"Repost of "The Rifle" Article"
John Ritchson
the physical evidence,submitted by the US-FBI, from whom it is
alledged, proves a forensic connection to LHO.My thanks to researcher,
Walt Cakebread for providing me with an excellent enlargement of this
rather revealing piece of evidence...For evidence it most certainly is.
The Photograph purports to show items alledged to be relevent to
the JFK assasination which the FBIs forensic laboratory duly swore into
evidence pursuint to the Warren Commission's investigation into the
matter.
Among these items shown is a rifle, identified as a M38 6.5x52mm
Mannlicher Carcano rifle Serial #2766, and designated WC CE-139.
The rifle depicted,based upon the bolt sleeve/safety, cocking cam,
and firing pin nut, is clearly an Italian made Mannlicher Carcano
rifle,serial #2766.There is no evidence of any other identifiers,
inspectors/proof marks on the rifle as depicted.There is however a
gas-vent hole on the reciever ring just behind the serial number that
I find somewhat remarkable due to the fact that it is a feature not
always present on a Carcano rifle.This is significant as the presence
of this gas-vent indicates the rifle was built to accomodate a left-
handed shooter.Also in evidence regarding this gas-vent is the presence
of a slight defect near the top of the reciever ring indicative of
excessive breech pressure or a sloppy bolt action.The presence of the
left-leaning off-set rifle scope would render left handed firing highly
impractical as would attempting to use the iron sights be from the
right handed position, especially when leading a lateral moving target.
The stock is gun-metal blue in color,the same as
the reciever and scope,which is a blue so dark as to be for all
practical purposes,black.The upper mounted sling swivel is clearly
side-mounted and the rear position of the sling indicates a correspond-
ing side-mount near the stock-butt.The color of the stock and the
presence of the side mounted sling-swivels,and the presence of the
gas-vent renders this weapon somewhat unique as far as Carcano rifles
go,due to the fact that it is clearly not a regular military surplus
rifle of that type.I can only guess as to its origin,but this rifle
appears to be more for ceremonial use rather than being a field weapon.
[NOTE:] Anthony Marsh claims this hole on the left side of the
reciever-ring is in fact a set screw to secure the barrel and Alexander
Eichener claims it is a proof mark or some such; propositions which I
soundly reject. Also, work by Jack White and jerrymac as well as Walt
Cakebread demonstrates to my own satisfaction that more than one
Carcano rifle has been entered into evidence at one time or another.
[NOTE:]
After consulting with various experts on Carcano rifles including
Richard Dobbs who is concidered one of the top people in this area,
I have concluded that the rifle depicted in Mike O'Neil's Life photo,
and identified as CE-139, Serial #2766, is in fact a very rare model
known as a Moschettieri del Duce Carcano which is a ceremonial rifle
of Mussolini's Guard, of which only a few hundred were ever made. I
can't imagine such a weapon would ever turn up as part of a cheap
batch of surplus Carcanos being offered for sale by a sporting goods
store in Chicago for around $25.00. Far more likely is the probability
that it was in fact a battlefield trophy which hung on someone's wall
until such a time as it turned up as evidence in the JFK case. Also
noteworthy is the fact that due to the gas port on the left side of
reciever ring, firing this rifle from the right shoulder would be
quite hazardous, exposing the shooter to hot propellent gas in the
event of any gas blow-by, and/or cartridge failure and primer rupture
which are fairly common to old leaky, sloppy bolt action rifles.
Finally, according to experts at Edgewood Arsenal, the rifle was unfit
to fire, and had to be reworked by a gunsmith who noted the entire
action
was severly worn and rusted out and had to be reworked as well as the
replacement of the firing pin which was also worn out. The barrel was
dirty
and pitted and the scope had to be shimmed in order to properly sight it
in.
[Note:] this last info was provided me personally by the son of the
gunsmith
that was called in by Edgewood to rework the rife prior to any testing.
He at
this time wishes to remain anonomous until the passing of his father as
per his
father's request, but promised that he would ultimately come forward
publically
with all of the info regarding exactly what was done to that rifle and
by whom.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Ritchson (SSGT. 499th TC USATC HG US Army)
(Ballistican at Large & Survivor)
(SE Asian Games 11B7 TET 1970. )