Help identifying this rifle:
 

Hello,
This is my first time posting here. I used to be in the U.S. Army infantry for four years, but my general knowledge of firearms is abysmal. I was wondering if any of you could help to identify this rifle for me? I would appreciate it.

M91 Carcano

I think Tango nailed that one. Appears to be one of the surplus models and has an eerie place in American history if you believe that Oswald made the shot. :rolleyes:

JD

Thanks
 

Thanks for the quick feedback, folks - quite stunning speed. I really do appreciate it more than you know. It is a former student of mine, and he acquired it from a relative and is proud of it. Here are a few more pictures, he will get me any markings on it later in the day so I can help him out with more information (what variant, what kind of ammo it fires, etc.).

During the 60's you could buy them out of the back of Guns and Ammo or American Rifleman for I think $2 to $5 with shipping. It came with everything as well I think. Not the greatest in Italian Firearm design but not bad shooters.

I have a complete barreled action of one of these, and they came in two different calibers. A 6.5, and I think the other 7.7. Ammo is probably pretty hard to find, but I believe Hornady does some military calibers. The one I have is the larger caliber, but lacks the wood and barrel bands. JFK was shot with one in the 6.5mm caliber. Neither was well thought of. All these military rifles will have some collector value, depending on it's condition.

6.5 Carcano is my bet. Ammo is being loaded again I believe by Prvi Partisan. It requires a clip to load though. The clip feeds into the gun and drops out the bottom of the magazine when empty. The clips are available.

Good info above. I have one that came from Guns and Ammo mag. 15-20 $ range IIRC.

Have a smith examine for caliber. MOST are 6.5 Carcano. SOME are 7.35 Carcano. A FEW they tried to do in 8mm Mauser (bad idea- real bad). The 6.5 has modest recoil, and if the barrel and muzzle crown are good, decent accuracy.