Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles Carcano Calvary Carbine

Saw one of these for sale today for $350, hadn't seen a Carcano in awhile. Friend of mine told me they aren't rare, but you seldom see one with the bayonet intact. Checked GB and it seems $350 is the average price for one of these.
Any input?

I don't know much about the Carcanos but they've got some history and they're not making any more of them. Twenty years ago you could buy a standard long rifle 1895 Chilean Mauser for less than a hundred bucks. Today most of the ones I'm seeing on Gunbroker look pretty beat but they're starting at around $400 and some of them are selling. Carbines seem to go for more if they're in good shape

Mike Venturino had a good article on Carcanos in "Rifle" or "Handloader" not too long ago.

Good for headshots at 50 yards.

Carcano cycles smoothly and has mild recoil, but I can't really see the point of shooting one.
I wouldn't buy one as a collectible unless truly mint.

as my old bud used to say "a million dollar cartridge in a fifty cent rifle"
that being said i have rarely been without one in my cabinet over the last 50 years. the nicest was made by Beretta with a gain twist barrel in 6.5

One of the real freak show guns was the Japanese "Type I" - - - -a 6.5 X 50 Carcano-style bolt and receiver mated to a Mauser-type magazine. It was mostly issued to the Japanese Navy. They're scarce, but not necessarily valuable. I traded a Chevy pickup truck radiator for mine!
Jerry

I see Type I rifles at gun shows fairly often, people don't seem to pay much attention to them.

That quote from your buddy is more accurate than the rifles themselves. Another oddball thing about the Carcano is that they are usually .268" bore, not a normal .264" like most 6.5s.