Carcano M38 Short Rifle-Lots of Pictures

I have recebtly purchased an M38 Carcano from my local gun shop for a price of $40. It has lots of things wrong with it but it does have a couple bright spots. The rifle is dated 1939 ans is in the 7.35mm Carcano cal. and the bbl is in decent shape. Any advice or feedback would be appriciated during the restoration process. I would be inerested in hearing all coments, positive and negative.

The Good: The rifle is in 7.35mm(yes I consider this good), all major parts are there, the shape of the parts is not terrible, the original cleaning rod is still with the rifle, and probably the best part is the price.

The Bad: Where to begin...The stock has been cut even with the front of the rear band, the rear band has been cut even with the top of the stock, the hanguard is missing, the bayo lug and front band are also missing, the firing pin has been broken and rewelded to the locking nut at some point, the front trigger guard screw has been replaced with a run-of-the-mill hardware store screw and finallybutplate is rusted fairly bad.

I will post pics and progress as time allows as there is much to gather and work on, but in the end it should be all worth if I can get everything at the right price. Wish me luck!!

mdrim13

I will wish "persistance" on you, rather than luck! Although a complete "donor rifle" with a bad bore would help immensely.

Do please give us progress reports.

Hard to beat the price that's for sure. Metal doesn't look too bad, probably not as bad as the one I just cleaned up. I first scraped the heavy rust off in the same direction the metal markings are going and then wire brushed it and finally very fine steel wool. Photos are under Carcano Cavalry Carbine fixer upper. You could try sanding down the buttplate before replacing it. From the photos, that looks like some very heavy damaging rust on the upper portion of it, be hard to make it look good without some heavy work.

Shame about the stock, looks like it is a nice one aside from being cut. And there lies the big problem, finding a stock will make that bargain of $40 disappear unless you're very lucky.

So far I have all of the peices to my rifle put together. I bought a new stock from sarco inc and it appears to be a virgin stock(pilot holes for screws but not full holes, no # on stock, no metal parts inside). I have decided to refinish the butplate with cold blue and see if i can match it. I will finish the rifle in a linseed oil as it has no current finish. I have begun the rust removal process and so far I have the magazine, bayo lug and bolt body cleaned up. So far I am only having one major problem...ammo! I am not set up to reload so i am looking for factory loads for the time being. Any ideas on where to get some?

Nothing available of which I'm aware in 7,35 Carcano. Good round, and Hornady components are to be had from Grafs'. Maybe "Buffalo Arms" (or Buffalo something)- let me search the "internets" right quick.

---------- Post added at 02:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 AM ----------

Here's their product, but they are out right now:

Buffalo Arms - Product Detail - 7.35 Italian Carcano Loaded Ammunition 128 grn. - $36.00


They also have in stock some surplus ammo for US$14- don't know if that's for 15rds boxed w/clips or if it's 20rds w/o clips. I suspect the latter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmoore

They also have in stock some surplus ammo for US$14- don't know if that's for 15rds boxed w/clips or if it's 20rds w/o clips. I suspect the latter.

---

I hope neither* - the Carcano ammo came in clips of six rounds, 3 clips in a box = 18 rds! If has indeed been repacked without the clips, then you have a problem. Feeding a Carcano without those clips is a pain. Which is why the clips are worth more than the ammo!

PRVI - Partizan make 6.5mm Carcano cases. Easy to anneal the necks and expand these to 7.5mm. The real problem is the bullets!

Patrick
:wave:

* Oh dear! I just checked. That is ammo without the clips. Get a couple of clips or be prepared to get annoyed.

D'oh! Yah, 18 rounds-WHAT was I thinking?!?. Thanks for the double check of their website! All I saw was a single round displayed but was pretty sure the price wasn't just for the one round.

Best of persistence with this ! I like seeing something rescued from sprter bubba land.

Some milsurp ammo, cal. 7,35mm

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff045-1.jpg

So far I have managed to clean all of the surface rust off the rifle and it looks great. I used a copper wire brush, oit and patientce to do this. I am now faced with the task of fitting the stock and handguard to the rifle. Everything is very tight to the point where you nearly have to beat it into the stock. It will be a slow process as I have never done it before. I would rather take my time then go to far and then have to patch and recut it out. After the stock is fitted i will fix some small cracks, steam out some dents, glue where the wood has lifted in a couple spots and fit the butplate. If all looks well i will then give it a few good coats of BLO to finish it. Then i will move on to the heavily pitted butplate.

I have finished cleaning up and cold blueing the butplate. It is still pretty rough but for now it will work just fine as I can easily replace it later on if I so desired. The color match is pretty close and I am happy with it because it is just a butplate. Its meant to be used and abused right?

It ought to perform it's function just fine!

Did you think to take any "as delivered" photos of your new stock?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mdrim13

Everything is very tight to the point where you nearly have to beat it into the stock. It will be a slow process as I have never done it before. I would rather take my time then go to far and then have to patch and recut it out. After the stock is fitted i will fix some small cracks,

---

Yeah, well if you "nearly have to beat it into the stock" then "fix some small cracks" is no surprise. To prevent that turning into "fix some big cracks" one day, I recommend making sure that the barreled system is a snug fit, but not a force fit anywhere. But keep up the good work!

Patrick
:wave:

I think that I am finally finished and really I couldnt be happier. I think it looks great and I couldnt have pictured it better. I fitted the stock and gave it four coats of BLO. I had an old sling laying around that slightly resembeled a carcano sling so I put it on for the time being, knowing it is not correct. Any comments or feedback appriciated.

I have one of these in 6.5. Load my own ammo with Hornady .268 bullets

Looks great mdrim13, another fine rescue from bubba sporterville !

I am in the process of repairing what some hack did to a 7.35 M38 Short Rifle. I had to do it though as the bore was absolutely excellent. I got it without the bolt, and with the stock hacked off just after the rear barrel band. (Rear barrel band and front band missing). They were using the bayonet clip to hold the barrel into the front of the stock. What a mess. I did manage to get a bolt, front barrel band and screws, stock and hand guard. The only thing missing is the rear barrel band.

Anyway. I stripped all the remaining hardware off the stock. Used my own mix of bluing stripper and reduced the metal to "in the white". Then proceeded to Slow Rust Blue everything I had. I used Mark Lee express blue and did 5 iterations of rusting, boiling and carding. The metal wouldn't actually rust or color any further so I heated the metal and applied oil.

The stock and hand guard were washed down with a 50-50 mix of denatured alcohol and mineral spirits. Then repeatedly steam ironed and re-cleaned to get all the oils and simple dents and impressions (except where markings and cartouches were located). Will be hand rubbing satin tung oil into the wood when it's all ready. I will supply pictures very soon.

I put a mention in the WTB section, but if anyone has a rear barrel band (I have the cross screw and nut/sling loop), that would be a big help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rattletrap1970

I put a mention in the WTB section, but if anyone has a rear barrel band (I have the cross screw and nut/sling loop), that would be a big help.

---

As you can see in the original post I only had a half so I wasnt much better off than you...

mdrim13

Yeah, I see. Seems like anyone who bubba'ed these things all read from the same book of hacking up and ruining rifles. I mean, I've seen some really beautiful smartly done sporters.. but damn I see some true hack work... And all these lower barrel bands have to be somewhere.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rattletrap1970

put a mention in the WTB section, but if anyone has a rear barrel band (I have the cross screw and nut/sling loop), that would be a big help.

---

Liberty Tree Collectors has the bands currently. Just google their name.

mdrim13

No, it says sold out under the picture.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I'm sorry. I thought it said they had some. They come up on eBay/gunbroker often enough. There is a m91 carcano rear band up on eBay right now.

Mdrim13

Will it fit on an m38?

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I paid 44 dollars for a Butt stock swivel for a no1 mk3. Couldn't find one any where and it was the final piece. You my friend STOLE that rifle, Congrates. No matter the shape and it doesn't look too bad. You got a great bargain will have day's of enjoyment, working on it, and shooting it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JerryB08

I paid 44 dollars for a Butt stock swivel for a no1 mk3. Couldn't find one any where and it was the final piece. You my friend STOLE that rifle, Congrates. No matter the shape and it doesn't look too bad. You got a great bargain will have day's of enjoyment, working on it, and shooting it.

---

Do keep in mind, though, that what I payed for the rifle and what I have in it are two different numbers...and BTW I have never shot it due to a lack of avaliable ammo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rattletrap1970

Will it fit on an m38?

---

I do not think so but I am also not certain.

mdrim13

Going through some of my normal parts channels a have got together a list of websites that are curretly showing the rear band on their website. Hope this helps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rattletrap1970

I put a mention in the WTB section, but if anyone has a rear barrel band (I have the cross screw and nut/sling loop), that would be a big help.

---

Italian Carcano Rifle Parts

http://www.ssporters.com/parts/carcano.htm

HUNTERS LODGE CORPORATION

mdrim13

Buffalo arms has the ammo. Both original surplus and some they must load themselves using old casings.

I'll try the other two places you listed. Ssporters does not answer their phone, emails, faxes.. nothing. Tried sarco too, but I did get my stock and front band screws from them.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Springfield Sporters has everything you need for most Carcanos:

http://www.ssporters.com/parts/carcano.htm

They have tons of parts for most military rifles and are completely reliable if a little understaffed for the demand at times. Good folks to deal with.

I'm sure Springfield Sporters is swell, I've been trying to get through to them for 2 weeks by phone, email and finally FAX... No answer, No replies, No nothing.. not sure if they had an emergency or are traveling or what. I just can't believe getting a barrel band is this difficult.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rattletrap1970

I just can't believe getting a barrel band is this difficult.

---

Thats the joy of restoring these old military rifles right? A lobor of love...

mdrim13