New fixer-upper 1891 Carcano Cavalry Carbine

[onlycrimson]

That cleaned up really well! Almost looks blued again.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Nice save Aragorn243! It almost looks like a completely different rifle.

I'm glad to took the 'before' photo. I've forgotten to do that a couple of times and wished I had after I finished.

~ Harlan

[Aragorn243]

I was surprised with the level of finish that is left on it. While I think the camera flash added some "blueing" to the pics it is blue rather than brown now. There is still some blueing underneath the rusted areas so when cleaned these are just a lighter shade of blue but not silver and they blend pretty well. I'm still finding the occasional bit that I missed on the barrel.

I have a couple of rifles I wish I had before photos of, a Chilean Mauser that was black when I got it from dirt and grime. Couldn't see any markings on it. When it was cleaned the Chilean Crest popped right out on the butt stock. It's a nice dark reddish brown now.

That reloading thread is pretty scary stuff. I have a Hodgedon manual that has quite a few combinations and bullet weights and no particular warnings other than to take care with the maximum loads. I haven't even had a chance to see if anyone around here sells the ammo for it. Cabelas should, they have everything else. The price is the issue.

[jmoore]

As regards the 6.5 Carcano Hornady loads, I have just followed their recipes EXACTLY and have had most excellent results.

Right now, though, it's .303"SAA and 7.62x51 time- and working with the 303 is much easier!

[Aragorn243]

I picked up two boxes of Privi-partisan at Cabelas this evening. Probably won't be very accurate as they are spitzer tipped and too light but the brass is the exact same brass in the Norma loads and at $10 a box less, I'll shoot these and reload them.

Got a sling and 5 clips for it in the mail yesterday so all I need now is some time and some nice weather to coincide for a trip to the range.

[jmoore]

If the Prvi brass is like mine, it's better than the Norma brass- the main difference being the area around the base. The Norma is not as compatible with the Carcano clips and doesn't want to function smoothly.

[Mohawk]

Wow. Nice Rifle!!! What Kind of orange stripper did You Use? May want to try that on My 1912 Enfield stock. Nice find and a great save...

[Aragorn243]

I loaded all 5 clips up with 6 rounds and had no problems with any of them. I did NOT put them in the rifle and try chambering them. Figured safety was more important than curiosity at this point. I need to head to the range to check that out.

The orange stuff is called Citristrip and I bought a 17 ounce spray can of it. I think this is the third rifle stock that I've cleaned with it, the other two being a #5 Jungle carbine and a Chilean Mauser. Feels like there is enough in there for at least one more. It's billed as a "safer paint and varnish stripper. Safe for indoor use (I spray it in the tub/shower enclosure) and it does remove some pigmented stains.

[gew8805]

You got a great deal at $160, the gun was easily worth the original asking price of $249, like all other military bolt action rifles, the Carcano is going up and up, and in that condition, 90% bluing and almost 100% original stock finish, you have a keeper. It even has the original cleaning rod in the buttstock, you almost never see that. Congratulations!

However, and I know that this is not going to be a popular statement but I have to say it. A careful cleaning with soap and water would have removed the dirt from the wood and that really was all it needed. The Citris Strip removed the original varnish and color/stain and that really affected the value of the piece. It caused the value to plunge from the $250 range down to the $160 that you paid for it, so, at least, you came out even. I'm sorry, I know you worked hard on it but.....

[gew8805]

Here is alink to the same carbine on a translated Italian site "Il91" that is full of great information. As you can see, the original color is exactly like what you started out with:

Google Translate

I hope the link works for you. If not, try here and click on the site name on the screen ( Storia del fucile 91 ) to get in and find the internal links to all Carcano rifles and carbines along with information on ammunition, enbloc clips, stock and marking on wood and steel and much more. Set up a Google translation and you will be able to read it quite comfortably. Enjoy.