The tragic events that occurred in Dallas on November 22, 1963 forever changed the course of history in the United States and around the world. At the center of the investigation into the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a specific item - an Italian rifle discovered on the sixth floor of the book depository. It was this weapon, according to the official version, that became the instrument that ended the life of the 35th President of the United States on that sunny afternoon.
For many decades, legends, conspiracy theories and technical disputes about the ballistic capabilities of the weapon have circulated around this incident. The rifle that killed Kennedy is not just a historical artifact, but a complex engineering object studied by ballistas from all over the world. Understanding the characteristics of this rifle helps you separate fact from fiction and understand the mechanics of what happened.
In this article we will examine in detail the technical features of the model, the history of its acquisition by Lee Harvey Oswald, as well as the results of examinations conducted by the FBI and the Warren Commission. You will find out why this particular carbine became a symbol of one of the most notorious crimes of the 20th century and how it ended up in the hands of the shooter.
Technical characteristics of the Carcano M91/38 rifle
The weapon involved in the murder case is a carbine system Carcano M91/38 (also known as Mannlicher-Carcano). This is a repeating rifle designed by Italian gunsmith Salvatore Carcano at the end of the 19th century. The model is a shortened version of the standard infantry rifle, making it more convenient for concealed carry and shooting from limited positions.
A key feature of the design is a sliding-type bolt with a rotation, which ensures reliable locking of the barrel bore. The cartridges are fed from an integral box magazine, loaded using a clip. The mechanical sight is graduated, allowing it to fire at distances significantly greater than the distance to the president's limousine at the time of the shots.
- 🇮🇹 Caliber: 6.5×52 mm (Italian pointed bullet cartridge)
- 📏 Barrel length: 540 mm (21.3 inches)
- ⚖️ Weight without ammo: 3.25 kg (7.25 lb)
- 🎯 Initial bullet speed: about 600–700 m/s (depending on the type of cartridge)
Unlike many rifles of the time, the Carcano used progressive barrel rifling, which in theory was supposed to improve accuracy, but in practice often produced mediocre results due to the quality of the workmanship.
It's important to note that Carcano rifle had a reputation for not being the most accurate weapon, especially in the hands of an inexperienced shooter. However, ballistic tests conducted in the 1960s showed that when used with a high-quality optical sight and cartridges with a full-jacket bullet, the weapon was capable of providing accuracy sufficient to hit targets at a distance of about 80 meters.
Purchase history and markings of C2766
The rifle's path to Lee Harvey Oswald began long before the fateful November 1963. The weapon was produced at the arsenal in Terni, Italy, in 1940. After World War II, thousands of these carbines were exported to the United States as trophies or surplus goods. It was through the aftermarket network that these guns found their way to Texas.
Oswald ordered the rifle by mail through a company Klein's Sporting Goods from Chicago, using the pseudonym "A. Hidell." Unique numbers were stamped on the barrel and other key components, allowing the origin to be traced. The most important identifier was the number C2766, who appears in all FBI reports.
⚠️ Attention: There were no factory markings on the rifle indicating the country of manufacture (Italy), which formally violated American weapons import laws. This circumstance was often used by conspiracy theorists as an argument in favor of substituting weapons, although experts explain this by the peculiarities of the post-war surplus market.
Oswald received the package in Dallas in March 1963. He personally modified the weapon by installing a cheap Japanese-made telescopic sight Weaver K4 with a multiplicity of 4x. The installation of the sight was done in a makeshift manner, which required drilling new holes in the receiver, since the standard mounts did not fit.
Ballistics expertise and targeting capabilities
One of the main topics of discussion remains the possibility of three quick shots with high accuracy in a short period of time. The Warren Commission and later investigations (the House Commission) conducted a series of tests to check ballistic characteristics rifles.
During the experiments, it turned out that reloading the bolt and re-aiming takes a trained shooter about 2.3 seconds. This fits within the time interval between shots recorded on the Zapruder film. However, for an unprepared person such a speed would be unattainable.
Flooring
| Parameter | Meaning/Description | Impact on shooting |
|---|---|---|
| Sight type | Weaver K4 (4x) | The magnification made it possible to see the target clearly, but the field of view was limited |
| Bullet trajectory | At a distance of 80 meters, the bullet drop is minimal, no correction was required | |
| Pulling the trigger | Heavy, about 6-7 kg | Required significant effort, which could affect accuracy when firing quickly |
| Rate of fire | Up to 3 shots in 5-6 seconds | Requires high coordination of the shooter's movements |
Experts also paid attention to the condition of the bore. Despite the age of the weapon, the rifling was in satisfactory condition, allowing the bullet to maintain a stabilizing rotation. The bullet recovered from Governor Connolly's stretcher (the so-called "werewolf bullet") had characteristic rifling marks identical to the barrel of the C2766 rifle.
The fate of the weapon after the investigation
After the completion of the commission's work and all trials, the original rifle was not destroyed, as is often the case with material evidence. Instead, it was deposited in the US National Archives in Washington. There it is kept in special conditions that ensure the safety of metal and wood.
Access to the original is strictly limited. Researchers and journalists can only see photographs and reports. From time to time, rumors arise that the original has been replaced or lost, but archive staff regularly confirm the authenticity of the exhibit by presenting documents on the chain of custody (transfer of material evidence).
- 🏛️ Location: National Archives, College Park, Maryland
- 🔒 Status: Physical evidence, access limited
- 📸 Replicas: There are numerous replicas used in museums and cinema
Existence of replicas
There are many copies of the C2766 rifle in the world. Some of them were manufactured specifically for independent ballistics tests by television networks (such as CBS and Discovery Channel) to test conspiracy theories. Not a single test has proven the impossibility of firing from the original.
Analysis of bullets and fragments (Ballistic Evidence)
The key to identifying weapons was comparing bullets. The FBI conducted microscopic analysis of the grooves and fields on bullets recovered from the limousine, the stretcher and fragments found in the president's brain. The comparison methodology was based on the unique microscopic scratches left by the barrel.
It was determined that all the fragments belonged to 6.5 mm bullets fired from the same barrel. The rifling wear patterns matched those of Oswald's rifle. This became one of the pillars of the official version, linking the accused to the crime through physical weapons.
⚠️ Attention: The term "magic bullet", often used by critics of the version, does not refer to the properties of the ammunition itself, but to its flight path, which, according to skeptics, was physically impossible for a single bullet. However, ballistics indicates that the 6.5 mm bullet with a high muzzle velocity had sufficient energy to pass through the soft tissue of both victims.
It is important to understand the difference between full-jacket bullets, used in a rifle, and hollow-point bullets. The former tend to pass through, leaving small entry holes and causing less bone damage if not encountered directly. This explains the condition of some fragments.
Impact of the case on US law
Kennedy's assassination and subsequent investigation into the role of mail-order guns in the crime led to major changes in gun laws. Public Outcry Congress to reconsider the rules for the sale of firearms through the postal service.
In 1968 it was adopted Gun Control Act, which, among other things, banned the sale of firearms through the mail to private individuals. All transactions now had to go through licensed dealers with a background check on the buyer. This marked a turning point in the history of gun regulation in the United States.
☑️ Changes in the 1968 law
Thus, Carcano rifle played the role of a catalyst not only in the political life of the United States, but also in the formation of modern weapons legislation. Its technical parameters have become the subject of study in criminology textbooks, and the story itself serves as an example of how one subject can change the course of history.
The C2766 rifle is not a mystical artifact, but a mass-produced serial product, whose real technical capabilities have been confirmed by many independent examinations.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Was Kennedy's rifle a counterfeit or switch?
Official reports from the FBI and the Warren Commission, and later research in the 1970s, confirm that the C2766 rifle is an original product from the Terni factory. The license plates on all major parts match, and the sight drill marks match the tools found on Oswald.
Why did Oswald choose an Italian rifle?
At the time of order (1963), Carcano carbines were widely available on the American surplus weapons market and were very cheap (about $19 with shipping). It was one of the most affordable scoped long guns in catalogs at the time.
Is it possible to buy the same rifle now?
World War II originals are collector's items and are sold at auction. However, their import into the United States and many other countries is strictly regulated. Modern replicas exist, but they are often .22 caliber or otherwise modified to comply with regulations.
How much did a rifle cost in 1963?
Lee Harvey Oswald paid for the rifle Carcano M91/38 and telescopic sight Weaver K4 a total of $21.45 including postage. At the exchange rate of that time, this was a significant but affordable amount for a working person.