Cei-Rigotti

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Cei-Rigotti
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	Italy
Production history
Designer	Amerigo Cei-Rigotti
Designed	1900
Specifications
Weight	4.3 kg (9 lb 55 oz)
Length	1,000 mm (39.4 in)

Cartridge	6.5 x 52 Mannlicher-Carcano
Action	Gas piston, self-loading
Rate of fire	Up to 900rpm
Muzzle velocity	730 m/s (2,400 ft/s)
Feed system	25-round detachable box magazine
Sights	1,400 meters (1,531 yards)

Originally created by Amerigo Cei-Rigotti, an officer in the Italian Army, in 1890, the Cei-Rigotti rifle was extensively modified until its final form circa 1900, and is often regarded as the first assault rifle due to its selective fire capabilities (single shots or burst) and intermediate-powered ammunition, and also as the first successful implementation of gas operation in a rifle. Over the next few years (1903 and 1911) there were improvements to its internal functions, such as its gas operation. The rifle fired 6.5 x 52 Mannlicher-Carcano ammunition fed from a 25-round detachable box magazine. The rifle, although not actually used by any army (possibly because of unreliability), was remade in Switzerland, Russia, Austria. These variations fired 8x56mm (Austria) and 7.62 x 54 mm R (Russia) ammunition.

The Cei-Rigotti was tested by the British Small Arms Committee and was also tested by the Royal Navy. The rifles experienced difficult ejection and had high rates of misfires, but this may have been because the ammunition was exposed to salt water during transport.