The following article is from the April 1999 issue.

The anti-aircraft rifle sight for Carcano and Vetterli

When there is no recorded complete item of any given kind, one may safely conclude that that particular item is very scarce. Such is the case with this obscure gadget that very few people have ever heard about, let alone seen one. Years ago, an article appeared in DIANA ARMI (an Italian gun magazine) researched and written by a very lucky fellow who, combing a World War One battle ground with a metal detector, had found a mysterious as well as rusty object. It turned out to be the front part of a sight system designed to fit the Carcano 91 so that the rifle could be used against enemy aircraft. Later, a Diana Armi reader found a similar object among the war souvenirs left by his grandfather who had fought in the Great War. Because of the article that had appeared in the magazine, he was able to identify the object, though this one was slightly different and made to fit the Vetterli-Vitali, possibly in its 1870/87/16 variation. This sight was also incomplete, as the rear sight was missing. To my knowledge, none has survived.

Though there is no official drawing, nor pictures of these sights, their existence is proved by a reference to their use found in an obscure Royal Italian Army manual of the time. The description indicated that the sight system had indeed a REAR piece to be mounted on the rear sight of the rifle. This rear sight would slide in three different positions which, theoretically, would allow the rifleman to properly sight the enemy plane compensating for the different angles of approach. A bit complicated.

The drawings are in 1/1 scale with measurements in millimeters. The front sight has FOUR blades inscribed with letters: A (Alto = high); B (Basso = low); S (Sinistra = left) and D (Destra = right). These refer to the direction from which the enemy plane would approach the shooter. When the "A" post was folded down, the regular front sight could be used. Notice that the Carcano sight was to be clamped right over the bayonet lug. The Vetterli sight had to be opened and then tightened on the nose cap of the stock.