Italian Genovesi-Revelli self-loading rifle of 1908 - one of the first military self-loaders (6.5mm Carcano)
Designed in 1908 by Filippo Genovesi, this rifle was a recoil-operated, automatic conversion of the Italian service Carcano Mod.91 rifle. It was developed at the National Rifle Factory in Terni under the direction of Colonel Abiel Revelli, and was known as the Genovesi-Revelli (sometimes rendered as the Revelli-Terni ). Trials of the Genovesi-Revelli rifle were undertaken from 1908 - 1910, during which time several variants were made, including a cavalry carbine and a model feeding from an M95 Mannlicher magazine in 8mm. After the trials concluded in 1910, the Italian Army adopted the weapon and placed an order for some 6,000 guns to be issued to the Bersaglieri .
The gun saw active service during the Italo-Turkish War in 1911 - possibly the first use of a self-loading rifle in combat (tied with the MondragĂłn rifle during the Mexican Revolution) - but the results were disastrous, with the weapon failing to operate adequately in the Libyan desert. As a result of this poor performance, the adoption of the Genovesi-Revelli rifle was cancelled prematurely, and it is estimated that only about 150 were actually issued.
The Modello Albertini took its name from its designer, Giuseppe Albertini, an engineer at Isotta Fraschini. It was produced at the demand of Mussolini’s de facto government (the Repubblica Sociale Italiana) for use by his troops against anti-fascist partisans. Small quantities were delivered to RSI paratroopers, but the majority of the production run were captured by partisans in April 1945 when they captured Isotta Fraschini’s factories. An estimated total of 250 units were produced.
Design Details
The receiver of the weapon is made of pressed sheet metal parts as opposed to milled parts in an attempt to lower production costs. The receiver is notably extremely long and continues all the way up to the muzzle and has seven large vents bored into the sides of the barrel jacket. The pistol grip is hinged slightly backwards and is covered in bakelite grips. The weapon accepts 25- or 32-round MP 38 and 40 magazines and has an underfolding wireframe shoulder stock. A selector switch is located at the right side of the weapon, allowing the weapon to switch between semi-automatic and fully-automatic fire.[1] The weapon has no iron sights.
Sistar Light Machine Gun, 6.5 mm. The Operator Io Loading the Magazine.
A built-in oil pump on the left side Nof tli receiver sprayed a small jet of oil on the incotv ing rounds as each was positioned for chamber ing. This device was actuated by the reroi1n i counter-recoil movement of the barrel e> sion.The heavy machine gun had ident ical opera-ing parts, but most certainly did not resembi the lighter gun in anv other wav. Its cooling was o n / / O
bv air, but the barrel housing resembled rhe con- volitional water-cooled jacket. I .ong aluminum tubes grouped around the barrel were supposed to dissipate heat more efficiently. The 7.92-mm ammunition was fed to the weapon in a belt using push-out-type links, also originated and patented by the inventor of the gun. A clumsy looking handle with unprotected trigger was used on this heavy Sistar machine gun.
Both versions appeared only it) prototype form. While many of the principles have later been proved sound, especially the locking method, apparently nothing was ever done to develop either one. There is no record of any extensive test conducted either by the factory orthe government. Consequently, it had a very! short-lived competitive existence.
To fire the lightweight 6.5-mm gun, the operator first assumes the prone position and with his right hand releases the catch allowing the n o swinging magazine to pivot forward. This leaves version held 20 rounds, while the other utilized a semi-rigid metal belt holding 250 rounds wound on a drum.
The light machine gun, while having only a 20-sho! magazine, did have a feature that the company made great effort to demonstrate on every occasion. The gunner, without rising, could pivot the swinging magazine forward from the prone position and insert in a matter of seconds a fresh supply of loaded rounds directly from the cardboard container into the feed svs-. By this ease and speed in loading he could keep up practically uninterrupted fire.
The weapon was recoil operated, the barrel having an open jacket that gave it support and a bearing for “floating” the recoiling parts. The barrel return spring was housed inside this skeletonized jacket. A large charging and carrying handle was located on the left side considerably j forward of the usual placement of retracting assemblies. The trigger was placed underneath and slightly to the right. However, the customary guard, to protecL it from accidentally striking some object and discharging the piece unintentionally, was omitted. /
The recoiling pans were housed completely in a boxlike receiver on the top of which was a graduated sight. Air cooling was provided by circular fins machined along the barrel to give greater surface for heat radiation.