Original Italian muskets

[Aiden Fontana]

Does anyone have photos of legitiment Italian muskets? As you can imagine, it is hard to just look up because Google assumes I want "Italian-made" muskets like Pedersoli. No, I want flint or percussion, any time period, original Italian muskets. Thanks

 

[jdkerstetter]

Considering Italy wasn't a country until about 1861, perhaps you should be looking for muskets from Turkey, Spain, France, the German states or any of the various city states and kingdoms that became Italy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Wes/Tex]

My scanner is on the fritz but I can recommend"Guns Of The World" by Petersen Publishing, 1972 & 1977. Also there is an Italian book now translated and available in English, "Complete Book Of Firearms" by Masini & Rotasso by Portland House, 1988.

Remember, as mentioned above, Italy as a nation did not exist until the mid 1800's. The guns shown in these books are listed as Kingdom of Italy, Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of Sardinia & Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The term Kingdom of Italy is a catch-all for all the peninsula except the others as stated. The Italian volume shows the guns by era including some old pre-flintlock types. If you don't wish to purchase these, your local library may be able to get them through Interlibrary Lease. Good luck.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

As said by JD and Wes, Italy didn't exist before 1861 but:
http://www.studirisorgimentali.org/ARMI MILITARI IN USO NEL REGNO DI SARDEGNA.htm

Maybe this will help some. Sardinian of course.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Maybe this will help some. Sardinian of course.

That's the ticket, Senor 06! The Italian volume I spoke of is similar. Most Italian muskets of the period 1790-1830 were basically purchased from France or were kock-offs with minor changes.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Glad you like it, found it when I was looking for information on the La Marmora carbine for Bersaglieri, I have the bayonet but have never seen an actual Bersaglieri carbine.

 

[Col. Batguano]

So they've all been dropped at least once? :surrender:

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

So they've all been dropped at least once? :surrender:

Come on, get serious. For example, the Italians still have the Bersaglieri, the best trained, toughest light infantry in the world. When well led and well motivated, the Italian military has always been a fine military force. Any American soldier who fought on the Italian front during WW2 will tell you that.

Now, let's drop the silliness and get back on subject, shall we?

 

[TFoley]

So they've all been dropped at least once? :surrender:

Come on, get serious. For example, the Italians still have the Bersaglieri, the best trained, toughest light infantry in the world. When well led and well motivated, the Italian military has always been a fine military force. Any American soldier who fought on the Italian front during WW2 will tell you that.

Now, let's drop the silliness and get back on subject, shall we?

Let's not overlook that their ancestors ruled most of the then-known world for around 500 years....

tac

 

[Col. Batguano]

All I know is what my Grandfather told me. He said that in the first war, they were on our side, and we almost lost.

When they joined the Germans in the second war he knew we had it made. : :stir: :

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Grandfathers always have their humorous side.....

 

[Wes/Tex]

All I know is what my Grandfather told me. He said that in the first war, they were on our side, and we almost lost.

Actually, they beat the Austrians and took over a fair bit of that area...of course, except for maybe Montenegro, everybody beat the Austrians!

 

[Alden]

Interestingly, the only mention I recall was in "Italian War Heroes" published by Diamond Match Co.

It was a very, very, small book and Garibaldi was not mentioned but he was offered a generalship in the Union Army by Lincoln...