Italy Modernizes: the Carcano Needlefire Rifle Conversion
This video details Italy's modernization of its firearms post-1866 Prussian victory, focusing on the conversion of existing muzzleloaders to needle-fire rifles. It highlights Salvatore Carcano's system, which reused 17.5mm barrels and utilized lighter paper cartridges, offering an impressive rate of fire for its time and a cost-effective solution. The conversion process involved cutting the barrel and adding a bolt, with the Carcano system incorporating safety features. The video notes the rarity of these converted 1844/67 Artillery models due to their limited use and subsequent scrapping.













