Italian · Rifle

Carcano Modello 1938 Short Rifle

Name: Carcano Modello 1938 Short Rifle
Brand: Italian

Bolt action · 7.35x51mm Carcano · introduced 1938

Also known as Fucile Corto Mod. 1938, Model 38 Short Rifle, Mannlicher-Carcano M38

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About the Carcano Modello 1938 Short Rifle

The Carcano Modello 1938 (Fucile Corto Mod. 1938) is an Italian bolt-action short rifle, a shortened and modernized member of the Mannlicher-Carcano family fed by a 6-round en-bloc clip. It was introduced in 1938 chambered in the new 7.35x51mm Carcano cartridge, an early intermediate-class round, but wartime logistics led Italy to revert most production to the older 6.5x52mm Carcano. The design retains the Carcano's signature gain-twist (progressive) rifling.

The 7.35x51mm M38 is often called one of the first true 'intermediate' service cartridges, its 128-grain bullet at roughly 700 m/s landing ballistically close to the later Soviet 7.62x39mm a full decade ahead of it.

Carcano Modello 1938 Short Rifle specifications

General

Type: Rifle
Action: Bolt action
Firing mechanism: Hammer-fired
Trigger: Single stage
Calibres: 7.35x51mm Carcano, 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano
Magazine capacity: 6 rounds
Magazine: En bloc clip

Dimensions

Barrel length: 540 mm (21.3 in)
Overall length: 1016 mm (40.0 in)
Weight (empty): 3.40 kg (7.50 lb)

Barrel

Rifling twist: 1:10 in (250 mm)
Rifling: Right hand
Grooves: 4

Materials

Barrel: Steel
Receiver / frame: Steel
Stock: Wood
Finish: blued

Performance

Muzzle velocity (typical): 700 m/s (2297 fps)
Effective range: 300 m

History

Introduced: 1938
Discontinued: 1941
Production status: Out of production
Country of origin: IT
Designer: Salvatore Carcano

Available calibres

7.35x51mm Carcano6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano

Features

Mannlicher action
Gain twist rifling
En bloc clip fed
Folding bayonet
Fixed battle sight

Safety

Bolt sleeve safety

The 7.35mm chambering proved a supply burden; Italy reverted to 6.5x52mm during World War II and Finland, which bought roughly 90,000 M38 rifles in 7.35mm, relegated the odd caliber largely to rear-area and training use. Many M38s feature a fixed battle sight (200-300 m).