How Did Such A Good Rifle Get Such A Bad Reputation?
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Moshetto Per Truppe Speciale, Modello 1891
The last and most widely produced pre WWI version of the M91
Mannlicher-Carcano was the Model 1891 =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbine, the
=E2=
=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D standing
for =E2=80=9CTruppe Speciale.=E2=80=9D This short, handy carbine was
designe=
d for use
by specialists, such as machine-gun crews, engineers, artillerymen,
signalmen and just about every other troop type requiring an effective
shoulder arm easily slung across the back to leave both hands free.
Despite retaining the same =E2=80=9CM1891=E2=80=9D moniker as the Infantry
r=
ifle, the
=E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbine was actually introduced in 1897. The
=E2=80=9Cs=
pecialist=E2=80=9D carbine
has an overall length of 365=E2=81=8416" with a 1711=E2=81=8416" barrel.
It =
tips the
scales at 6 pounds 8.5 ounces.
The original version of the =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D Carbine had a straight
bolt=
handle, a
recoil lug in the stock and a very simple top barrel band similar to
the Infantry rifle to accept the rifle bayonet. A small top sling
swivel was mounted on the rear most ****tion of the simple barrel band
while the rear swivel was mounted under the butt stock. Very few of
this early variation of the carbine were produced prior to 1900 when
the pattern was changed. The bolt handle was turned down in the same
manner as the Cavalry carbine, the cross bolt was eliminated and a new
stylized nose-cap was introduced with a bizarre transverse mounting
lug for the newly introduced =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D bayonet. Like the
original=
top
barrel band, the new nose-cap also incor****ated a sling swivel on its
rearmost ****tion.
The new =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbine was issued with a knife bayonet in
ever=
y way
identical to the rifle bayonet save one small, but very unusual
detail. The revised M91 =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbine has one of the
stranges=
t bayonet
locking systems ever devised. The pommel of the =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D
bayonet=
has a
transverse slot running from side to side through the pommel, rather
than the typical longitudinal pommel slot found on most other
bayonets. In order to mount the bayonet, the muzzle ring is slipped on
the rifle with the bayonet swung out towards the side of the carbine.
When the muzzle ring stops against the front sight base, the bayonet
is then pivoted downward bringing the transverse slot in alignment
with the transverse locking lug mounted on the nose cap of the
carbine. A small spring-actuated plunger mounted in the heel of the
pommel serves to lock the bayonet in place once the slot has properly
engaged the lug. To remove the bayonet, the button on the pommel is
depressed while pivoting the bayonet outward towards the side of the
carbine.
Why this unusual locking system was adopted has never been made clear
in any of the source material I have ever encountered. Speculation
abounds, with the most frequently proffered explanation being this
system prevented an opponent from snatching your bayonet off of your
carbine while in the midst of hand-to-hand combat(!?). Personally, I
find this line of discussion ridiculous.
The lock up is far less sturdy than the standard, traditional locking
system used on the M91 rifle. Proof it was stupid is prior to the end
of the war, Italian ordnance depots began to weld standard M91 rifle
bayonet lugs in place of the transverse studs on the nose caps of many
of the =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbines, thus allowing them to be issued with
s=
tandard
rifle bayonets. (These interesting variations also provide today=E2=80=99s
collectors with an additional pattern to search for!)
Early versions of the =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbine have a single set of
slin=
g swivels
mounted underneath the butt stock and on the rearmost ****tion of the
nose cap. Later on, as the troops gained more field experience with
the Carcanos, a second set of sling attachment points were added to
the side of the carbine stock beginning in 1908 thus allowing the
soldiers an additional option for carrying their carbines, the side
mounted sling posts preventing the inline magazine from digging into
the soldiers back when the weapon was slung across the back, leaving
both hands free.
Another later variation of the =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D carbine was introduced
d=
uring the
war in late 1916 to early 1917, which had a single set of side-mounted
sling attachment points. This last variation was produced without any
bottom swivels at all, the top swivel having been removed from the
rear of the nose cap and the rear butt swivel removed or in the case
of newly produced carbines, simply never installed in the first place.
Between negative reviews and gun-show lore, the general public=E2=80=99s
opinion of the Carcano is replete with derogatory remarks regarding
everything from the strength of the design to the quality of
manufacturing. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Model 1891
Mannlicher-Carcano served with distinction through two world wars and
while it was unquestionably outclassed by newer and more modern
designs during the WWII, from 1915 to 1918 it was an extremely
effective weapon and held it=E2=80=99s own on every front, from the
dizzying=
heights above the clouds in the Alps to the Western-style trench
systems of the Isonzo.
SEE Photo
Top weapon Oswald Back Yard Sling Swivels
Center TSBD weapon with sling swivels side mounted.
The M1891 =E2=80=9CTruppe Speciale=E2=80=9D Carbine was produced in
several =
different
variations. Here is an early 2nd pattern example (top) with the sling
swivels mounted underneath the distinctive nose cap and buttstock. The
next modification (middle) was not universal and saw the addition of a
set of sling bars rather than swivels attached to the side of the
stock. The final variation introduced late in the war (bottom) had
side-mounted sling attachment points while retaining the original
buttstock swivel as well. A rifle-style bayonet lug has been welded on
the nose cap in place of the unusual transverse mounting stud normally
the hallmark of the =E2=80=9CTS=E2=80=9D Carbine
READ
The Second Carcano
http://jfkresearch.freehomepage.com/c2766.html
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