Another one of mine.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Moschetto 91/38 da cavalleria (d.c.)
Caliber 6.5mm
Made in September 1940, Fascist year XVIII
in Gardone, Val Trompia (VT)
of that there is no doubt, as it is practically "clear text"
But the number series for a 91/38 d.c. 1940XVIII ought to be of the form QMnnnn (nnnn is a 4-figure number).
So the number O.G 723 appears to be anomalous.
The butt marking is also quite clear, with crown over F.A.G. 40 - Fabricca d'Armi Gardone 1940.
And there is another tiny OG (upside down) in a diamond below the 3 41 in the pic that looks as if someone moved the barrel with a pipe wrench.

I therefore conclude, for lack of another explanation, that the O.G 723 marking stands for Officina Gardone 723 - i.e. Gardone Works No. 723 - not a standard series marking at all. Markings with manufacturer letters were usually for parts source identification. It could be a working sample retained by the factory and never issued to the military - which would explain the excellent condition.

Was that picky enough?

Now someone else can have a guess!

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