History of WWI Primer 031: Italian Carcano Carbines Documentary

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Othais and Mae delve into the story of this WWI classic. Complete with history, function, and live fire demonstration.
C&Rsenal presents its WWI Primer series; covering the firearms of this historic conflict one at a time in honor of the centennial anniversary. Join us every other Tuesday!
Cartridge: 6.5x52mm
Capacity: 6 rnds
Length: 36.25"
weight: 6.9 lbs
Additional reading:
You can now find these and other books through our A-store. When buying through this link we receive a small commission that goes on to help with production.
astore.amazon.c...
The Model 1891 Carcano Rifle
A Detailed Developmental & Production History
Giovanni Chegia & Alberto Simonelli with Ralph Riccio
www.schifferboo...
Italy's Battle Rifle
Russ Arendell and Steve Woodrum
Il Novantuno Mannlicher-Carcano Das italienische Waffensystem Modell 1891
Wolfgang Riepe
Music provided by Melissa Hyman of The Moon and You
www.themoonandy...
Safe range space thanks to Shoot Logic
www.shootlogic....
In collaboration with The Great War
/ thegreatwar
Additional photos thanks to Rock Island Auction
Ammunition data thanks to DrakeGmbH
/ drakegmbh
Visit us at candrsenal.com

[@aarondanen3150]

Watching the show from the beginning is pretty sweet

[@Willy2000ization]

Im not even a gun fan and I find these vids fascinating

[@justinpennington7682]

Damn ! nobody going to give any mention of Mae? Beautiful!

[@willykanos1044]

I'm proud of you both. You did this whole Carcano series together without once mentioning Lee Harvey Oswald.

[@Candrsenal]

No need until the M38

[@dwightehowell8179]

A lot of younger people don't have a clue who Lee Harvey Oswald is nor what he did to become notorious.

[@dwightehowell8179]

@sman7290 I've had people tell me the damdest things trying to make a sale. One guy had a p38 which I'd have liked to have bought but this jerk told me that the small chips you could see in the grips where the bones of Jews that had died in concentration camps. While logic told me he was full of bleep and it was more likely to be wood chips used as filler what I told him was I didn't want the bleeping thing in my house. I don't think that was the reaction he wanted. 😂🤣😂🤣😉🤢

[@meh7713]

sman7290 I bought a 91/28 Carcano last year for $200 at a gun show, after he sold it to me the guy asking “Are you gonna be hunting any Kennedys?”

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@dwightehowell8179 Says you.

[@PajamaPantsStudios]

Unloved? That makes me sad. These are awesome!

[@britishmuzzleloaders]

Great supplement to the long rifle! I enjoy these "multi-part" or "family" oriented series... Family oriented..... that didn't come out right...

[@Candrsenal]

sounds right to me.

[@nickpapadakis557]

@@Candrsenal i have a ts carbine with a beat up stock and handgaurd, to replace them to make the gun functional could i replace the damaged original with a 91 calvery carbine stock? Or even a m38 stock and handgaurd. Love the show and keep on truckin forward with it.

[@captainswoop8722]

High praise indeed when it is from BML

[@timblack6422]

Great info..

[@imbeauski8872]

"...and 360 no scope like no-one's business." I laughed out loud, and laughed at the thought of the rampant tea-bagging that would follow a trench raid.

[@Candrsenal]

Lefty is Earl and righty is Grey

[@123four...]

Credit to the Isonzo game for making me aware of these guns in the first place

[@F-powerstrokeFord]

I love my little M38

[@banditlord8210]

I got one of those carbines haven’t fired it because I haven’t had time to clean it up first, I have another one a m91 TS, but that one runs like a Swiss clock except for the fact that last round just does NOT want to chamber without assistance, it tries to stick itself straight up in the sky, which means you have to push it down with a finger while trying to rack the round into the chamber but all in all a great rifle.

[@greydonstautzenberger3901]

Keep it up

[@WannabeWoodsman]

I just bought one. Mine has Beretta marking on it.

[@fabiopirrera7794]

Nice rifle 👍

[@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts]

I got one of these just in time for all of the 6.5x52 ammo on the market to dry up

[@rektalmort]

Still the best

[@Candrsenal]

The Carcano?

[@rektalmort]

+C&Rsenal that I don't know.. You guys, yes

[@lefr33man]

''hi, I'm Othias'' prove it.

[@maewinchester2030]

Well j mean he does have a beard and THE hat...

[@lefr33man]

Oh yeah? Then who was that guy who tried to pass as Othias a few weeks back? He had the beard and the hat too. (yes, someone noticed. I wasn't born yesterday, you know. I had to watch the vid several times to see it, though.)

[@americanpatriot2310]

you realize that was mae right. . .

[@WastelandSeven]

AKA "Beardy"

[@Palaemon44]

My father was in an Italian armor unit before and during WW2. The Carcano carbine was issued to them as a tankers rifle. I have photos of Dad with his Carcano and CV33 light scout tank.

[@GunPassion95]

As italian Gun owner and gun reviewer on KZbin i have to say that you have done a great and beautiful job with this video Guys!! =D Keep going just like that!! =D =D

[@Candrsenal]

No u

[@blacksnk7]

There's a saying in my country, "Avanti Bersaglieri por la bataglia nostra", i always thought "Bersaglieri" meant brother or friend or something like that. I cant belive it took me this long to find out a "Bersaglieri" was a type of italian soldier

[@Candrsenal]

What does the rest mean?

[@neutronalchemist3241]

It's "Avanti Bersaglieri, che la vittoria è nostra!" ("Let's go Bersaglieri, that the victory is ours!). Its a phrase of Garibaldi, however, for some reason, despite being in Italian, is much more known in the spanish speaking countries than in italy.

[@occhiodisauron25]

he studies Italian

[@bumpercoach]

its easier to work the bolt if you put the pad of your thumb on the opposite (left) side of the split receiver

[@kitcarson7447]

Awww...Italy...the beautiful weather, food, women, and Cacano rifes...Love it ALL!!!

[@werta5000]

need to make an obrez out of this.

[@MrLolx2u]

The M91 TS was made in a larger number was because of the constant fights the Italians had on the Isonzo front. The weather there was horrendous and when the winter arrives, they found that those that did not have gloves were finding the bayonets to be more of a nuisance as when they accidentally touch it, some of their men's skin would stick on it thus they decided to issue more M91 TS there. Soon, with the constant attacks on the Austrians on the steep slopes, the TS does seem as a better choice.

[@Candrsenal]

Makes sense

[@robertjones2811]

It was the Italian Krinkov of 1901!

[@johyuujin3079]

to begin with these guns are NOT an investment, they are going DOWN in value. so the good news is they are cheap to buy

[@kingofthefleetians7569]

Truly the best rifle of the war. Only one with the ability of making rapid successive shots from aposing directions as demonstrated in 1963 by *THIS PORTION OF THE POST HAS BEEN REMOVED BY CIA GANG*

[@acidwizzardbastard]

So what I get from this WW1 series is that: - 6.5mm good - larger calibers bad

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338]

To be fair , 6.5 seems to be the Goldilocks diameter for both full power and intermediate cartridges for its high accuracy, low recoil affects while still having enough “ stopping power” similar to a 7.62 diameter cartridge. Of course , none of that mattered for the Italians since they never switched to spitzer bullets, reducing a lot of the positive effects of a light 6.5 cartridge while not getting any of the power of a 30 cal bullet.

[@aker1993]

@@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338 man you have the most polish last name i ever encounter in my lifetime.

[@alepepperoni2563]

@@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338 Jesus christ, its Brzeczyszykiewic

[@ZGryphon]

After the photo of the bicycle cavalry, I'm picturing a variation on the Bill Mauldin cartoon with the tearful cavalry sergeant about to shoot his disabled Jeep, except it's one of these guys with a busted front fork, getting ready to put his bike out of its misery.

[@davidr2975]

Please do a video on the m38 short rifle in the excellent 7.35 caliber.

[@danielwalker8142]

i think the crosslock on the bayonet was to adress an issue of it unlocking and dropping free under recoil

[@helo177]

I just got a fna product of the m91/24 with a push button fixed bayonet

[@Ratdaddy752]

This video taught me a lot, but the most important detail was how to work the safety lmao. Thought mine was broken

[@cyrneco]

Yes, the 'truppe speciali ' thing can be funny. When I tell anglos that I did my service in the special troops in Italy I have to hurry to explain that I wasn't some kind of SAS vet (or a liar about my service...😀)

[@taitonaito]

ah yes, the standard Italian military tactic "dive into their trenches and 360 noscope until everyone's dead"

[@xavierpony192]

I'm just imagining a guy on a bike using a full length carcano for jousting

[@SergioTheSurge]

I think you mean a Vespa

[@jamesvatter5729]

Sorry, Othias, but I watch these videos just to enjoy Mae's smile after each shot!

[@mansoortanweer]

9:29 The shell casing flying by the camera.... That was cool.

[@Jesses001]

Right. Hollywood needs to set up shots like that more often, ha.

[@JakeyV]

When Mae, in 2016, mentions that the US M1 Carbine will be about a year away, queue the TikTok song, "Oh no. Oh no. Oh no no no no no".

[@ludditeneaderthal]

liked the bang curls in the shooting segment, Mae... humid day, lol?

[@Candrsenal]

It's Charleston

[@ludditeneaderthal]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and take that as a "yes", lol.

[@maewinchester2030]

Muggy heat makes my curls come out.

[@PhillipGraham-g3y]

I have a brescia carcano rifle, 1918, I was wanting some help with the numbers on the barrel. All numbers match throughout and I was wondering if you had any additional info about it.

not sure about accuracy at say over 150 yards (mine sort of stinks), but they are beyond light and small, so they are super handy. the folding bayonet is cool, but I wonder about sticking someone with it, if the rifle or bayonet would get damaged or not.

[@atlatlista]

I think the TS is way cuter, because it's definitely a mini-Carcano. I will say I saw an M1891 Carbine in a gun shop the other day and had the exact same safety issue moving the bolt that Mae keeps talking about, which amused me to no end.

[@Candrsenal]

It's... annoying.

[@SangTheCryptek]

Had to pause and rewind to make sure I actually heard Othias say "360 no scope"

[@outdoorinwithzach]

16:33 360 no scope like nobody's business, I laughed very hard!

[@Candrsenal]

Super important skill

[@JonManProductions]

...If I make videos about BF1's weapons, could I use this line in a video somewhere? If ONLY they have short barreled carbines in the game.

[@611_hornet5]

That line just shows why this channel is in the God-tier of gun channels.

[@Daryl721]

Zach Meynarez h

[@stevenhoman2253]

In WWII the Japanese used bicycles to invade Malaya and Singapore. British bicycles. LOL

[@acester86]

These are still dirt cheap I really need to jump on one before it goes up.

[@piatpotatopeon8305]

Ahh, a comment that can be reliably sourced from local industries.

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

18:12 This is why I like the Kar98AZ so much. Down-turned bolt handle that's shaved off on the inside AS WELL as a notch cutout in the wood. It's incredibly easy to operate

[@Candrsenal]

Certainly gives more room.

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

C&Rsenal And it's knurled too, which aids in grip.

[@migthydragon]

I've shot a carcano carbine today. It's light, handy and very soft recoil. I liked it !

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

I'm sure the fact that Italy is basically a long strip of annoyingly rugged, hilly, even mountainous land had something to do with the ambivalence towards cavalry and a reliance on highly mobile infantry. EDIT....months later: The Bersaglieri are badasses. The feathers look a little 'dandy' at first but somehow on modern kit they actually look pretty cool. Wonder what the Afghans thought about the Italian plumage walkin' down the roads a handful of years ago.

[@louispisani7110]

yes my uncle was a bersagliere in ww ii in albania...shot a few and he was a badass!!

[@Jake_Steiner]

@@louispisani7110 I'd love to hear more!

[@brianj.841]

Sounds like Jackson's 'foot cavalry' in the Shenandoah campaign. They tied up something like three divisions, so they were pretty bad ass.

[@Winston4b]

Good job dude. First couple couple videos of yours i watched i thought they were too long winded. Then i figured out your gig. Love your stuff now. Really appreciate the history lesson. Keep up the good work.

[@Candrsenal]

I'm glad we converted you into willful boredom!

[@taofledermaus]

They totally stole the bayonet design from the chinese SKS.

[@luzianwasescha6056]

Not sure if trolling?

[@fucker666477]

+Luzian Wasescha me neither

[@fucker666477]

+Edson Rodriguez Rivera since this is way older.

[@Candrsenal]

rofl

[@CaptainGrief66]

Awesome xD

[@johnjunge6989]

Bought one, hard to find ammo, but my oldest son agreed, its a great shooter. Solved the bolt sticky issue, polished all the surfaces and very light Kroil oil oiling (thanks Mark!). Found grooves and flats had too much friction.

[@stevemoore6245]

the shooter was stunning, and a great shooter!

[@ThePlaceCannel]

I think you should sell Othais disguises along with the shirts. I would be on that like white on rice in a glass of milk on a paper plate in a snowstorm.

[@Candrsenal]

oh good, 900 videos of "Othaises"

[@ThePlaceCannel]

It's how the Clone Wars begins

[@ronin2973]

Very nice 👍 I'm military sniper from Sardinia and no more people know all these history facts . Thank's

[@MrSven3000]

imho the coolest looking rifle of ww1 and ww2

[@andyfeil9713]

Finally caught up on all 31 episodes. As a fairly new collector of military surplus rifles and handguns, I am REALLY enjoying this series. Thanks for all the effort on a quality product!

[@Candrsenal]

Glad to hear it! I hope the improvements show

[@mooslionheart]

16:40 - Mae pantomiming Othias jabbering is priceless! All future episodes should Ave a loop of this close captioned during all of Othias’s narratives😹!

[@eobubba]

More Mae! MORE MAE!

[@maewinchester2030]

MOAR!

[@Bikerbob59]

Very nice thanks for sharing.

[@Candrsenal]

Thanks!

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

very interesting. a heartfelt thank you to you all, from the bayou in Kent, England.

[@maewinchester2030]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@turdgoblin6113]

I live my carcanos!! I own 12 ans still counting! These rifles and carbines are so fun to shoot and so simple.

[@justice3188]

What about the gain twist rifling not stableizing the bullets with the cut down versions?

[@josephdriesenga2730]

I just bought a Carcano carbine, thanks in part to you guys

[@millionjakeus]

been watching since the beginning and you guys keep getting better... never change gun nerds... never change, love you guys!

[@Candrsenal]

u no it

[@FallGuyManiac]

“When we get to WWII in a year or two” - 5+ years later and still stuck in WWI 😂

[@brandontanis388]

The more I learn about carcanos the more I like them.

[@NeptuneBluez]

Excellent video as always, keep up the good work! My knowledge of Carcano rifles is quite limited and I have learned a lot from you guys.

[@Candrsenal]

Thanks

[@Medmann48]

I just ordered one of the Carcano M91/24 carbines yesterday from Bud's guns, hopefully I get a good one.

[@gagedillon8090]

"Sounds delicious, but it's actually a carbine. Let's go take a look in the light box." That is just the perfect way to put it.^^

[@rjoetting7594]

This is an old post but I have one that has the lever on the front and unfortunately to me it is obviously a parade gun because it's been completely chromed

[@JohnSmith-fp9li]

9:59 Annie Oakley step aside, almost 1moa standing unsupported! Incredible shooting Ma'am.

[@lstevens2834]

I like the Carcanos. I have a 91, calvery carbine and a 38.. I agree with May and like the carbine the best. Fun to shoot.

[@maewinchester2030]

Yus!

[@AverageBritishNerd1138]

I definitely approve of more Mae as a replacement for the lack of animation! The mischievous grin she sports whenever she's on the range never fails to make me laugh.

[@jameshagerman7681]

That special troop carbine looks like it's be a heck of a handy little stalking rifle

[@anthonyrichard461]

M1 Carbine is way lighter than the Carcano. Not nearly the power but way more mobile.

[@asphaltmemories4597]

I adore how compact this thing is.

[@p47rr]

Bought one for $100 a week ago.

[@fhsreelfilms]

"I'm gonna go with my preferences, and you guys can just deal with it." Mae's getting SALTY! Thanks for another great video, O and M!

[@fhsreelfilms]

Also, I think the M1 Garand is off laughing somewhere at the "ping" comment.

[@bigw6960]

Just picked my Carcano today. Barrel dated 1929. Cosmoline galore

[@williamhill7312]

Great video

[@keithmoore7390]

nice little rifles! it would definitely make a nice truck or brush gun for white tail!! it's a pity you have trouble finding a little rifle like that these days!! one thing I will never understand is why the hell they didn't realize that ground pounders couldn't see a target past 400 without glass on the gun? seems that took til after W.W.2!

[@Candrsenal]

Optics were expensive and sensitive for limited effect back then.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Those sights were intended for "volley fire", so not for a soldier to shoot to another soldier, but for a formation to shoot to another formation. Since the new smokeless powders gave to the rifle a far longer range than they previously had, Generals Tought that volley-fire would have played an important part in battles, and every WWI rifle had sights for extra-long distances. In the end, MGs and artillery took over the job to shoot at more than 300m ranges, and so adjustable sights had been practically useless throughout the war.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

At the time the concept was developed, there was not a viable machinegun, field artillery was short-ranged too, and so, up until there, military formations used to approach the battle site without any concealement (camouflage was developed later). So,the idea of being able to shoot to an enemy formation from more than a mile away (a thing that the new smokeless rifles were capable to do) seemed attractive, and even natural. Obviously, since the single shooter couldn't fire to the single target, but to the formation, in order to obtain some result, the entire formation had to shoot at once, in volleys. In the end, tactics and technology evolved, so that the concept proved to be useless. But it was not some sort of madness. At the time, it seemed logic. If the rifle can kill at 2km, we have to make sights that allow to aim at 2km.

[@WildBillCox13]

Another worthwhile watch. There are times, Othais, that your humor is so dry it could be used as a desiccant. A useful quality in your line of work.

[@Candrsenal]

What humor?

[@waffel7664]

only 200$..... must resist

[@AntonioOrru21]

Awesome review and thanks for mentioning the Bersaglieri.

[@tarvisponsdebeaumont794]

It's Càrcano. accented on the FIRST A, not on the second!

[@josephthomas8318]

Congratulations, you've convinced me to give one a shot (literally) it's not often I can actually afford or even find the rifles you talk about in this series but Royal Tiger imports has those 1891 Carcano carbines for only $140 right now

[@williammckenzie1941]

Great video guys! Informational and fun. Keep it up!

[@gordongekko67]

Compliments, i am Italian , you know very well the italian Hystory, Best regards

[@Schnipah]

I just bought one with the pinch type built in 1935 by Gardone Valtrompia. Is that fairly rare?

[@NeuKrofta]

unloved?! i love the carcano carbines! why i watched this video. and i loved it, you have an awesome gun collection and make a fantastic video!. subbing. keep up the work, cant wait to see when you get to ww2. Carcano carbines get too much hate.

[@Candrsenal]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JoshDrakePendora]

NeuKrofta I my opinion the Carcano Carbine is the true carcano, it's better than the full sized version, I have one and it is amazing

[@arthurbradshaw7035]

I love my 91/24, ammo so expensive though.

[@MortalKombat033]

@@arthurbradshaw7035 want to buy some 6.5?

[@mute754]

If you were to attempt to rebore this rifle what ammo could you do?

[@BlastersandBladesPodcast]

Does Beardy ever get to fire or just Mae?

[@AustinLutz01]

I purchased a 1935 FNA Brescia manufactured Moschetto that somehow avoided British or American test proofing before it made its way to me in Canada. The stock and hand guard serial numbers don’t match but they’re written in pencil inside which is really cool. The hand guard appears to be much taller than the factory hand guard and the slot where the rear sight folds down into is crudely hand hand carved out. It is a fascinating piece of history and I wish I could find out where it found itself upon Italian army acceptance.

[@WannabeWoodsman]

Trying to understand my gun.. it has the lever lock bayonet but the numbers 1935 carved in and some roman numerals

[@craftymaggot]

You did an excellent all inclusive video and Mae is a real cutie...I like her enthused smile.

[@robertopedrollo521]

Did they use the cavalry carcano m91 on troops that just run fast ? Like a soldier carring less stuff but can run faster ? Is that it ?

[@billhacks]

Thank you both for another top notch video. You two really are awesome.

[@Candrsenal]

Thanks!

[@maewinchester2030]

Glad you enjoyed it and us!!