Carcano Moschetto 91 Carbine and its Folding Bayonet 

this video brought me back in 1967, when at 20, enrolled in the Carabinieri, I was given a 91-38.

With Ian talking about how ugly the bayonet is i'm picturing a soldier being stabbed and complaining about how the enemy couldn't have used a nicer looking bayonet.

When you want to ride the hills like winged hussars and stab your enemies to death but you only have a bicycle.

Me when looking at that bayonet “man I could cook so many hotdogs on that”

I have one of the 1938 models that I picked up at a gun show for a steal. It’s a very proud member of my collection.

I had one of those on my gun table at a gun show back in the late 80's. A fellow brought it in and traded it for a knife I had on display. It wasn't much of a knife and all my fellow gun dealers laughed at me for even displaying it because it was considered about on the same scale as an old H&R 32 top break revolver. To everyone's surprise a fellow came in to the show and walked straight over to my table, offered me 30 bucks for the rifle. I sold it to him for that and was happy since the knife I had traded for it cost me 2 bucks, one of those crap Pakistan knives. Seems the fellow swore by the Carcano rifles for deer hunting, had lots of clips and ammo, he wanted the short version for his son who was just getting into hunting White Tail Deer.

Over the years, I’ve owned all the famous military bolt guns. They all have their pros and cons. I had a carcano carbine like this for a while, and found it to be one of slickest bolt guns ever. The clip loads easily, and the bolt was very smooth and fast. The 6.5 Carcano cartridge was derided back in the day for not being as powerful as the rest,but it actually offers a very good level of power. A semi auto scaled to and chambered for the 6.5 would have been ahead of its time.

Speaking of bicycle cavalries, there's a Danish film called "9. April" which is about the German invasion of Denmark in 1940. It follows a group of Danish bicycle soldiers.

I’m glad to see the Carcano getting some love after it being given so much crap over the years

The bayonet was mainly used for cooking sausages over a fire

Moved my comment here from the Carcano 1891 video after seeing this one, because I thought the long version, being "older", was the one given to not frontline soldier, in fact I checked my grandfather's war diary (as I should have in the first time) and he says "Moschetto". Older comment: "My grandfather took his Carcano back home after ww2 with a lot of ammunition, together with some machine gun belts and other things (sincerely I don't know what he was thinking to do with them), he proceded to hide everything at home using his carcano to shoot down foxes and marten, unfortunately in the '80s he gifted the rifle to one of his friends... He still kept a big chunck of the bullet (probably another caliber) that I found when I was 8 or so in his hen-house, I thought it was a pirate treasure 'cause they were all shiny like gold coins, after I told my discovery to my father he probably was listening and the day after the box was gone :/ " I know it's a silly thing moving comments on youtube and that nobody really cares about it, but I feel better with the comment under the right video.

To anybody interested, the old (1700-1945) official Italian names translate as follow: Fucile=rifle/musket Moschetto=carabine Carabina=sniper rifle/DMR

Nothing more embarrassing than letting the enemy see you walking around with a flacid bayonet flapping in the breeze.

The Bersaglieri were the Italian version of the German Jäger or the French Chasseurs a pied. Traditional a light Infantry, armed with rifles and fight as skirmishers, also the Jäger used often cycles for more mobility. When the Italians started to use motorized Infantry, this role goes to the Bersaglieri, still in this days, they are the Armoured Infantry of the Italian Army, still wearing this popular bush of cock feathers on their combat helmets, and also on their hats on parade.

For those who care about details: - Carcano is pronounced "càrcano" with the accent on the first A. - "Bersaglieri" is pronounced with a _gl_ sound you don't have in English, so a good compromise is saying "bersalieri" which actually sounds better than what Ian said in this video. - Moschetto is pronounced "mosketto", like others have pointed out.

One of my ancestors was an Alpini troop from Aosta and most certainly had one of these at some point. I took a chance and ordered one a few weeks ago and to my utter shock I got one from 1910 in damn near pristine condition. Not sure if I’ll be firing it ever, but it really goes well with his medals and Cappello Alpino. Next thing I need is a semi-decent Bodeo to complete the museum exhibit.

The lever on the second version looks like the lever to remove the gas tube on a ak

Our local gun store had several on the shelf, so I walked out to the car and sat and watched this, getting super impatient the whole time because I was worried the whole time that someone more knowledgeable about them would walk in and snatch up the coolest one while I was still trying to figure out what all the features meant.

I'm trying to picture someone on a bicycle wielding a carbine with the bayonet deployed....

Thank you Ian for making all these videos about carcano's rifle series

Europe: Bicycles will be obsolete by WWI. Viet Cong: Hold my beer...

I have a 1918cavalry carbine- all matching numbers. My uncle brought it home from WWII. I also have the leather scabbard, which is absolutely beautiful.

Guys, give Ian a break. His knowledge is firearms not the languages of the world.

Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in!

A shooting club near me here in Norway has one of these, but they're mixed? lighter coloured stock, button style bayonet mechanism, bolt design of the one that is darker in the video and the non-adjustable sight.

One weak point on the M91 carbine is the lock bar spring on the adjustible rear site. They are a bit fragile compared to other designs, and if you break yours, good luck finding a replacement. Always check that spring before buying.

My dad has a 38 with the old style rear sight. He’s had it for 30 years and it’s one of my favorites... And I think the bayonet looks awesome.

I owned one of the model 38 carbines. I had it given to me by a good friend who called it "the boat anchor". I had no use for the bayonet and subsequently removed it and applied some white paint to the sights. It became my bad weather brush gun for deer hunting in the swamps of central Maine. It shot reasonably well with Norma 156 grain ammo. I gave it to my son for his boy to use and He shot several deer with it . It is ugly but functional and the safety is stiff enough that its pretty near impossible to accidently shift into the fire position.

Well to say the Bersaglieri were a bicycle unit is a bit reductive. There were battalions with bicycle of course, but not before 1910 (I can be wrong). The Bersaglieri were the Italian version of the more mobile, modern tactics, flanking units in a period were normal army branches confronted standing in front of each other or in trenches when they were lucky (from early 1840 to wwi)

A moment of silence for all the bolt guns that get the khyber pass treatment especially the rare guns

I was waiting for this one. I still have my grandfathers 6.5 that he bought at academy back in the 50's. Wish I could find a new bayo lug and bayonet, my dad took it off when I was a kid, ground the lug off, and have it to me. I could throw that bayonet really well, made a holster for it that attached to my boot. Could stick it all the way thru soft pine 2×4s. But it broke in 2 pieces eventually. Lasted thru many throws believe it or not. I reload for it ocasionally, when I can find .268 bullets because .264 fails royally. Thanks for the great video.

There's one of these in a local gun store, if it's still there next week I think I just might have to pick it up

Great video and great series on the Carcano. Just a quick note to clarify that the Italian word ‘Moschetto’ is pronounced with a K sound, Mosketto.

I’ve got an m91 carbine, I honestly love the thing. I got it in pretty roughed up condition and basically restored the entire thing, it is honestly my favorite rifle.

Ian only got this so he could attack the Isonzo River for the 163rd Battle of the Isonzo next month.

Thanks for uploading this excellent vid on these carbine. Nvr knew they existed. Talking about bicycle infantry, there is a fantastic Danish movie titled 9.april on this subject! Lost of interesting firearms were filmed, including a Madsen LMG on a tripod mount! Great movie to watch if you are stuck at home! Cheers!

My father used it during conscription period in Italy (now ceased) ,belong to his experience ,it was a precise rifle but the recoil was devastating for the shoulder.

Ian: "Think of them as Bicycle Cavalry." Me: "Wait, when did Ian start working for Monty Python?"

Thanks for covering this rifle! I've wondered for a long time if I'd ever see it on your channel. A decade or so ago my grandfather gave me an original model 91 that he'd had hanging in his basement workshop for as long as I can remember. Date stamped 1917. Unfortunately mine is missing its bayonet and the rear sling swivel, but it's otherwise in good enough condition to safely fire. Having said that, there are two things that really stand out in my mind about this rifle: 1) It recoils like a bastard. I would rate its pleasantness to shoot as "significantly worse than a 12-gauge shotgun." Considering its surprisingly light weight and the fact that it uses the same 6.5 round as its full-sized cousin that's perhaps not surprising. 2) The fireball it creates upon firing is as ridiculous as it is awesome.

My favourite carbine is the mosin nagant m41/44 I forget which one it is. But it's solely because of its folding bayonet on the side

Thank you , Ian.

I literally just picked up one of these at the local gun show. It finished out my "Major Powers of WW2" collection.

Italian gunmaker: To improve efficiency in production, I saw the Carcano in half

Love these ...need to find one

These remained in use up until the late 70s/early 80s with Carabinieri, Fire Department, Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies. Some '91 were used by Police until the earlu 2000s as CS/Smoke grenade launchers.

I just got one yesterday...thanks for the info

I love moschetto. Tastes great with chicken Alfredo.

A good friend of mine bought one of these for quite a low price, which is surprising because it's 1918 production and it's in awesome condition. When we took it to the range, I was surprised that after only one clip (6 rounds) the barrel was pretty much impossible to touch, they really do heat up quickly

Great video lesson. Thank you sir.

This was the first surplus rifle in my collection... excellant pig n deer rifle, even with the bayonet attached!

Absolutely loving this. I appreciate a lot that you, are doing this videos dedicated to our dear rifle that we had used in two world wars. Just a thing, Moschetto, like Musket, Mosketto, not Moscetto or Moshetto

My Dad was a tanker in the Italian Army reserve from 1931 on, and then served in WW2 through the Balkan campaign. I have photos of him with this type rifle standing for a group photo with the other members of his unit, minus the tanks. I don’t know if they were issued as a tank weapon the way that US tankers got the “tanker” version of the Garand, or if the photo was basic training. My Dad looked too old for this to have been back in the early 1930’s, he seemed to be the same age he was in other photos posing with his CV33 tankette, which were taken when he was in his early 30’s. On the other hand I would think it would be pretty tough to stow a pair of carbines even this small in something as tiny as a CV33 which was basically little more than a self-propelled machine gun nest.

On collector's market, you may occasionally find some of these with a short tube welded at muzzle. In addition to Carcano, there are other short barreled military carbines with this welded tube. At time if importation in 1950's, minimum rifle barrel length was 18", just like shotguns and this was done to allow importation without SBR problems with ATTU (predecessor to ATF). Law was eventually change so carbines, including M-1, would be legal.

Those are SO cool. Baby rifles with nifty tiny bayonets:)

At first I misread the title of this video as a Dr. Seuss rhyme: The Carcano Moschet and its Folding Bayonet. ... I don't know what's wrong with my brain (other than having young children).

This is the story all about how Mussolini got flipped-turned-upside down

I just recently bought a M91/38 Carcano from 1942 and it looks lovely. Definitely going to shoot it as soon as I get the ammo for it

Very helpful. Thank you!

At the beginning of WWI, my understanding was the each regiment of Bersaglieri had three battalions on foot, and a fourth on bicycles. Throughout WWI, this four-to-one ratio looked like it stayed relatively consistent. So, most Bersaglieri were never on bikes, but mostly on foot.

* Sui monti del Cadore echoes in the distance *

Now I can't get the image of bicycle mounted cavalry charging into battle out of my head.

Are we going to see an Italian rifles book, next?

Yay a cool new gun too look at for my birthday

I love these Carbines, they are cool as cool gets, with that sweet folding bayonet, in the 1980s you could but these for $ 80.00, All Italian Rifles were cheap, they flooded the U.S. Markets with these from late 1970s to the end of the 1980s, Century Arms of St. Albans Vermont, imported thousands of these guns, I bought I think about about 15 of these, and would sell them at gun shows, they sold well, I worked at a Surplus Store on Nevada that would buy 300 to 400 surplus guns mostly rifles and carbines, they came in WW2 wooden shipping crates from 1945 and 1946, I had to sort them, clean them, inspect them each one, and then I would test fire lots of them, I loved that job....

This video brought me back to 1891.

Good morning, everyone! Time for Forgotten Carcanos!

Mine's a 91/40 or 91/41, when they went back to the original sights. So, it has the rounded barrel shank, old sights, and year 1941 on it.

I think it's probably fair to say the troops are bicycle dragoons rather than bicycle cavalry. A dragoon rides a horse to the battlefield and then dismounts to fight, as opposed to the cavalry who fight on horseback.

I had a 6.5mm pattern 3 with the old style sights '38, my dad got it in the 80's as a boar hunting gun. Fun gun to shoot and I always liked the look and handle.

I have a 1935 stamp Brescia Carcano that seems to have a crudely carved out M91/38 handguard for the fold down sight. The wooden parts such as the stock have serial numbers written in pencil inside them

The more I see, hear and read about the Carcanos the more I like them, especially the Moschettos . (I have a sneaking lust for the 91-38. I don't care if others call it ugly.)

Ian butchers Moschetto so beautifully

Soldier: This is not a carbine. It is a full length rifle Instructor: folds down bayonet Soldier: Still not a carbine. Now it's a pistol

Rifles at dawn between Ian and Mae methinks.

I just got one of these, my standard gave it to me for my birthday yesterday on the 7th. It was made in 1931, has no front upper handguard, has the folding sight that actually goes up to 2k meters on it, and is in caliber 6.5 x 52mm. But I'm missing the bayonet and the from nose ring for it. I actually literally finished refurbishing it like 20 mins ago. The last owner had allowed the barrel to rust some. I haven't decided if I want to reblue it or not yet. I'd like to hear some comments on what other people think I should do. The stock is still in near perfect condition.

Looking at getting one of these as my first non .22

In WW2 the Japanese used bicycles to great effect in the invasion of Malaya hastening the fall of Singapore.

Got my hand on one made in 1893, Serial# A8773. Shining bore and all match, with a rod in stock. Fires perfectly with deep strike in primer. Never gonna sell it.

The front sight on the 91/38 in the video looks like a modified one from the previous version, and this explains the blade not at hte muzzle. I am inclined to adopt this explanation because you can still see the two holes that were the stops for the lever of the bayonet lock second type.

Bit of a problem with a comment Ian made. He said prior to WW1 bikes were used most. I’m sure it was an oversight on his part but bikes were actually used in high amounts in WW1. Funnily enough considering the video, the Italians were known for their bike mounted troops which acted as scouts and messengers.

Fun Fact: Moschetto means "Musket" (and infact Sche is said like an sk so moSKetto)

Man what a cool piece of history for a decent price!

I have one of these, it’s missing the bayonet and seems to have an aftermarket sight added

nothing worse than going to stab a guy and your bayonet flops down

I think the best course of action that the Italian military could have taken in the 1920s or 1930s would have been to copy the 7.5mm Swiss cartridge and use it on both rifles and medium machine guns. Using different ammo for rifles and machine guns created logistical problems to Italians during the war. And then they could have created an universal 7.5mm short rifle to replace long rifles and carbines to ease manifacture.

Love your videos. Just a heads-up, in Italian the "ch" letter combination is pronounced like the English "k", so it sounds like "mosketto" as like "musket" in English.

Recently got one made in 1936, man ammo has been a pain to get

It's mosketto. "Moshetto" is used to refer to someone who suffers from erectile disfunction...

Hey Rapunzel why don't you get a haircut, your prince ain't coming

My Great Grandpa took his when the US was in Italy back in WWII. He still has it and the only thing his doesnt have is the bolt assembly. Not sure if he took it from one of the Italian children training camps or if he took it from a fallen enemy but he passed away several years ago, so sadly I cant ask.

The best looking Carcano is the TS in my opinion

*Gets stabbed* "Your bayonet is ugly"

I have lots of expensive modern rifles . I got one of these for 350 dollars . And it's my favorite gun . I just absolutely love this little rifle . I carry it on my back in a shot gun scarab. Mine is a 1917

Wow I'm early for this one huh great video

A gun that has very little information on the internet about it is the M1873 Dutch army revolver, i've always thought they looked cool but have never known much about them.

my uncle brought one sort of like this home from WWII BUT it was a kids single shot .22lr training rifle it was too too cool

It is interesting to see that they kept the dimpels for the bayonett-leaver when they switched to the spring-button system...huhm

For the first second or two I seriously thought that was one rifle with the bolt waaaay forward and all sorts of funny scaffolding beneath. “Silly eye-tal-yuns” I thought. Then I realized it’s two rifles, staggered.

Well Ian based on my observation you’re m38 has a repurposed second style locking block for the bayonet. It has the recessed dimples for the locking lever

I have one of these. Grandfather found it on a beach during WW2.