Carcano M91 TS
Italian State Arsenals (Terni / Brescia / Gardone) · Carbine · Discontinued · 1893
Also known as: Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mod. 91, M91 Truppe Speciali, Carcano TS Carbine
Overview
The Carcano M91 TS (Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mod. 91) is an Italian bolt-action carbine chambered in 6.5x52mm Carcano. A short-rifle version of the M1891 Carcano, it was issued to special troops such as artillery, engineer, machine-gun and motorcycle crews who needed a more compact arm than the full-length infantry rifle. It retains the Carcano's six-round en-bloc clip feed and is distinguished by a bent bolt handle, a full-length handguard, and a proprietary perpendicular (transversal) bayonet lug.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3220 g (113.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 922 mm (36.30") |
| Barrel Length | 450 mm (17.72") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 700 m/s (2297 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2548 J (1879 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Gain Twist |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 6.5x52mm Carcano · primary — also known as 6.5 Mannlicher-Carcano, 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano, 6.5 Italian
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: En Bloc Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Bolt Mounted Safety
- Features: En Bloc Clip Feed, Bent Bolt Handle, Perpendicular Bayonet Lug, Full Length Handguard
Variants
- Carcano M91/24 — Carbine Conversion
- Carcano M91/38 TS — Carbine
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Royal Italian Army · adopted 1893 · as Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mod. 91
- National Republican Army · adopted 1943
Conflicts
- World War I (1915-1918)
- Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935-1937)
- World War II (1940-1945)
Production
Production years: 1893-1938
Original M91 TS production ran into the 1930s; over 250,000 M91/24 conversions were made at the Terni Arsenal between 1924 and 1929.
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Designer: Salvatore Carcano
Discontinued: 1938
Notes
Worn M91 long rifles were also converted to this pattern as the M91/24, with more than a quarter-million produced at Terni between 1924 and 1929. New-production M91 TS carbines used a standard folding bayonet lug; the design continued in service through World War II as the M91/38 TS.
Background
The TS pattern was created to give support and special troops a handy carbine that still chambered the standard 6.5x52mm cartridge, sharing ammunition and en-bloc clips with the infantry's full-length M1891 rifle.