[Guest]

Anybody ever hear of this one?

 

[Stonewall]

Anybody ever hear of this one?

Kennedy Killer, IIRC?

 

[captain-03]

Yep -- the "Kennedy" rifle. Could buy these things via mail order for less that $20.00. It is also interesting that Italy made around 60,000 or so for the Japanese Navy prior to and at the start of WWII. As I understand it, The Japanese Imperial Army was required to use Japanese built rifles but the Navy was not restricted. In order to keep up production of the Arisaka for the Army, the Navy used the Carcano – they were chambered in the Japanese 6.5x50 Arisaka. I owned one many, many years ago. Let if go for almost nothing because ammo was too hard to find. Wish I had one now!!

 

[Doug Bowser]

You bet. The Italian government adopted this round in 1891. It is similar to the 6.5x54mm Mannicher-Schoenauer. The Mannlicher Schoenauer rifles were made in Steyr, Austria.

The 1891 Italian Praviccini-Carcano rifle is a turn-bolt rifle that uses the Mannlicher charger clip system magazine. Six cartridges are loaded in the clip and the clip is loaded into the top of the action. When the last shot is fired, the clip falls out of the rifle through a hole in the bottom of the magazine.

The rifles made before WW2 were made with gain twist rifling. They are quite accurate but the Amenrican 6.5mm bullets measure .264" and the proper size bullet for the Italian 6.5mm is .268". Consequently the Italian rifles have a reputation for being inaccurate, unjustly deserved.

Doug Bowser

 

[TankerHC]

My father had one back in the 70's. I have a story to tell about it. I know this is true because I witnessed it with my own eyes. So anyway, we were up in Eastern Shore Maryland deer hunting, my dad had about 200 guns at that time and for some reason decided to use that old Carcano that trip. I was using one of his 30-30 Winchesters. So we are up early, about an hour before sunrise laying up on this small rise over looking a field, side by side. I guess this was around 75. Anyway, were laying there looking out over the field and daylight came and shortly after my father took two quick shots. He took down a pretty good white tail buck. So he told me to sit still while he went across the field to retrieve his deer. He gets to the deer and about the time he doe's the buck jumps up and starts charging him. This deer chased him half way across the field and wasnt letting up. Finally my father turns around and whacks the deer in the head with the rifle, breaking the stock in half. The deer went down and my father took out his knife and finished him off. His good friend was there as well and makes fun of him about it to this day. He didnt use the Carcano again though. But he did put another stock on it and we did shoot it at the range, just no more hunting with it.

 

[jbpmidas]

I friend of mine from Arkansas told me a similar story once. I could not verify it though! Good memory!

 

[BeauBeaux]

6.5x52mm Mannlicher Carcano [English designation 6.5 Italian]

7.35 Carcano [English designation 7.35 Italian]

Had one in the shop for cleanup 2 years ago. This was the carbine version that had been passed down in the family. They were surprised by the Kennedy connection of its bigger brother.