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  1. #1
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    Alpini rifle

    Just curious as to which model or models were standard issue for the alpini?
    I see alot of pictures from ww1 with alpini using m91 long rifles. I would have thought a ts rifle a better choice?o
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    Yes, a shorty would have been better.
    But generally they used the long ones.
    In WWII, the 91/41 was developed for the Alpini. Again, a rather long one instead of a short carbine.
    Don't look for logic in all this. I guess there is none.
    Although, it must be said, plenty of Officers and NCO's had the cavalry or the TS versions.
    After WWII, we got the Garandicon and then the fabulous BM59 TA, with foldable steel stock. Then the SC 70/90, again with foldable stock.
    Those were good decisions, definitely.
    I loved my BM59 TA, really. Great rifle, simple as it could be. A Garand with very minor changes. Reliable and sturdy.
    The SC 70/90 never really convinced me, other than for the easy shooting due to the 5.56 cartridge. The BM was more...manly;-D

    If you want more info about the Italianicon 91 rifles, there is a very good site Storia del fucile 91. It is in Italian, but it's really great!

    By the way, I am a retired Alpini Officer.
    Great Corp!!!
    Last edited by Ovidio; 01-29-2019 at 03:54 AM. Reason: Added info about www.il91.it site.
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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    Legacy Member AmEngRifles's Avatar
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    In preference to not break any forum rules, I will NOT link their web site, but there IS a manufacturer, James River Armory, very near to us in North Carolina that is now making "reconstituted" BM-59 paratroopers or Alpine models. I have both the full stocked model and the folding stock model. Both are very nice guns. I put them right up their with my M1Aicon rifles.

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    Here in Italyicon they are selling them since a couple of years ago, but the "demilitarisation" is a bit too energetic. A real pity. As if anyone could find an Energa rifle grenade and be willing to fire it.
    Idiots rule the world of gun laws!
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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    Legacy Member Daan Kemp's Avatar
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    For mountain work you need the longer barrel and sight radius for shooting longer distances because targets are usually further away, across valleys, etc.

    For moving in the mountains shorter rifles are much easier to handle. You choose.

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    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    Well Daan, actually mountain warfare is more a question of patrols and small forces moving around in a stealthy way.
    Modern weapons systems have made life quite dire over the tree line, plus the extremely broken terrain above it does not generally allow for very long shooting opportunities for the average soldier.
    We have never trained or even considered long range shooting, other than for our marksmen or snipers.
    A short rifle, and the BM59 is indeed a shorter Garandicon, was extremely handy and more than adequate for any kind of situation we were expected to face.
    Also consider that valleys are quite wide, even the “narrow” ones.
    The only down side of the BM59 was the weight, which is not a small issue in the mountains. 5,5 kg loaded is fairly heavy.
    As an MG operator (and carrier) during officer school, I was a bit envious of them, but not as much as when they all got the SC70/90. That was again 1 kg less, while my 12 kept stable

    Anyway, my experiences date back over 25 years. The cold war had ended, but we were still training more or less the same way.
    I guess our guys in Afghanistan have worked differently.
    Last edited by Ovidio; 02-02-2019 at 01:24 AM. Reason: Added reference to cold war training
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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