double-set trigger mechanism made for the M98 Mauser can be installed in the Greek M-S action. On one rifle I remodeled, I sawed off the bow, or loop part, from the guard, installed the trigger mechanism in the plate that was left, and then fitted a double-barrel shotgun guard to the plate and grip, nearly duplicating the original double trigger set-up of the commercial M-S rifle.
Additional Comments
I don’t know how many Greek M-S military rifles and carbines were made, but the figure must surely be in the scores or hundreds of thousands. Of all the military and commercial centerfire turnbolt actions discussed in this book, I believe more separate manufacturing operations are required to make the Mannlicher-Schoenauer action than any of the others.
The 1903 and the 1903/14 Greek M-S rifles are serial numbered. The complete serial number is usually stamped on the receiver ring, on the bolt guide rib and on the breech end of the barrel, and with two or more digits of this number stamped on such other parts as the bolt head, cocking piece, firing pin, firing pin nut and safety. If all the numbers match, this indicates all of the numbered parts are original. The place and date (year) of manufacture are usually stamped on the left receiver wall, as for example: STEYR 1914 or BERETTA and date. The model designation of the rifle is usually stamped on the receiver ring, as for example: Y:1903/14. A crown over a cross within a shield is also usually found stamped on the receiver ring.
The 6.5 M-S Cartridge
The 6.5 M-S cartridge was developed and introduced with the M-S military rifle in 1900, and adopted by Greece in 1903. It is a rimless, bottlenecked cartridge, loaded with a long round-nosed bullet. The 6.5 M-S case is slightly smaller at the head (.453”) than the 30-06 case (.473” head dia.). As a military cartridge, it was certainly as good as the 6.5mm Japanese and 6.5mm Italian-Carcano cartridges, but since Greece was such a small country, the 6.5 M-S cartridge never became a noteworthy military cartridge. It did, however, become a worldwide favorite sporting cartridge in the famous M-S sporting carbine, and it has been successfully used for taking all species of big game, including elephant.
The 6.5 M-S is also known as the 6.5x54 or 6.5x53 M-S. The “6.5” indicates the caliber in millimeters of .256”.the approximate bore size of the barrel. The “53” or “54” (the latter figure is most generally used today) is the case length in millimeters. Bullets are usually of .264” diameter to match the groove diameter of barrels made for this cartridge, which normally range from .266 ” to .268”. M-S rifle barrels usually have a very fast rifling twist, one turn in 7.87 ”.
The 6.5 M-S Greek military cartridge was normally loaded with a 159-grain full-jacketed round-nosed bullet, muzzle velocity about 2225 fps. Sporting loads, which were made in such countries as Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Canada and the U.S., were usually loaded with 150- to 160-grain round-nosed expanding-type bullets.
If you own a rifle in this caliber and want to shoot it, you surely can find an ammunition source by contacting dealers who sell imported ammunition. Check the “Directory of the Arms Trade” in GUN DIGEST for the names and addresses of importers and manufacturers of ammunition. And when you shoot your rifle, save the empty cases because they can be reloaded. In the directory, you should also be able to find a commercial stock maker who can furnish semi-shaped/inletted stocks for the Mannlicher-Schoenauer.
The handloader will want to use Norma cases because they accept Boxer primers. Because the 6.5 M-S chamber has a very deep throat for the long-bulleted factory load, and the M-S action and magazine are made specifically for such a load, the handloader will have the best results with long and heavy 6.5mm bullets.
Beginning in 1903, the Mannlicher-Schoenauer factory began producing fine sporting carbines on the M-S action. These lightweight and short barreled rifles with a full length form became popular the world over. Pictured here is the 1905 Model. Other models followed including the 1908 and 1910. The most popular caliber was the 6.5x54mm but they were also made in 8x56mm, 9x56mm and 9.5x57mm. (Photo from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Winchester Museum.)
Italian Carcano Rifles FdH
Model 38 Italian Carcano Short Rifle, caliber 7.35mm.
THE CARCANO BOLT-ACTION rifle was adopted by Italy in 1891 as her official military shoulder arm. Adopted with it was the 6.5mm Carcano cartridge, one of the first small caliber smokeless military cartridges to be used by a major military power. The Model 1891 Carcano rifle and its various versions, and the 6.5mm cartridge, were in continual production and use until Italy’s defeat in WW II. No doubt several million of these Carcanos were made in this long period (about 54 years). Returning American servicemen brought many home as souvenirs, but this number was a mere drop of water in a tub compared to the countless thousands dumped on the U.S. military surplus arms market since the late 1940s.
The Carcano action was developed jointly by Lt. Col. Salvatore Carcano and Col. G. Parravicino, both employed in the Torino (Turin) Arms Factory in Turin, Italy. Perhaps most of these rifles and carbines were made in Terni, but they were also made in Turin, Brescia, and Gardone in government or privately owned arsenals. The action, a turnbolt repeater with dual front locking lugs on the bolt, was copied from the Model 89 Mauser, but made with a single column box magazine of Mannlicher design. As a result of the various names and places connected with these arms, they have been called the Parravicino Carcano, but they’re now generally called the Mannlicher-Carcano, Italian Carcano, or Terni.
Carcano Markings
Markings are many and varied, and specific models are not always marked alike. The model designation is never stamped on the rifle, nor are the words “ Carcano” or “Italy.” Some receivers are entirely unmarked.
The serial number, usually beginning with one or two letters, may be stamped on the breech end of the barrel, on the receiver, or on both.The serial number, or any part of it, is seldom stamped on any other part of the rifle.
There is usually an assortment of inspector’s and/or proof marks stamped on the barrel breech, receiver, and bolt. Often unclear, they’re not really important.
The name of the manufacturer, and/or the Carcano city where the rifle was made, is usually stamped on the receiver ring or on the breech end of the barrel. The marking TERNI indicates manufacture there by the Italian Army small arms arsenal. The marking RE TERNI stands for Regio Esercito Terni, which means ARMY, TERNI. The marking “F.N.A. Brescia” stands for Fabbrica Naziionale d’Armi (National Arms Factory) in the city of Brescia. The marking BERETTA GARDONE means manufacture by P. Beretta Arms Factory in Gardone, V.T., Italy.
The year of manufacture of many Carcanos is often stamped on the receiver ring. On others the date of manufacture may be stamped on the barrel breech, such as 01 for 1901. Most rifles produced during the Fascist regime were also marked with a Roman numeral, such as XVI, indicating manufacture in the 16th year of the regime.
Many Italian rifles were re-marked; for example, some are found marked SPECIAL-GUARD-BAVARIA; others carry the letters SA within a rectangle, which means “Suomen Armeija” or “Finnish Army.” The Finns obtained these rifles from Italy during WW II for defense against Russia. No doubt there are Carcano rifles and carbines with other markings unknown to me. Various Carcano rifle and carbine models were produced. Since they’re all based on the same action, I’ll
