Old Carcano

If it is the Carcano, there were only two Carcano rounds, 7.35mm and 6.5mm. One of them will fit perfectly. (Assumes Grampa didn't alter it.) The bullets are sometimes tough to find. When you find some, stock up. From the stock grooves I would have said you had a model 38 Carcano (which came in either caliber). However, all of the Carcanos I am aware of had magazines that extended below the stock to the base of the trigger guard (like a Lee Enfield does). You say yours doesn't extend below the stock at all, which gives me pause. If your description is accurate, then it might not be a Carcano. The Carcano was considered by some to be one of the worse weapons of the war. On the other hand, in good condition they make satisfactory hunting rifles. Their reputation (and the ammo) got quite a boost back in 1963 where one was allegedly used (with a cheap non zeroed mail order scope) by a guy named Lee Harvey Oswald in what was (and is still considered) an amazing feat of rapid aimed fire on a moving target.

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After some more researching, this rifle appears to be one of a signifigant number (60,000 or so) sold to the Japanese during the early stages of WWII. According to a web page about the Carcano (with a registry) the markings (or lack thereof), the magazine that does not extend below the stock, and the stock itself (a 2 piece stock, with the top and bottom pieces mortised (sp?) together).

Of to a gunsmith to have it checked out. It appears to be in a good working order, so hopefully I can go out and shoot it before too long. Although at $35.00 a box (20 Rounds) for the norma 6.5 Jap round I probably won't use it too much.

Thanks, Clint Law

# If it is the Carcano, there were only two Carcano rounds, 7.35mm and 6.5mm. One # of them will fit perfectly. (Assumes Grampa didn't alter it.) The bullets are # sometimes tough to find. When you find some, stock up. From the stock grooves # I would have said you had a model 38 Carcano (which came in either caliber). # However, all of the Carcanos I am aware of had magazines that extended below the # stock to the base of the trigger guard (like a Lee Enfield does). You say yours # doesn't extend below the stock at all, which gives me pause. If your # description is accurate, then it might not be a Carcano. The Carcano was # considered by some to be one of the worse weapons of the war. On the other # hand, in good condition they make satisfactory hunting rifles. Their reputation # (and the ammo) got quite a boost back in 1963 where one was allegedly used (with # a cheap non zeroed mail order scope) by a guy named Lee Harvey Oswald in what # was (and is still considered) an amazing feat of rapid aimed fire on a moving # target.

Sounds like what you have is a Japanese 'I' Type rifle. These guns were made in Italy with the Carcano action, but with Arisaka style stocks and magazines. If so, the caliber would be 6.5 Japanese.

Paul Thompson