HerrdoktorSchuetzengruvin
10-24-2002, 10:36 AM
Italian rifles seem to be more personalized than any other military rifle I have collected. Particularly the ones coming out of Albania, that Century and SOG have been selling recently. Some of what I have seen are personal inscriptions like Soldier intitials, Crosses, Epsilons symbols, Communist Hammer and Sicle, and King Victor Eduardo initials.
One of the most common and perplexing are the little round circle impressions that some say look like someone went crazy with an eraserless pencil butt. I finally figured out that these are indentions made from fired 6.5 Carcano cartridges, and probably symbolize what we in the west view stock "notches" as - ie confirmed kills. I believe alot of the markings have come from either Pro-Allies partisans during late WWII, as well as Albanian and Greek guerilla fighters that fought on both sides of Albania's communist revolution.
So please be careful with stock cleaning and sandpapering when you refinish the greasy cosmoline laden stocks! You may erase a piece of living history!
One of the most common and perplexing are the little round circle impressions that some say look like someone went crazy with an eraserless pencil butt. I finally figured out that these are indentions made from fired 6.5 Carcano cartridges, and probably symbolize what we in the west view stock "notches" as - ie confirmed kills. I believe alot of the markings have come from either Pro-Allies partisans during late WWII, as well as Albanian and Greek guerilla fighters that fought on both sides of Albania's communist revolution.
So please be careful with stock cleaning and sandpapering when you refinish the greasy cosmoline laden stocks! You may erase a piece of living history!