Carcano Moschetto con Tromboncino Mod. 28

About the Carcano Moschetto con Tromboncino Mod. 28

The Carcano Moschetto con Tromboncino Mod. 28 is an Italian bolt-action grenade-launcher carbine built on the Model 91 TS (Truppe Speciali) carbine chambered in 6.5x52mm Carcano. Its defining feature is an integral 'tromboncino' (little trombone) grenade discharger mounted on the right side of the barrel that launched a 38.5mm rifle grenade. Uniquely, the launcher was propelled by a standard ball cartridge rather than a blank: to fire a grenade the soldier removed the rifle's bolt and transferred it to the launcher's breech, which left him unable to fire the carbine itself. The design proved heavy and impractical and was withdrawn from service, replaced by the Brixia Model 35 light mortar.

The 'tromboncino' launcher fired live 6.5mm ball rounds rather than blanks, so a grenadier had to unbolt his carbine and reinstall the bolt on the launcher's breech to shoot a grenade, leaving him with a useless rifle in one hand and a grenade launcher in the other.

Carcano Moschetto con Tromboncino Mod. 28 specifications

Also designated Model 91/28 Tromboncino. Because the single bolt had to be swapped between the rifle and the grenade launcher, the operator could not use the weapon as a rifle while it was configured to launch grenades, a major tactical drawback that limited its adoption and service life.