From the March 2001 issue, pages 57 - 60

By Finn Nielsen

In the period prior to The Second World War most of the more populous countries had experimented with semi-automatic rifles, which would eventually supplant the manually operated ones in current use.

Mauser and Mannlicher both had designs out prior to World War One. The Mauser M1916 rifle having been in limited use during that conflict. Similarly, the Mondragon of the l893 and 1908 designs, made in Switzerland, had been used both by Mexico as well as Germany. Legend has it that Pancho Villa got his buckwheats with a number of Mondragons! The Danish Madsen Model l903 light machinegun was actually the off spring of a design used for a semi-automatic rifle in service in that country in the late 1880’s. This design was actually the first successful semi-automatic rifle in military service, but that’s a story for another day.

The United States of course had already tested many designs, both foreign and domestic. At the time of the rifle we are going to talk about the Johnson and the Garand were the last surviving candidates, with all the earlier test models having fallen by the wayside.

In Italy the large Beretta firm had offered their gas operated Fucile Automatico M.931 and Model 1937 designs. The six shot clip loading of the m91 was standard on the m.1931 but was altered to a stripper clip loading system in the M.37. In addition this was also chambered for the 7.35mm cartridge as well as the old 6.5x 52mm load. Both of these design used a rotating bolt locking system. Another made by Scotti, the M.1931 was also being tested but was not considered for adoption.

The rifle that had the most success (apparently 10.000 were ordered) was the so-called ‘Armaguerra’. Also known as ‘Fucile Armaguerra Mo.39’. Actually made by the well known Revelli firm. I owned one for a brief spell (seems to be the case with most of my firearms, you sell one to be able to buy more) my wife is deeply and permanently suspicious of my dealings, even if I do assert they don’t cost me a lot of money. This was the first Italian semi-automatic rifle I had had a chance to handle, and it was very interesting. It was obviously a kit-bag rifle as it had the stock cut diagonally ahead of the rear sight. An aluminum sleeve had been added to hold the two halves together with the addition of some glue and a multitude of small screws. It looked horrible. I removed this unwelcome addition and got a local renowned wood smith to make the cut invisible. That he could not do, but at the very least it wasn’t too noticeable after he got through with it.

Beautifully made, with nice deep bluing it was a slim handsome rifle weighing in at about 8 pounds. Also, when I obtained the rifle it did not have an issue sling, but rather a shoulder strap from the British/Canadian Pattern 37 web gear. Didn’t mean much, but given its country of origin it was probably a Canadian bring-back. At first glance the customary cocking handle could not be found, but turning the rifle over and looking close revealed that in order to open the action a vigorous downward and back pull on the ‘sling’ where it attached to the front swivel was required to cock the action. It took the standard Eytie charger and was of course in 6.5 Italian caliber.

Shooting it was all positive, no stoppages or malfunctions at all, and very pleasant of course. It operated by short recoil with the barrel moving approximately ½ " back to unlock. It locked by means of a dropping block just like a P.38. One thing I did find. On the third loading of my few cartridges I would get a case separation about half-way up the case. I had of course full length sized the brass, so there was probably a little springiness in the action. So what, they were not designed with us re loaders in mind anyway.

I did manage to disassemble it, but only did that once, it contains a multitude of tiny irreplaceable parts none of which I needed to lose, and very likely the reason they did not adopt it.

At any rate it moved on and was replaced, for a time, with something else. But at least I had the pleasure of trying a military rifle that was really different, and when you have gotten to my advanced years how often do you get a chance to do that?

1.Right side view, note uncluttered lines, cooling slots in barrel. A good looking modern rifle.

2. Receiver with Armaguerra crest.

3. Rear sight and caliber designation.

4. Top view of the rear sight and its elevation drum.

5. Front sling swivel which, when sling is attached, must be pulled back and down fairly briskly to open action. An awkward feature in the event of a stoppage.

6. Poor view of front of rifle looking down at front sight.

7. Top view of receiver and closed bolt.

8. Armaguerra receiver crest.