The Battle of Britain

Italian M1891/38 short rifle

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Catalogue number
  • FIR 7221
Production date
1940
Materials
  • sling: leather
Alternative Names
  • FULL NAME: Italian M1891/38 short rifle
  • SIMPLE NAME: carbine, bolt action, fixed box magazine
Creator
Object Type
rifle
Category
weapons and ammunition

License Image

This item is available to share and reuse under the terms of the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

Label

This rifle was a modification of the standard Italian Model 1891 infantry rifle (see FIR 7232). It owes its existence to the difficult situation in which the Italian Army found itself upon entering the Second World War. It had been intended to change the standard rifle cartridge from 6.5mm to 7.35mm calibre, and many rifles had been converted to the new calibre by 1940. However, it was felt that the existence of two calibres would create logistical problems in wartime, so a decision was made to revert to the 6.5mm cartridge. The Model 91/38 Short Rifle was a 6.5mm version of a weapon originally made in 7.35mm calibre by converting old Model 1891 rifles. It was produced from 1940-1941. This pattern of rifle later gained notoriety as the weapon used by Lee Harvey Oswald to assassinate President Kennedy.

Physical description

carbine & sling

1-2. stamped on chamber

1. crown over RE over TERNI

3. stamped on sight bed

2. 1940 XVII

Inscription

3. CAL, 6.5

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