what is this?

John -Melb · 08-27-2003, 10:00 AM

Jim, you're right that the Italians were ahead of the US, in terms of military rifle technology in the 1890's, but I suspect you may have raised some eyebrows saying it. The truth is the Italians were issuing the Carcarno at the same time the US army was issuing Trapdoor Springfields. This was probably due to Italy, being a European power having to "keep up with the Jone's" in relation to small arms technology.
At the time the US army was still issuing it's troops a single shot breech loader firing a black powder cartridge, the Italians were issuing a clip loading bolt action rifle firing a modern, if somewhat underpowered cartridge. Almost every nation of Europe was issuing a rifle of similar specs (bolt action and clip loaded repeater) except France and Britain. The French had the Lebel (bolt action repeater fed from an eight shot tube magazine) and the British were issuing the early Lee Metford or Lee Enfield rifles (bolt action feed from a ten shot magazine)
The US army was probably still using obsolescent arms (by European standards) at this time becase that was all that was needed, the US soldiers weren't facing a modern wel equipped and possibly hostile army just across their borders

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08-27-2003, 10:00 AM	#17
John -Melb User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Peoples Republic of Australia! Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jim, you're right that the Italians were ahead of the US, in terms of military rifle technology in the 1890's, but I suspect you may have raised some eyebrows saying it. The truth is the Italians were issuing the Carcarno at the same time the US army was issuing Trapdoor Springfields. This was probably due to Italy, being a European power having to "keep up with the Jone's" in relation to small arms technology. At the time the US army was still issuing it's troops a single shot breech loader firing a black powder cartridge, the Italians were issuing a clip loading bolt action rifle firing a modern, if somewhat underpowered cartridge. Almost every nation of Europe was issuing a rifle of similar specs (bolt action and clip loaded repeater) except France and Britain. The French had the Lebel (bolt action repeater fed from an eight shot tube magazine) and the British were issuing the early Lee Metford or Lee Enfield rifles (bolt action feed from a ten shot magazine) The US army was probably still using obsolescent arms (by European standards) at this time becase that was all that was needed, the US soldiers weren't facing a modern wel equipped and possibly hostile army just across their borders