I got my M.95 Budapest with the AOI ( Italian East Africa) marking today and was pleased to see it's still in 8x50R. The letter C appears on both sides of the stock...
After WW1, Italy received thousands of M.95 rifles from Austria-Hungary as war reparations. Many were cut down as shown and sent to East Africa where they were issued to native levies.
Italian rifles in East Africa were branded on the stock to show ownership. The AOI rifles went to various tribesmen,and some were branded 'CAS' = Corpo Afro Somali and issued to that people. Italian Army rifles had 'RE' branded into the stock = 'Royal Army'.
The brands were to prevent pilferage and black marketing. If natives or enemy were found with an RE-marked rifle, they were immediately shot.
The AOI and CAS rifles were branded more to prevent black marketing - like being traded for goats or more wives. Natives with the wrong tribal issue rifle were "otherwise punished". Beaten or whipped, possibly.
At the outset of WW2, Italy forced the Brits from British East Africa ( and presumably the French from French East Africa). The British then attacked the Italians from Kenya and took the territory for themselves. The various tribesmen were then disarmed, and the AOI rifles were sent to India for use as trainers.
These fell into disuse and were sold here along with the Indian Enfields we have on the market.
This one does not have any British markings, and those worthies were not a bit shy about stamping all sorts of marks on their rifles, especially captured ones. They had to be proved and otherwise marked.
I thought the 'C' might mean Serbia, but a long-time M.95 collector thinks not. Possibly it's just a rack number.
In any case,I'm happy to have it as you just don't see them very often. If anyone sees a Carcano, Vetterli or M.95 marked 'CAS', please send me the seller's information or else make a profit selling it to me!
Mybusa has no interest in these!!!
SW
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