Carcano Cavalry Carbine Conversion

[hunterj]

I've started a conversion from a HFC VSR 11 to a Carcano Cavalry Carbine for my Italian Blackshirt Impression. I've been using the epoxy/cut the plastic stock method. I've still got a ways to go, so far i've put about 4 hours into it and the basic shape is starting to take place.

Here are some pictures of it if they upload right:




Its sandwiched between my two Beretta carcano cavalry carbines dated from 1942 and 1943.



and with the stock i'm using an original butt plate, i'll add a few other parts of course. But the square is where the sling anchors on the stock.





It still has a ways to go, but I think i'm off to a good start.

Please leave any comments/thoughts/questions/concerns, This is my first conversion project.

[2nd Bat]

Excellent start. This will be awesome! Keep us updated on your progress.

[gasilec112]

Great another carcano. I made a scratchbuild one a while ago but I think it is a bit big so it will be interesting to see what you can build with 2 real steel rifles for getting measurements. Are you planning on using rs front end(barrel and bayo) or are you scratch building?

[hunterj]

Do you have some pictures of yours?
And i will be recreating a barrel band and placing a mock bayonet for the part. the only original thing i'm planning on using is the butt plate and the sling points.

[gasilec112]

Nice. I guess you will go with the m38 version(because of easy sights)

As for my carcano here are 2 pictures. Bolt is in the wrong place for now but I may change that some time.
Airsoft carcano m38 by slavko112, on Flickr

Airsoft carcano m38 by slavko112, on Flickr

[hunterj]

That looks good! Would you mind detailing your process and the pieces you used?

[gasilec112]

It was quite simple. First I took my well mb03 took of the plastic stock and threw it in a box. Then I cut the outer barrel(just behind the hop up). Next was the new wooden stock. I went with beech wood like with all of my rifles. First I cut out the basic shape using a chainsaw then I used a hand rasp to get the final shape and sandpaper to smooth out the surface. I worked on the inside of the stock with a router and some wood chisels. I used a hand held jigsaw saw to cut out the mag well(I didn't ad a mag catch as my mag is held in by friction). For the front band I took a piece of sheet metal cut out a proper shape and band it over the stock. I also welded a piece that ho.lds the front of the handguard on. For the barrel I used 17mm steel pipe that I bended a piece of sheet metal around in the front for the bayonet which is made out of some scrap wood. The rear sight, mag and trigger guard are made out of hdpe(bottle caps) and screwed and glued to the rifle. As for the bolt handle I made it by welding a steel rod to a piece of pipe and a metal bearing on the other end.

[hunterj]

gasilec112 that's an efficient way to do it, thanks for the tips.

I'm going to get a metal pipe for the barrel, did you just cut right through behind the hopup? Is there anyway to show exactly where? I'm nervous about cutting through the barrel and perhaps messing something up.
So your bayonet is made of wood? Smart.
What do you mean bottle caps? Especially for the rear sight, i'm planning on using an original butt plate but i'll have to put a piece of wood for the top handguard.

Thanks!

[gasilec112]

I took out the hop up and iner barrel and cut the outer barrel with a dremel tool. Here is a picture
SDC10846 by slavko112, on Flickr

As for the bottle caps you melt them in the oven into a big piece of plastic and then you cut out what ever shape you want with a dremel. Here is a video that shows you how to get usable hdpe material out of trash plastic(bottle caps) www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUR6_bQLU-E
Just so you know if you want to use hdpe for parts you wil have to secure them with a screw as this thing doesnt stick to glue that good.

[hunterj]

so your gun doesn't have hopup anymore?

[gasilec112]

it has hop up i just took it out for the time i was cutting the outer barrel. You can see it on the picture i posted before.

[hunterj]

gasilec112 or anyone, I'm confused on how you put the metal pipe around the internal barrel. If anyone counts outline all of this that would be fantastic.

[hennepin15]

For my mauser I used a generic copper plumbing pipe and used tape spacers in three sections. Then you just slide the barrel over it. Just curious how do you get pictures directly on the thread?

[adrg]

In my build I used the silencer adapter that came with SW 24 and someone help machining a thread inside the rest of SW M24 just beyond the hop-up. But I am using the new hop-up chamber with AEG barrel that is shorter and don't have the side adjust.
If you are keeping the original SW hop-up you better remove the side adjustment and thread a place for a central screw adjustment.

[hunterj]

hennepin15 what do you mean tape spacers? Do you just buy a pipe thats somewhat similar in size then just put the copper pipe around the internal barrel?

[hennepin15]

That's exactly it, generic copper piping is about the same size as most gun barrels. Wrap tape around the inner barrel until you can slide the pipe over it without much wobbling.
I learned this technique from 2nd bat.

[2nd Bat]

Two or especially three such wraps will secure the new outer barrel quite firmly AND create a very solid inner barrel performance platform. Take your time, add or subtract tape as needed and create a nice tight fit. Use a width of about 3/8ths of an inch for each wrapped spacer. For the sections that show and need to be painted sand to a rough finish and apply primer over the copper prior to your final finish.

[brownien]

Galvanized steel piping, usually used for industrial wiring conduit is also a good option to use. A bit stronger than copper, weldable, and I think it overall holds paint on better.

[hunterj]

brownien and where is the best place to buy such piping?

And 2nd Bat that tape spacer idea sounds very helpful, I'll do that. Thanks

[2nd Bat]

Any hardware store would typically have the galvanized steel piping. The trick is to find an appropriate size and length. Bring some sort of reference along. The steel definitely hold paint better and provides a little more weight which I find worthwhile. Look in the electrical or better yet ask.

[hunterj]

Finally got another day to work on it, after 2 total days invested in this project here are some more pictures:



Here it is primed, the butt plate fits perfectly now i had to use a dremel.

next is the gel stain on the stock, i had to use hickory on this one, in the real world the are beech or walnut, the hickory looked close and no stores within the surrounding area had it. I would get a hard bristle brush next time to apply though, but this is the prototype haha



and lastly here is my Carcano Cavalry carbine held up next to it.

[stuka]

very cool progress to see on this carbine

[hunterj]

Working on the top hand guard now, getting close to finished!




a fellow italian legionaire takes aim at the bolsheviks

[2nd Bat]

Coming along nicely. You butt stock alteration is excellent.

[volkssturm]

On a related note, you might be interested in a video Forgotten Weapons did recently on the Carcano M38 TS carbine. The Italians were in the process of switching from a 6.5mm to a 7.35mm cartridge when the war started. The M38 was the first weapon being produced. Because of logistics they decided to stay with the 6.5mm and a bunch of the M38's were sold to Finnland.

[hunterj]

Just about done! Just needs the rear sling swivel attached, i'm waiting on that piece at the moment.

[2nd Bat]

Very nice! It shows what some creativity and a few days work can create. Thanks for sharing.

[hunterj]

Thanks! I hope it looks the part. I've already sold one and I have begun working on more for my Italian group. The performance is that of a normal VSR, and we have used it in several games with great results.
The length is slightly off, but once I get the mock bayonet I think it'll hide the length a little better.

[hunterj]

Final step, attaching the rear sling swivel!

[hunterj]

1st Carcano Cavalry Carbine Conversion Done!