The Cei-Rigotti (also known as the Cei gas rifle[1]) is an early automatic rifle created in the final years of the 19th century by Amerigo Cei-Rigotti, an officer in the Royal Italian Army. Although the rifle was never officially adopted by any military, it was tested extensively by the Italian Army during the lead-up to the First World War.[2]
This circa 1900 photo shows an Italian soldier demonstrating charging and firing a standard and high capacity version of the Cei-Rigotti rifle. The charging clip holds about 25 rounds.The Cei-Rigotti rifle field stripped.A version of the Cei-Rigotti rifle in 1900.
The rifle was gas operated and had selective fire capabilities (single shots or fully automatic). Available information on this gun is sparse and often contradictory.
According to several publications, the prototype rifle was chambered for the 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano.[3] The gun was supposedly presented by Cei-Rigotti to his superiors in a private demonstration in 1895. An Italian newspaper reported on this event in 1900.[4] According to another source, a demonstration was actually held publicly in Rome on June 13, 1900, when 300 rounds were fired on full automatic before the gun got so hot it seized up.[5] Yet another source mentions a demonstration in the same year at the Brescia Arsenal.[6]
The British also ordered and tested the gun after this event, but they found it unsuitable.[4] The rifle found at the UK National Firearms Centre in Leeds is chambered in 7.65x53mm Mauser, as is another example found in a U.S. private collection.[2]
One unusual feature of the Cei-Rigotti was its trigger, which extended through a slot across the entirety of the trigger guard. It has been theorized that it was intended to make the weapon easier to operate in heavy gloves,[2] but in reality it is used to release the bolt without accidentally firing the weapon.[7] The trigger guard assembly was also connected to the magazine, and needed to be removed in order for the magazine to be replaced.[2] This magazine is also a major point of contention among military historians, as, since the weapon was reloaded via stripper clips rather than detachable magazine, many argue that it disqualifies the Cei-Rigotti from being classified as an assault rifle.[8] Reportedly, prototypes with magazines up to a capacity of 50 rounds existed,[3] but there is no actual known evidence of this yet, and the most high-capacity magazine that can be seen on the drawings from the period is a two-column one for 30 rounds.[9]
^Daniel D. Musgrave; Thomas B. Nelson (1967). The World's Assault Rifles and Automatic Carbines. T. B. N. Enterprises. p. 225.
^ abcdMcCollum, Ian (October 24, 2012). "Cei-Rigotti". ForgottenWeapons.com. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
^ abDavid Westwood (2005). Rifles: An Illustrated History Of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. p. 364. ISBN978-1-85109-401-1.
^ abDavid Miller (2003). The illustrated directory of twentieth century guns. Zenith Imprint. pp. 224–225. ISBN978-0-7603-1560-6.
^Smith, Walter Harold Black; Smith, Joseph Edward (1963). Sweet, J.B. (ed.). The Book of Rifles (3rd ed.). The Stackpole Company. p. 68. LCCN 63-12562.
^Ian V. Hogg (1978). The complete illustrated encyclopedia of the world's firearms. A & W Publishers. p. 108. ISBN978-0-89479-031-7.
^"Firearms Expert Reacts To Battlefield 1's Guns PART 2". GameSpot. 26 November 2022.
^"Before the Sturmgewehr: Assault Rifle Developments Prior to 1942 -". 2 April 2014. from the original on April 29, 2014.
^"Cei-Rigotti – Internet Movie Firearms Database".
External linksedit
(in French) Encyclopesarmes
Details of the Cei-Rigotti rifle in General Information Series (United States. Office of Naval Intelligence) No. XX, 1901
January 01, 1970
rigotti, also, known, rifle, early, automatic, rifle, created, final, years, 19th, century, amerigo, officer, royal, italian, army, although, rifle, never, officially, adopted, military, tested, extensively, italian, army, during, lead, first, world, typeselec. The Cei Rigotti also known as the Cei gas rifle 1 is an early automatic rifle created in the final years of the 19th century by Amerigo Cei Rigotti an officer in the Royal Italian Army Although the rifle was never officially adopted by any military it was tested extensively by the Italian Army during the lead up to the First World War 2 Cei RigottiTypeSelective fire automatic riflePlace of origin Kingdom of ItalyProduction historyDesignerAmerigo Cei RigottiDesignedc 1890SpecificationsMass4 3 kg 9 5 lb Length1 000 mm 39 in Barrel length482 6 mm 19 00 in Cartridge6 5 52mm Carcano7 65 53mm MauserActionGas piston self loadingRate of fire300 600 rpmMuzzle velocity730 m s 2 400 ft s Maximum firing range1 400 m 1 500 yd Feed system6 10 20 25 30 round fixed box magazineSightsIron sight Contents 1 Description 2 See also 2 1 Early automatic rifles 2 2 Early self loading rifles 3 References 4 External linksDescription edit nbsp This circa 1900 photo shows an Italian soldier demonstrating charging and firing a standard and high capacity version of the Cei Rigotti rifle The charging clip holds about 25 rounds nbsp The Cei Rigotti rifle field stripped nbsp A version of the Cei Rigotti rifle in 1900 The rifle was gas operated and had selective fire capabilities single shots or fully automatic Available information on this gun is sparse and often contradictory According to several publications the prototype rifle was chambered for the 6 5 52mm Mannlicher Carcano 3 The gun was supposedly presented by Cei Rigotti to his superiors in a private demonstration in 1895 An Italian newspaper reported on this event in 1900 4 According to another source a demonstration was actually held publicly in Rome on June 13 1900 when 300 rounds were fired on full automatic before the gun got so hot it seized up 5 Yet another source mentions a demonstration in the same year at the Brescia Arsenal 6 The British also ordered and tested the gun after this event but they found it unsuitable 4 The rifle found at the UK National Firearms Centre in Leeds is chambered in 7 65x53mm Mauser as is another example found in a U S private collection 2 One unusual feature of the Cei Rigotti was its trigger which extended through a slot across the entirety of the trigger guard It has been theorized that it was intended to make the weapon easier to operate in heavy gloves 2 but in reality it is used to release the bolt without accidentally firing the weapon 7 The trigger guard assembly was also connected to the magazine and needed to be removed in order for the magazine to be replaced 2 This magazine is also a major point of contention among military historians as since the weapon was reloaded via stripper clips rather than detachable magazine many argue that it disqualifies the Cei Rigotti from being classified as an assault rifle 8 Reportedly prototypes with magazines up to a capacity of 50 rounds existed 3 but there is no actual known evidence of this yet and the most high capacity magazine that can be seen on the drawings from the period is a two column one for 30 rounds 9 See also editEarly automatic rifles edit Browning M1918 automatic rifle Fedorov M1916 Avtomat Furrer Leichtes Maschinengewehr lMG 25 Huot M1916 automatic rifle Early self loading rifles edit Farquhar Hill P1918 semi automatic rifle Fusil Automatique Modele 1917References edit Daniel D Musgrave Thomas B Nelson 1967 The World s Assault Rifles and Automatic Carbines T B N Enterprises p 225 a b c d McCollum Ian October 24 2012 Cei Rigotti ForgottenWeapons com Retrieved July 12 2013 a b David Westwood 2005 Rifles An Illustrated History Of Their Impact ABC CLIO p 364 ISBN 978 1 85109 401 1 a b David Miller 2003 The illustrated directory of twentieth century guns Zenith Imprint pp 224 225 ISBN 978 0 7603 1560 6 Smith Walter Harold Black Smith Joseph Edward 1963 Sweet J B ed The Book of Rifles 3rd ed The Stackpole Company p 68 LCCN 63 12562 Ian V Hogg 1978 The complete illustrated encyclopedia of the world s firearms A amp W Publishers p 108 ISBN 978 0 89479 031 7 Firearms Expert Reacts To Battlefield 1 s Guns PART 2 GameSpot 26 November 2022 Before the Sturmgewehr Assault Rifle Developments Prior to 1942 2 April 2014 Archived from the original on April 29 2014 Cei Rigotti Internet Movie Firearms Database External links edit in French Encyclopesarmes Details of the Cei Rigotti rifle in General Information Series United States Office of Naval Intelligence No XX 1901 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cei Rigotti amp oldid 1219438632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
