I’d suggest getting a Veterrli-Vitali 1870/87/15 6.5 Carcano conversion; they are $200-$250 as of last week. They are cool antiques (the 1915 upgrades: adding a 6-round Carcano mag and 6.5mm barrel sleeve doesn’t render them not an antique for ATF purposes). Word of caution though, you really shouldn’t shoot modern 6.5 ammo (best to load weak loads); if you shoot one round of PPU you’d be okay most likely but I still wouldn’t. And repeat fire is ill-advised as the barrel sleeve can come loose…
Awesome I bought one last year got a nice conversion with great bore. I think they were 300 on that sale. Picked up one for the 180 sale recently showed up with a stock repair standard gras. Not bad do I ordered a 3rd last week hah. Hope that one isn’t too bad. They’re fun to clean up and I like the Ethiopian markings.
The markings are really interesting. I feel like I'm addicted picking these b grade rifles up since they are a good price and have such a cool history.
Mine arrived today in the same condition, perhaps a little more pitting on mine but the same. Was hopeful that the rear sight or even a cleaning rod might be included but they were both absent. My rule of thumb with rti is buy nothing over $299 and don't expect anything more than a wall hanger (even if its not a B or C grade). It was a costly lesson @ $4k, but I haven't been pissed about a purchase since...disappointed sure, but not seething as in the past!
I just posted a video re a Carcano 91 TS from RTI and I think getting a non-Ethiopian rifle and paying the hand select fee was really worth it after seeing your video and a few others. Mine was in much better condition out the box.
That's good to hear. I've seen some other people online pay for hand select and still wind up with something similar to others. It's really luck of the draw.
The markings on your barrel are the same as mine. According to the translation I got: "It says ሀብተ : ጊ in the bottom part, and the ም fidel above it was probably combined with something else to indicate Emperor Menelik. ሀብተ : ጊ then perhaps refers to Habte Giyorgis, who was a military commander under Menelik and others." Also, the rear sight being removed is a fairly common thing on these ethiopian gras. The reason for it is currently unknown.
None of the cavalry carbines have bayonet lugs, though there were some socket bayonets issued which attached over the front sight. There were Gras carbines with the standard bayonet lug though, the artillery musketoon carbines and gendarmerie carbine.
I’ve been considering some of their antiques. $200 delivered right to your door 1800’s boom sticks, sounds good to me!
I’d suggest getting a Veterrli-Vitali 1870/87/15 6.5 Carcano conversion; they are $200-$250 as of last week. They are cool antiques (the 1915 upgrades: adding a 6-round Carcano mag and 6.5mm barrel sleeve doesn’t render them not an antique for ATF purposes). Word of caution though, you really shouldn’t shoot modern 6.5 ammo (best to load weak loads); if you shoot one round of PPU you’d be okay most likely but I still wouldn’t. And repeat fire is ill-advised as the barrel sleeve can come loose…
Ha you got a Gras! saw you talking about it in your 88/90 video. I got one and it turned out to be a chassepot gras conversion. Very excited.
Awesome I bought one last year got a nice conversion with great bore. I think they were 300 on that sale. Picked up one for the 180 sale recently showed up with a stock repair standard gras. Not bad do I ordered a 3rd last week hah. Hope that one isn’t too bad. They’re fun to clean up and I like the Ethiopian markings.
The markings are really interesting. I feel like I'm addicted picking these b grade rifles up since they are a good price and have such a cool history.
Mine arrived today in the same condition, perhaps a little more pitting on mine but the same. Was hopeful that the rear sight or even a cleaning rod might be included but they were both absent. My rule of thumb with rti is buy nothing over $299 and don't expect anything more than a wall hanger (even if its not a B or C grade). It was a costly lesson @ $4k, but I haven't been pissed about a purchase since...disappointed sure, but not seething as in the past!
Yea, it really is a gamble, and knowing that going in makes it hurt less when it turns out poorly
The bolt is quite reminiscent of the Mosin Nagant surprisingly
I just posted a video re a Carcano 91 TS from RTI and I think getting a non-Ethiopian rifle and paying the hand select fee was really worth it after seeing your video and a few others. Mine was in much better condition out the box.
That's good to hear. I've seen some other people online pay for hand select and still wind up with something similar to others. It's really luck of the draw.
Pretty rough, but not horrible and not missing important parts. It should clean up nicely.
It wasn't terrible under the wood either, cleaned up pretty well!
The markings on your barrel are the same as mine. According to the translation I got: "It says ሀብተ : ጊ in the bottom part, and the ም fidel above it was probably combined with something else to indicate Emperor Menelik.
ሀብተ : ጊ then perhaps refers to Habte Giyorgis, who was a military commander under Menelik and others."
Also, the rear sight being removed is a fairly common thing on these ethiopian gras. The reason for it is currently unknown.
Thanks for the info on the markings. I was planning to look them up.
Are you going to do a full disassembly video on this one?
I have done a bolt disassembly video, but I may make a full disassembly video in the future.
None of the calvary carbines have bayonet lugs?
None of the cavalry carbines have bayonet lugs, though there were some socket bayonets issued which attached over the front sight. There were Gras carbines with the standard bayonet lug though, the artillery musketoon carbines and gendarmerie carbine.
How's the bore
The bore was actually pretty good. It also wasn't terrible with rust under the woodline. I've got it mostly cleaned up now.