with efficient entrepreneurship able to use that engineering talent to its fullest, thus we get lots of brilliant innovation that goes no where for generations because they can't effectively make the stuff within Italy. By most every metric, Italy should have been a leader in industrialization, but while they had land, labor, and capital, relatively few Italians ever showed the same flair for entrepreneurship and industrial management as one found in Germany and the like. A few companies, Beretta for example, would really excel under brilliant leaders, but they were just fewer and farther between than one found elsewhere. The fact that the Italian Arsenals would be some of the most clever reflected the potential for Italian engineers when they got the resources to actually develop something, but even the Italian government would only have brief moments of inspiration to do this, leading to many projects like the 7.35mm cartridge failing to be realized in full in a timely fashion. One is almost afraid to think what Italians could have done if they had more decisive leadership across the board. Maybe Mare Nostrum and the New Roman Empire might have come about after all!

[@F1ghteR41]

It does seem like the problem for Italy (and not just for it) was that half of the country was undeveloped and, some would add, suffering from a long spell of colonial exploitation, first by the Spanish and then by its own compatriots. What marvels of engineering could one sell to a poor Sicilian tenant farmer?..

[@Squeezer999]

rerelease?

[@windogendoors7566]

Good

[@lathanchurch8352]

I have a vetterli and even have a few rounds for it

[@nobodyyouknow1065]

Looks like curtain rods to me.

[@SecondRegimentCorporal]

It is the best on Red Dead Redemption Online!

[@WalterBurton]

👍👍👍