A friend gave me a new rifle last night and I don't know what it is. Bolt action short rifle. It's 36" overall length with a 17 3/4" barrel. There is a compartment in the buttplate for the 2 part cleaning rod. There is a folding bayonet attached to the gun that is 13 3/8" long. The only writing on the gun is on the barrel just ahead of the barrel band. It reads 37-XV, Gardone VT, then a "crown" proof mark over a R E, P6495, Bottom line shows 2 crossed rifles (proof mark??) then a crown inside a cirle.
The magazine is missing, and it has a very large metal magazine extention below the rifle which only allows a magazine 1 1/4" deep. The bolt is at 90 degrees to the gun and straight up and down when opened. The rear site has a wooden button to raise it for yardage.
I am thinking it is a 6.5 Italian rifle. Sounds like there never was a magazine, only a spot for the stripper clip to fall out the bottom.
Thanks for any help you might be able to give me.
You can e-mail me direct at sandenwood@centurytel.net

Sounds exactly like an 1891 Italian Mannlicher-Carcano, most likely in 6.5 Carcano. It uses stripper clips that eject out the bottom.