Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914
Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (FIAT) · Machine Gun · Out Of Production · 1914
Also known as: Revelli M1914, FIAT M1914, Machine Gun System Revelli Model 14
Overview
The Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 was the standard Italian medium machine gun of World War I, designed by Abiel Bethel Revelli and manufactured by FIAT. Water-cooled and operating on a recoil-delayed blowback principle with a locking wedge, it fed from a peculiar 50-round 'squirrel-cage' box magazine of ten five-round columns and required an oil pump to lubricate cartridges before chambering. Chambered in the same 6.5x52mm Carcano as the service rifle, it was rugged in concept but its oiler and flimsy cage magazine made it one of the war's more temperamental machine guns.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 17000 g (599.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1180 mm (46.46") |
| Barrel Length | 654 mm (25.75") |
| Action Type | Delayed Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Closed Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Select Fire |
| Magazine Capacity | 50 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Fixed Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 670 m/s (2198 fps) |
| Effective Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3000 m (3281 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 400 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
Calibers
- 6.5x52mm Carcano · primary — also known as 6.5mm Mannlicher-Carcano, 6.5x52mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: 50 Round Ten Column Cage Magazine
- Features: Water Cooled, Squirrel Cage Magazine, Cartridge Oiler, Tripod Mounted, Locking Wedge
Variants
- Fiat-Revelli Modello 1935 — Air Cooled Belt Fed Conversion
Service history
Operators
- Kingdom of Italy (Regio Esercito) · adopted 1914 · as Mitragliatrice FIAT Mod. 1914
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935-1936)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 37,500 · Production years: 1914-1919
Approximately 37,500 produced (FIAT ~20,000 and Metallurgica Bresciana ~17,500).
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Designer: Abiel Bethel Revelli
Discontinued: 1919
Notes
The cage magazine is a proprietary 10-column 50-round device filled with five-round chargers, not a Mannlicher strip and not clip-compatible. Action is best described as recoil-delayed blowback. Sources conflict on muzzle velocity (660-680 m/s vs 790 m/s) and overall length (1,180 vs 1,263 mm); the lower figures are used here.
Background
Its bizarre ten-column 'squirrel-cage' magazine and oil-lubricated cartridge system made it one of WWI's most temperamental machine guns; designer Abiel Revelli also created the Villar Perosa, often cited as the first submachine gun.