Important to note that a sling was essential because Italians need their hands free to talk to each other.

Friendship ended with _MAUSER_ Now _CARCANO_ is my new best friend

A folding Swiss Army knife comes with a corkscrew and toothpick. A folding Italian Army knife comes with a rifle attached.

So do you want a removable bayonet or a foldable bayonet? Italian government: "Yes"

Most people rejected His message. They hated Gun Jesus because He told them the truth

apparently the best rifle for hitting a moving target from a book depository at least.

My great grandpa carried a cavalry carbine in ww1, He volunteered at 17 years old under false identity and he was wounded in the second battle of montegrappa. In a field hospital near the frontline He knew my grand grandma. He participated also to the invasion of ethiopia and to ww2. He fought the british in Africa as an artillery captain and He got a silver medal of honor. Basically half of his men died, the other half was wounded, included him. He liked Carcano rifles and i think he was issued a m38 at some point but unfortunately his unit was issued mainly old captured mannlicker from ww1 and, with very few ammo supplies, they were forced to use british captured small arms most of the time. His artillery unit was issued ww1 cannons and He almost never had airsupport or tanks, while the british had plenty. On his diary He says most times his old artillery pieces were forced to perform direct fire against infantry and tanks. He died at 98 years old with 3 medal of honor, a bullet wound to the left leg, a shrapnel in the right gluteus and a nice family. I still remember when He was Beyond 90 years old and He went for the last time to military barracks on a military festivity. When the soldier saluted him (He got the rank of lieutenat-colonnel) He cried! I am very happy you started this series. I'll wait the Next video. Thanks!

I'm a simple italian, i see Ian speaking of carcanoes, i press like.

'ooohboy, this was a mistake..' A phrase the Italians would utter multiple times during the war.

Italians: This whole fielding two different cartridges thing for our frontline men is a mess. Japanese: First time?

> Ian: "MoSHetto" > Italian watching: *dies inside* (Just kidding sir, keep up the good work)

That's one of the coolest bayonets I've ever seen. The rifle is beautiful in simplicity and incredibly practical and cost efficient, but the coolest thing for me was the bayonet system.

It seems like the Italians had some rather forward-thinking ideas, but were under shitty management in WW2.

A very welcome surprise, there needs to be more people like Ian, talking objectively and in a respectful manner instead of going on personal bias and jokes.

Me: Thinks I've seen all the hottest takes possible. Ian: The carcano was the best bolt gun of WW2

"I would rather have one of these than an 8mm Mauser that's heavier and hold less ammo." *Me, holding my early war Czechoslovakian Karabiner 98k close to my chest* "Shhhh... gun Jesus can't take you away from me. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

a small historical contribution: I live in Liguria which during the war was behind the Gothic line, and in these areas there was a lot of fighting between the fascists and the partisans, I have searched in these places for a long time with a metal detector and I can say that the carcano cal 6.5x52 was undoubtedly the most used weapon by both factions, on average out of 10 shells found, 9 were 6.5 x 52, in second place was the 9m38 , the 9 para, and the 8x57js, I never found the 7.35x52, sometime the 9 x17 and the 303 british.

Ian: "Fuciles cortos" Me: wow nice Italian pronunciation Ian then: "Mushetos" Me... Dying inside ...while bleeding marinara sauce from the ears

I mean if anyone who wasnt in WW2 has the ability to claim a rifle as "the best" of whatever variety I'd say Ian has the credentials to say as such. Doesnt mean its necessarily true but with as many guns as he's seen, I believe him.

I fully agree. The Italians and Japanese were way ahead of the curve when it came to their initial cartridge adoption. The mannlicher en bloc clips were also very fast and less finicky than the majority of stripper clips. The simplicity built into both the Carcano and Type 38 is magnificent. My only dream would be a type 38 action with the mannlicher clip system. The best conceptual rifle of WW2 era tech. Of course, production doesnt always match concept which is why hundreds of people still think the K98K was some magic rifle instead of it being just a mediocre rifle with excellent production.

"we'll keep making some of these in 6.5 for now, just in case war were declared." *noises in distance* "What was that?" "War were declared"

Ian about to start a war in the comment section.

Ian is correct, the M38 is a very nice rifle and in my opinion the best from WWII. Very simple in design and easy to operate. Without much training it would be easy to operate and maintain. Good Job Ian!

0:13 "This is fucile corto!" Perfect pronounce, Italian approved!

Carcano: - Hello there! Ian: - General Carcano! You are a bolt one!

The elegant simplicity of thinking and applying the lessons of WW1 properly makes this my favourite WW2 bolt action. Not the best at anything but a fully thought through application of resources. Always good if never best in any particular. By my looking at the ballistics the 7,35x52mm is in the region of the Soviet post WW2 7.62x39mm.

A 6.5 is a fantastic bullet, my main deer gun is a 6.5x55 Swedish. The bullet has a great ballistic coefficient. If the Italians had stuck with the 6.5 (either as .264 or .268) improved their bullets I think they could have saved themselves a great deal of balls ache. I 120-grain bullet with a less rounded profile works in 6.5, if they had concentrated a little more R&D on propellents, they were already making great propellents they could have solved their issues very easily without having to develop a larger round that eventually went away after WW2, the irony is that militaries are looking for something bigger than 5.56 now so why not 6.5. As 6.5 is such a great round and accurate at very long distances they could have made some sniper rifles from the M38, with either a properly calibrated iron sight or optics and caused a huge amount of chaos in places like North Africa where the British were fighting them.

“We are only shooting 300 meters guys.” “Hmmmm well then we don’t need a fancy rear sight.” “Let’s still adopt a round that easily goes to 600+ meters” “Makes sense” Funny how that worked.

Accent goes on the first A, so it's "Càrcano" (from the engineer Salvatore Carcano) :)

I have one; in my 4-5 years of owning one I've only ever shot it twice since ammo is impossible to come by and I don't have the time or tools to handload for it. I should iterate it was sent to Finland for use presumably in the Winter War/Continuation War as it has Finnish proof marks on top of Italian ones.

6.5 mm Carcano was good enough for Kennedy

I've known about the Carcano rifle for 2 years. Christmas 2018, by younger brother bought me Red Dead Redemption 2, and for one mission, you used an M91/38 Carcano in 6.5 Carcano/6.5x52. I also recently heard that the rifle Lee Harvey Oswald used was also an M38 chambered for the 7.35x51.

I was born and raised in Terni and hearing Ian pronounce it made me feel so proud!! The gun factory is still there (does mostly repairs now) and it's because of it that the city was bombed massively during the war. Very nice piece of WWII history if you are interested.

That's a really neat bayonet set up

I can see a FAET 60 marking, that means that the gun has been refurbished in 1960 by the Terni Arsenal..

I have the SA stamped M38, love it. Ammo is difficult to come by, so I load for it. I managed to acquire a bunch of brass and some original 0.300 steel case bullets... I also cast for it, sizing down .308 gas checked to .301. Great Video Ian, love it!

Would you say it was a "bolt" statement?

You should discuss the terminal effectiveness of the 7.35 ball round , with the aluminum tip that was standard issue

Ian, love your very informative videos even though I don’t shoot or own a weapon. Keep it up as you are extremely knowledgeable in your field & great at expressing that knowledge.

The 6.5 × 55 Swiss/ Carl Gustaf was a nice rifle too. Pretty reliable and accurate. That is a very cool bayonet though.

finally got around to Grapecano...

I just wanted to leave a comment and say that I appreciate that you give your knowledge of guns to us no matter if it is a rare, unique, or something that we all know. I myself have learned a great deal from your videos. I did grew up around guns but never got to shoot anything beyond a 12g. I love guns and love history so I appreciate you on educating everyone on any gun you can get your hands on. I myself, and I'm sure many other people, love your videos and are better educated on firearms because of them. Please keep up the good work!!

"CONCEPTUALLY one of the very best" Well played Ian... There can be a pretty large difference between "conceptually" good and "practically" good. From an engineering/manufacturing concept your opinion is, I would agree, very well founded. Almost like you have a background in engineering and firearms manufacturing. Hmmm...

Thank you. Great video and awesome Carcano Mod.38.

Just a general tip for english speakers, when you see an accent above a letter, that is the part of the word you stress. For example, at 00:12 Ian is saying Carcáno, when it should be pronounced Carcano. If it is written as Carcano, then the stress of the word is nearer the beginning. Love your work Ian, keep it up!

What’s funny is I remember having one of the Finnish marked M38s 20 years ago, the example I had was in magnificent condition and had no import marks, and mine was dated 1939.

An interesting thing of the actual rifle featured in this video is the marking "FAET 1960" on the rear sight. It means that the rifle was refurbished in 1960 at the Terni arsenal. So it isn't a WWII capture, bit rather a later shipping of military aid during Haile Selassie reign.

You do such a great job on setting the historical environment in your videos. I learn somethung new in everyone. Thanks.

I always considered the SMLE one of the best bolt actions, 10 round removable mag with a easy to use stripper clib guide rail, buttery smooth bolt, fairly accurate and with a pretty decent round.

It's like a bolt-action SKS that reeks of cheese and olive oil

Very good presentation, as always. Thanks Ian !

I have a really nice condition one of these in 7.35mm, with 2nd model folding bayonet and I love it, the handling of it is superb, bolts a little rough but that could be partly its age.

I own an Italian Carcano 7.35, I got it for my wife's step dad about 35 years ago. I dont have the Bayonet or the front sight. the sight was missing and havent been able to fine a replacement. I'm told there are 2 different front sights available. One tall for short range and a short one for longer ranges. It too me several years to find bullets for it as they seem to be pretty rare. The bullets i found seen to be zinc with copper cases. I bought a case of 500 rounds and have fired the rifle and it shoot very well.

"I know it is a bolt statement..." :) the rifle looks really handy indeed :)

Damn. Your content is always so amazing. Always so much historical and technical background. Presented in a way only a great story teller can do. Plus no biases and even humorous sometimes (bayonet comment: „ to prevent you are accidentally poke someone in the eye“... 😂😂😂👍). Fun fact: I’m not even a gun nut. But I find your videos absolutely great.

As always. Informative, interesting and well presented

I would argue the Swedish Mauser - Carl Gustav M/94 is another contender for the best bolt action rifle of WWII (and also WWI).

Thank you I am Italian and I am immensely proud of our army and our armament.

As usual an informative and worthwhile video. Thank you sir.

In Finland this is known as Terni-kivääri or Terni rifle because almost all that ended up here were manufactured there. We got almost 100 000 in total. They were ordered during the winter war but there are conflicting reports of when they actually arrived but in any case they were not used in the winter war at all. The rifle was mainly issued to second line troops like AA-gun crews, coastal troops etc. but as they were brand new there were also attempts at first to issue them to certain frontline units to use up the ammo. Rifles like totally worn out long M/91 Mosins could be taken off the front and used up as parts to make new M39 rifles or to refurbish captured M91/30 rifles by replacing them with the M38 for a while. The rifle was pretty much universally hated by the Finnish infantrymen who were issued with it. The fixed rear sight was seen as totally unsuitable for our typical combat conditions, muzzle blast/flash was considered excessive and with the state of Finnish logistical system during the attack phase of the continuation war the ability to use captured soviet ammunition was seen as vital for ones survival. Even the men of the Musta Nuoli/Black Arrow penal battalion complained to their commander after being issued with these. There are pictures of piles of captured soviet arms at the start of the continuation war and many M38's can be seen among them as men threw them away when the first chance to replace them with any other weapon came by. 74 300 survived the war and they were sold off in 1957 with Interarmco being the largest buyer. for the American market.

My grandfather had one of these in 6,5mm version. Took it from retreating Italian army in 1943 and then used it as fighting rifle in partisan army. After the war ended, was used as hunting rifle... Not so good in this role because of small calibre. If I'm not wrong, Carcano was also used in JFK assassination.

Just saying, PRVI PARTIZAN is selling .268 spitzer 139grs FMJ bullets as well as complete 6.5x52mm cartridges ....

Another great video, thanks for the hard work.

I had two of these in 6.5 and eventually gave them to family members. I’ve watched several videos on them and no one ever mentions the safety procedure. I always thought it was pretty neat. The knurled thumb knob on the back of the bolt is pushed in and then up allowing the firing pin spring to force it back resulting in a completely de tensioned and recessed pin.

Thanks Ian, for changing my mind about Carcano rifles. Model 38 is little known, mainly because it was not adopted by the army, however it had excellent characteristics. Rustic, simple, easy to handle and with a very well designed ammunition. The usual opportunity wasted by Italy.

It's the grape, very cool!

I have always been fascinated by this rifle. I even held the cavalry shorter version.. they are soo iconic :D In the barrack where i served there were a few exposed at the regimental bar/trooper's fun room. Never knew which syllable to stress CARcano or carCAno. Personally prefer the latter..

Certainly the most well thought out rifle.

Great rifle. Almost bought one but ammo is expensive compared to a Mosin.

Great video! Just one tip: moschetto is pronounced with the "k" sound: "mosketto". In the Italian language, "ch" has always the "k" sound.

Thanks Ian. Very fascinating.

I have a 6.5mm carcano and I love it! Excellent firearm!!!

Theres a reason why the carcano has the best stats in every game its in.

Italy: It is just a mess with all that different cartridges !! Japan:

I have one of these m38 short rifles that aren’t SA marked. Honestly it’s the reason I bought it, because it’s a little rough on the outside but the bore is surprisingly shiny. Has its original stock with the 7,35 brand in it too. Came with a fixed m38 bayonet. Just from features, yes, this was the best bolt gun of WWII. Super handy rifle, handy bayonet, cartridge was a little harder hitting plus with the air pocket in the nose it reacted better than the 6,5. As issued it would have been top notch circa 1939 for bolt guns.

The carcano rifles look like they are just as long as an umbrella and very handy

O Ohhh !!! Hickok45 also just put out a Carcano video.. This must be the Gun-nut-equivalence of two Broads wearing the same dress, at a formal function.. 😱😱😱😱

"This weapon is mind-blowing" -John F Kennedy.

I have one,years ago,on the wall, now after all,have the interrest,need a new one ; what a piece of simplisitiy and art..!

Thanks for making so many videos for all of us! You are as good as people say you are

It looks like a great example of Italy preparing well while bearing in mind their limitations. Too bad about the timing since war were declared. It doesn't look like other parts of Italian arms development were quite up to the same practical sense of design, but I'm interested to see more.

idk that whole SMLE thing was still going on at the time and I kind of doubt the M38 has a handle on 303 British with one of the fastest cycle rates of a bolt action rifle.

Thanks Ian. Great job!

I once fired one of these of a rest. Open sights, completely unmodified put 5 rounds into a 100yd target and 5 rounds went into a sub one inch group! I was stunned as were several onlookers. I didn't try for another group... Still amazed to this day. The rifle was freakishly accurate!

Gotta love how hit and miss the Italian engineers are.

I an italian, I own one of these rifles and a Mauser: I love both of them.

I have a beautiful Finn M38. Wood and finish are mint. Aside from ammo scarcity, only problems is the front sight dovetail is loose and the cocking piece assembly has been pinned on to the bolt body.

Agreed, they are handy, light and quick, and history shows the bigger rounds were impractical for an individual soldier.

I have that same rifle. The folding bayonet cost as much as a rifle. Bought a bunch of original ammo at a gun store for $0.25 each but both calibers are mixed together. Almost impossible to tell them apart even when you're holding each one in your hand.

Ian, Moschetto is read like "Mosketto", the piece "ch" together is read as "k" ; So if you say "Moscetto" (as you were keep saying) sounds like a diminutive of "Moscio" which is an old fashioned way to say dull, soft, fluffy.. 😉🇮🇹

This is my favorite rifle and Carcano model in Enlisted

6mm version was used on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.

The best weapon to use against Hydras, Manticores, and -Gundams- Doppelsoldners.

I wonder if the groove in the stock was an idea taken from the Type I rifles Italy made for Japan.

This is a very nice shooting rifle!

I for some reason really love short rifles/carbines. And I gotta say, looking at how actual combat went, the changes made to the rifle make a lot of sense. I shot one Carcano in my life (so far). I shamefully do not remember the model but I'm pretty sure it was an M38. It was pleasant to shoot, plenty accurate (where we were shooting we couldn't quite get 100 yards from the target, maybe 85 or 90, IIRC but it hit where aimed). I have said for years I'm gonna get one ... sadly I remember when they were cheap ... LOL

I have one. So happy to have it because it is the rifle my grandfather, uncles, and other extended family members were issued. I have it on the wall above their pictures in their uniforms. Unfortunately, I can't find ammunition for it in Canada. Only in the United States.

0:27 a verry BOLT statement

When I see Professor Ian has posted a new video...I attend class. Its always good info! Thank you.

As always, your case is well stated, and backed up by myriad examples. I am now giving serious thought to the possibility that this is indeed the best bolt action battle rifle of WWII. Thank you for always being thoughtful and for keeping my mind open.