WW1 Era Italian Vetterli Rifle

[Gildwiller1918]

Here is a WW1 Era Italian Vetterli Rifle or Italian Fucile 1870/87/15. Many Nations during WW1 pulled obsolete weapons from storage for use to free up more modern weapons to cover the substantial losses at the front, Italy was no exception. The Italians decided to streamline their logistics by converting the Vetterli 10.4mm rifles to the same ammunition that the Carcano used. The modifications were not too complex and by using these newly modified rifles for rear units, guards, etc. the Italians freed up a lot of the more modern M91 Carcano rifles. 

This is a very large gun, at 53 inches and weighing just over 10 pounds. It had an internal magazine in which 6 rounds could be stored and used the Carcano 6.5 x 52mm cartridge.
During WW1, around 1.3 million of the M1870/87 models were in storage, with many of these being given to the Russians, who were in desperate need of any weapons available. 400,000 remaining rifles were converted to fire the 6.5 mm Carcano cartridge such as this example. Like many other European nations that had colonies, these weapons made their way after WW1 into the hands of native & colonial soldiers to help police their respective empires and were seen in many conflicts including WW2. 

Barrel is stamped Torino, and dated 1889. It also has an accuracy stamp and a Savoy Crest on the right side of the barrel. The Bayonet is an arsenal shortened version of the M1870 Bayonet; it is stamped TA for Torre Annunziata. Non-Import Marked as well.