A friend has an old military rifle I think WWII vintage. The only markings I could find were a small box on the breach with a crown, the letters FAT under it and 42 under that, the numbers on the barrel are AN2036, the box is about3/8 by 5/8 in. It is small cal. around .25 bolt action with a safety that you you push forward and rotate to the left on the bolt. Can anyone help me with this
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HELP what is this rifle
- Thread starter KEN K
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
You're going to have to post a picture or two, Ken.
I am editing this to add more info.
I think the rifle is an Italian Mannlicher-Carcano, made at Fabbrica d'Armi di Terni (FAT) in 1942. At that date, it is probably a Model 1938 with a 20.9" barrel. The magazine extends below the stock and has a hole in the bottom.
The caliber is 6.5 mm (.257) caliber; the cartridge is known as the 6.5x52mm or 6.5 Italian Carcano. Ammunition is still made by Norma and is available from Cheaper than Dirt (www.cheaperthandirt.com). Clips are required to use the rifle as a repeater; they are harder to come by, but are usually available at gun shows. You can do a Google search on "Carcano clips" for several sources. One site calls them "Carcano stripper clips" but there is no such thing, they are en-bloc clips, the same idea as the M1 (Garand) rifle, except that the Carcano clips fall out the bottom when empty.
One other rifle would fit part of that description, the Japanese Type I, but those rifles never had a two letter serial number prefix. Still, if it has a magazine like a Mauser, with a stripper clip slot, and a 30 3/4" barrel, it is a Japanese Type I, also made in Italy, and a much rarer rifle. The caliber is 6.5 Japanese (6.5x50).
Jim
I think the rifle is an Italian Mannlicher-Carcano, made at Fabbrica d'Armi di Terni (FAT) in 1942. At that date, it is probably a Model 1938 with a 20.9" barrel. The magazine extends below the stock and has a hole in the bottom.
The caliber is 6.5 mm (.257) caliber; the cartridge is known as the 6.5x52mm or 6.5 Italian Carcano. Ammunition is still made by Norma and is available from Cheaper than Dirt (www.cheaperthandirt.com). Clips are required to use the rifle as a repeater; they are harder to come by, but are usually available at gun shows. You can do a Google search on "Carcano clips" for several sources. One site calls them "Carcano stripper clips" but there is no such thing, they are en-bloc clips, the same idea as the M1 (Garand) rifle, except that the Carcano clips fall out the bottom when empty.
One other rifle would fit part of that description, the Japanese Type I, but those rifles never had a two letter serial number prefix. Still, if it has a magazine like a Mauser, with a stripper clip slot, and a 30 3/4" barrel, it is a Japanese Type I, also made in Italy, and a much rarer rifle. The caliber is 6.5 Japanese (6.5x50).
Jim
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Sounds like you hit it with the Carcano It does have a clip that sticks out the bottom a good ways and is fairly short gun over all. the clip also has a hole in the bottom. I'll see if I can find a pic. on the web now that I have a name and that should help nail it down. Thanks a lot for you help.
Try this site for all you ever wanted to know about the Carcano.
http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/
Jim
http://personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/
Jim
It sure sounds like a carcano. If the barrel is shorter than 20" it could be a model 1938 Cavalry Carbine. Tell your friend to make sure he checks the headspace before trying to fire it.
You can buy the "clips" from www.egunparts.com
I recently purchased 4 clips from them.
You can buy the "clips" from www.egunparts.com
I recently purchased 4 clips from them.