Weapon History
After the adoption, in March 1892, of the Fucile modello 91 (colloquially known as Carcano M91), which was issued to the majority of the soldiers, the Regio Esercito Italiano (Royal Italian Army) needed a new carbine chambered in 6.5mm to replace the old, single shot, Vetterli M70 cavalry carbine still in service with light and mounted troops and Carabinieri (military police). To solve the issue, in July 1893, the Army adopted the Moschetto modello 91 (M91 carbine), often informally referred to within the army as the M91 cavalry carbine..
The action was developed by Salvatore Carcano, chief technician at the Turin Arsenal, who drew inspiration from previous Mauser action designs, while the magazine was a licenced Mannlicher design inspired by the M1888 Kommissiongewehr.
The M91 carbine saw its baptism of fire, just like the Fucile, during the Boxer War and the Italo-Turkish war. During WW1, the M91 carbine was also issued to the famous Arditi shock troops. Production of the Moschetto mod.91 was halted in 1922, resumed in 1932, then discontinued again in 1938 following the Italian Army's adoption of the Fucile corto modello 38, Moschetto modello 38 per T.S. and Moschetto modello 38, which fired a new 7.35mm cartridge.
However, due to the outbreak of WW2, in early 1940 the High Command decided to revert back to the 6.5mm ammo to avoid logistical hurdles. The production of the M91 carbine was thus resumed, for the last time, in 1940, by the Fabbrica Nazionale Armi in Brescia and would continue even after 1943 through the German occupation. Meanwhile, the other arsenals began manufacturing a new carbine, the Moschetto mod. 91/38, visually identical to the mod. 38 carbine but chambered in 6.5mm. The main visual difference between the mod. 91 and the mod. 91/38 carbine was in the sights: the former had adjustable sights while the latter's were fixed.
With around 1,310,000 guns produced overall, the Moschetto mod.91 saw extensive service during WW2 on every front the Regio Esercito fought in, being issued to Bersaglieri, Blackshirts, artillerymen, engineers, LMG and MG teams, cavalrymen, motorcyclists and Carabinieri. Large numbers of guns were also used by Italian partisans and RSI collaborationists during the civil war that ensued after the Italian armistice in September 1943. Finally, many carbines captured by the Germans during Fall Achse were pushed into service by the Wehrmacht, the Ordnungspolizei and the Volkssturm.
After the war the mod.91 carbine remained in service with the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) and the Guardie di Pubblica Sicurezza (the Italian police) well into the 1970s.
The action was developed by Salvatore Carcano, chief technician at the Turin Arsenal, who drew inspiration from previous Mauser action designs, while the magazine was a licenced Mannlicher design inspired by the M1888 Kommissiongewehr.
The M91 carbine saw its baptism of fire, just like the Fucile, during the Boxer War and the Italo-Turkish war. During WW1, the M91 carbine was also issued to the famous Arditi shock troops. Production of the Moschetto mod.91 was halted in 1922, resumed in 1932, then discontinued again in 1938 following the Italian Army's adoption of the Fucile corto modello 38, Moschetto modello 38 per T.S. and Moschetto modello 38, which fired a new 7.35mm cartridge.
However, due to the outbreak of WW2, in early 1940 the High Command decided to revert back to the 6.5mm ammo to avoid logistical hurdles. The production of the M91 carbine was thus resumed, for the last time, in 1940, by the Fabbrica Nazionale Armi in Brescia and would continue even after 1943 through the German occupation. Meanwhile, the other arsenals began manufacturing a new carbine, the Moschetto mod. 91/38, visually identical to the mod. 38 carbine but chambered in 6.5mm. The main visual difference between the mod. 91 and the mod. 91/38 carbine was in the sights: the former had adjustable sights while the latter's were fixed.
With around 1,310,000 guns produced overall, the Moschetto mod.91 saw extensive service during WW2 on every front the Regio Esercito fought in, being issued to Bersaglieri, Blackshirts, artillerymen, engineers, LMG and MG teams, cavalrymen, motorcyclists and Carabinieri. Large numbers of guns were also used by Italian partisans and RSI collaborationists during the civil war that ensued after the Italian armistice in September 1943. Finally, many carbines captured by the Germans during Fall Achse were pushed into service by the Wehrmacht, the Ordnungspolizei and the Volkssturm.
After the war the mod.91 carbine remained in service with the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) and the Guardie di Pubblica Sicurezza (the Italian police) well into the 1970s.
Weapon Technical Specification
| Type | Rifle | Magazine Capacity | 5 + 1 Chambered Round |
| Action | Bolt Action | Muzzle Velocity (m/s) | 2,083 |
| Cartridge (mm) | 6.5x52 | Rate of Fire (rpm) | 8 - 12 |
| Projectile Weight (grains) | 160 | Weapon Weight (kg) | 2.8 |
| Chambered Rounds | 1 Round |