Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

Discussions on the small arms used by the Axis forces.
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Setsurinvich
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Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

#1

Post by Setsurinvich » 28 Apr 2021, 08:42

Does anyone know if the Armaguerra semiauto rifle was actually used by axis forces? There is this one photo of an italian sentry using what is supposedly an Armaguerra model 1939 but i am not too sure if that is the case as the photo is not very clear

http://www.ww2incolor.com/rating/3.5?g2_itemId=936523

LineDoggie
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Re: Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

#2

Post by LineDoggie » 28 Apr 2021, 17:52

I dont think it is. the upper handguard comes too far towards the muzzle, and the end cap is too short. JMO but i'd say its a Carcano Modelo 38
"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here".
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach


Setsurinvich
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Re: Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

#3

Post by Setsurinvich » 28 Apr 2021, 19:05

I was suspecting that it was a Carcano 38, but wanted to be sure. Are there any actual instances of the Armaguerra being used?

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Poot
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Re: Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

#4

Post by Poot » 28 Apr 2021, 20:31

The rifle in the linked photo is a Model 1938 Fucili Corto, or 'Short Rifle.'

Per Rafael Riccio, the Model 1939 was intended to be assigned to three riflemen per squad, officers, NCOs and airborne units. It never reached serial production though, and as of 1 July 1942 there were only 100 in Italian Army inventory. The decision was made to suspend production, and Armaguerra-Cremona instead focused on production of the Model 1941 Carcano rifle.

However,...German units seized Italian arms and equipment in the areas they continued to hold following the Italian declaration of the Armistice with the Allies in September 1943, and dismantled and shipped factories north into relatively more protected and secure areas. It is entirely possible that Model 1939 rifles were taken and even used by German personnel at some point. A German document from December 1944 mentions just under 400,000 Italian rifles being seized and put into German inventory, but does not specify models and types. The possibility is certainly there, and knowing what the Germans used from other countries, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear of a Model 1939 out there that is German depot stamped.

Pat
He who lives by the sword, should train with it frequently.

Setsurinvich
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Re: Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

#5

Post by Setsurinvich » 29 Apr 2021, 01:44

That is good to know, it sounds like it met the same fate as the Japanese semi auto type 4! At any rate there seems to be a lot of assertions on what weapons was used by who on the internet with no good sources

shultz
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Re: Armaguerra mod. 39 was it in actual use

#6

Post by shultz » 20 May 2021, 18:59

Setsurinvich wrote:
28 Apr 2021, 08:42
Does anyone know if the Armaguerra semiauto rifle was actually used by axis forces? There is this one photo of an italian sentry using what is supposedly an Armaguerra model 1939 but i am not too sure if that is the case as the photo is not very clear

http://www.ww2incolor.com/rating/3.5?g2_itemId=936523
Hi to all,
sorry, but the photograph of the French site shows a very common Mod. '38 bolt action rifle with its bayonet !!!
Compare it with the photos in Riccio's book, and you will see that the front strap of the Revelli (of both prototypes photographed) is totally different from that of the French site's photo.
ww2incolor has many really interesting photographs of Italian weapons and armaments, but the captions are often wrong.

Regards, Shultz

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