This was my most recent Gun Show find. I purchased it off another dealer/collector/friend who got it from the Olds, Alberta (Canada) Aviation Museum. During the summer the museum decided to clear a bunch of rifles that were donated to the museum (mostly by local Vets) as having rifles was a nuisance and the rifles were simply not on display. The first offer for the rifle was $50, my friend didn't even know what it was but offered the princely sum of $500 which the museum happily accepted.
This was the Italians attempt at a semi-automatic rifle. Originally about 2000 were produced in the newly accepted 7.35 caliber but the rifle was re-designed to accept and function with the Italian 6.5mm round in an attempt to streamline logistics. An original order of 10,000 rifles was granted by the fascist government, but it was quickly canceled in 1940 and production rolled over to standard bolt action production. As a result, only approximately 100x rifles were produced. I can only find three other examples of the rifle on the internet and with a serial of A105, this was very possibly the last or close to the last rifle produced.
Forgotten Weapons has a great You Tube video on the rifle.
As many collectors know, Commonwealth soldiers were not officially granted permission to take home war trophies, as a result most soldiers simply smuggled pistols home (hence why there are so many nice examples of P38's and P08's in Canada but so few crisp K98's or G/K43's). However, someone obviously recognized the importance or rarity of this rifle as it was duffle cut in the middle of the stock and likely snuck home by what I suspect was a Canadian soldier or airman. Sadly the firearm isn't documented but I think that the duffle cut reasonably suggests that this was captured in the field or in a factory.
Nevertheless a cool rifle that looks and has the finishing of a fine watch versus a service rifle.
This was the Italians attempt at a semi-automatic rifle. Originally about 2000 were produced in the newly accepted 7.35 caliber but the rifle was re-designed to accept and function with the Italian 6.5mm round in an attempt to streamline logistics. An original order of 10,000 rifles was granted by the fascist government, but it was quickly canceled in 1940 and production rolled over to standard bolt action production. As a result, only approximately 100x rifles were produced. I can only find three other examples of the rifle on the internet and with a serial of A105, this was very possibly the last or close to the last rifle produced.
Forgotten Weapons has a great You Tube video on the rifle.
As many collectors know, Commonwealth soldiers were not officially granted permission to take home war trophies, as a result most soldiers simply smuggled pistols home (hence why there are so many nice examples of P38's and P08's in Canada but so few crisp K98's or G/K43's). However, someone obviously recognized the importance or rarity of this rifle as it was duffle cut in the middle of the stock and likely snuck home by what I suspect was a Canadian soldier or airman. Sadly the firearm isn't documented but I think that the duffle cut reasonably suggests that this was captured in the field or in a factory.
Nevertheless a cool rifle that looks and has the finishing of a fine watch versus a service rifle.
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