smittylite
09-07-2002, 08:27 PM
The new quest is to find an 8mm Carcano with a Star of David on it.
excerpt taken from: http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/carcano.htm
The Carcano and Israel
Prior to the British withdrawal from Palestine in 1948 Jewish agents were combing Europe for rifles. They were buying anything they could find. A deal was struck for 8mm Carcano carbines and they were stored on an airfield in central Italy which had recently been used by the RAF. This was a relay point for contraband being smuggled by air from Europe. Then a major arms deal was struck with Czechoslovakia for rifles, machine guns, ammunition, pistols, smgs, and aircraft.
By now the State of Israel had been proclaimed and both the USA and Russia were supporting it. Now the Carcass were not needed or wanted. Nightly illegal flights from Bratislava in Slovakia in Dakota (C-47) twin engine aircraft with phony RAF markings and radio call signs were refueling at this air field before flying on to deliver the 98K type 8mm Mausers to Israel. Arab agents were at this time seeking to buy rifles for their forces and were duped into buying the Carcani from the Israeli agents. Some or many of them were tampered with so that they could not be of use once it was discovered that they would blow up. Thus the Arabs helped finance their enemies arms purchases and had a serious morale problem because of it. Some of the 8mm were kept by the Israeli military and are marked with the Star of David.
excerpt taken from: http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/carcano.htm
The Carcano and Israel
Prior to the British withdrawal from Palestine in 1948 Jewish agents were combing Europe for rifles. They were buying anything they could find. A deal was struck for 8mm Carcano carbines and they were stored on an airfield in central Italy which had recently been used by the RAF. This was a relay point for contraband being smuggled by air from Europe. Then a major arms deal was struck with Czechoslovakia for rifles, machine guns, ammunition, pistols, smgs, and aircraft.
By now the State of Israel had been proclaimed and both the USA and Russia were supporting it. Now the Carcass were not needed or wanted. Nightly illegal flights from Bratislava in Slovakia in Dakota (C-47) twin engine aircraft with phony RAF markings and radio call signs were refueling at this air field before flying on to deliver the 98K type 8mm Mausers to Israel. Arab agents were at this time seeking to buy rifles for their forces and were duped into buying the Carcani from the Israeli agents. Some or many of them were tampered with so that they could not be of use once it was discovered that they would blow up. Thus the Arabs helped finance their enemies arms purchases and had a serious morale problem because of it. Some of the 8mm were kept by the Israeli military and are marked with the Star of David.