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  1. #1
    Contributing Member Aragorn243's Avatar
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    Austrian Capture Marks

    Was cleaning a M91 long rifle dated 1895 and found what appears to be possible Austrian capture marks on the bolt handle. Nowhere else on the rifle which seems odd as this is where you would expect to find them. I've never heard of them being on the bolt.

    Very distinct AZ then the space runs out. An F is stamped at an angle, above and to the left of the AZ. So they aren't in order but it looks like they got started, ran out of space and went back.

    No apparent conversions and other than that seems to be a basic run of the mill M91.

    The bolt is serial numbered which is a first for one of my carcanos, but it does not match the receiver.

    Anyone ever hear of them marking the bolts? Could be a postwar rebuild at an Italianicon arsenal and they switched the bolts or someone else just switched the bolt.
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    Legacy Member Eaglelord17's Avatar
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    As far as I am aware the Italians never numbered the bolts on the Carcanos, so to me that would be a indicator that it was captured by someone else simply because the Italians didn't do it (kinda like how the Austrian M95s that have been to Bulgaria often have serial numbered bolts).

    That being said there is no exact way to know if the bolt is the original one for the rifle.

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    Contributing Member mmppres's Avatar
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    does that make it rare an worth alot of money???

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    Contributing Member Aragorn243's Avatar
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    You would think that if the Austrians were numbering the bolts, they would be numbering them to the same number as the barrel. As for rare, the Austrians captured quite a few carcanos. At first they were modifying them to use their own caliber I believe but then they got so many they didn't need to, they captured the ammo also. After the war, most were returned to Italyicon.

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    Legacy Member vintage hunter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eaglelord17 View Post
    As far as I am aware the Italians never numbered the bolts on the Carcanos
    IIRC the early m1891's did indeed have numbered bolts.

  8. Thank You to vintage hunter For This Useful Post:


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    Legacy Member Eaglelord17's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vintage hunter View Post
    IIRC the early m1891's did indeed have numbered bolts.
    I was unaware of that thanks for that information.

    Another couple countries to possibly look up would be Czechslovakia and Yugoslaviaicon as after Austriaicon-Hungary fell they ended up with some Carcanos in stock.

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    Contributing Member mmppres's Avatar
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    sounds like a real nice looking rifle

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    Contributing Member Aragorn243's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mmppres View Post
    sounds like a real nice looking rifle
    It looks better. I got most of the stains out of the wood and the grease and rust off the metal. Got the rear sight working again. I spent most of Sunday afternoon cleaning it.

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    Contributing Member mmppres's Avatar
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    when you get hose new toys on the same day makes it hard to decide which one to play with firs

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    Legacy Member martin08's Avatar
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    Yes, the M91 Carcanos had numbered bolts until mid to late-war, around 1917 to 1918, IIRC. The Austrians also stamped numbers, but usually related to Unit marks.

    Is your AZ F in a stylized serif font, like below?


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