What kind of Carcano is this??

[zion90]

Attachment 44429Attachment 44427Attachment 44428Attachment 44430I just purchased a rifle that has an exact 91/28 configuration with adjustable sights...the strange thing is that is has 39 xvii with fna Brescia marked on the barrel. Serial number is in the b600 range. From what I can tell it has not been bubba'd with or sporterized as the barrel length is correct as well. It is chambered in 6.5 too...whether it was 7.35 originally, I am not sure. I know Brescia was the only manufacturer who put those type of adjustable sights on the 91/38 Calvary carbines...is it possible they had some left of these sights left over in 39 and simply used it on this ts rifle?? Please help!

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[Aragorn243]

It would never have been in 7.35.

It is interesting in that the 91/28 production ended in 1938 and the B prefix serial number isn't anywhere near that year. It should be a late 1933 or early 1934 production

[zion90]

From what I understand Brescia stopped making the 91/28's in 1936. I thought that it may have been a 91/38 model that was produced in early 1939 that simply used the older sight since brescia calvary carbines are the only models with that sight as well.....either way Im crazy confused.....haha

[Aragorn243]

Brescia stopped making the civilian version of the 91/28 in 1936 but made the military version into 1938. Only difference is the letter prefix, yours is military. The B prefix known examples run to B526 in 1933 and start up at B1604 in 1934. Yours falls in between those which according to my source if I'm understanding it correctly, shouldn't have happened. Source is "Italy's Battle Rifle" by Russ Arendell and Steve Woodrum. I know one of the authors frequents the Gunboards forums and you might present your rifle to them there. I don't know if they simply listed the known range of serial numbers or if they have evidence that those are the serial numbers used. Still doesn't help if your rifle is dated 1939.

[zion90]

Do you think that they started the serial numbers over as it was a different type of receiver? This particular one is round and the ones made in the 30's were hex correct?

[jmoore]

Earlier barrels have the hexagonal breech end, but the receivers were all about the same. What strikes me odd is the fit of the front band. Looks sort of loose on the stock when viewed from the front. Any underside photos of the fore end?

[Bruce McAskill]

I may be wrong on this but I seem to remember that in the late 30's there were a lot of older rifles that were converted into carbines by Italy. New barrels and redone wood. Could this be one of those?