What gun did lee harvey oswald use?

What Gun Did Lee Harvey Oswald Use?

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, is one of the most significant and enduring unsolved mysteries in American history. Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine and employee of the Texas School Book Depository, was accused of shooting Kennedy from the sixth floor of the building. The question of what gun Oswald used has been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate, with various theories and speculations emerging over the years.

The Warren Commission’s Findings

The Warren Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and used a Carcano Model 6.5mm Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to shoot Kennedy. The commission’s report, released in September 1964, stated that Oswald purchased the rifle in March 1963 from a mail-order catalog and had it shipped to his home in Dallas.

The Carcano Rifle

The Carcano Model 6.5mm Mannlicher-Carcano rifle was a semi-automatic bolt-action rifle produced by the Italian firm Fabbrica d’Armi Luigi Carcano. The rifle was designed in the late 19th century and was widely used by the Italian military during World War I.

Physical Characteristics

The Carcano rifle used by Oswald was a 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano cartridge, which was a standard military cartridge at the time. The rifle had a 4.5mm bore and a 20-inch barrel. It was also equipped with a bolt-action mechanism, which required the user to manually cock the bolt before firing.

Oswald’s Ownership

According to the Warren Commission, Oswald purchased the rifle from a mail-order catalog in March 1963 and had it shipped to his home in Dallas. The rifle was originally listed as a .22 caliber rifle, but Oswald requested a change to a 6.5mm rifle, which was the standard military caliber at the time.

Evidence of Ownership

Several pieces of evidence linked the Carcano rifle to Oswald, including:

• Fingerprints: Oswald’s fingerprints were found on the rifle’s bolt and trigger.
• Handwriting: Oswald’s handwriting matched the signature on the rifle’s warranty card.
• Testimony: Oswald’s friends and acquaintances testified that he had owned a rifle that looked similar to the Carcano.

Alternative Theories

Despite the Warren Commission’s findings, various alternative theories have emerged over the years, suggesting that Oswald may not have been the lone gunman or that the Carcano rifle was not the weapon used. Some of these theories include:

• The "Grassy Knoll" shooter: Some researchers believe that a second gunman, known as the "Grassy Knoll" shooter, fired from the front of the presidential motorcade.
• The "magic bullet" theory: Others have questioned the Warren Commission’s findings on the single bullet theory, suggesting that multiple bullets were involved.
• The "Rifle-Gun" theory: Some researchers have suggested that the Carcano rifle was not the primary weapon used, but rather a Rifle-Gun (a combination rifle and handgun) was used.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald used a Carcano Model 6.5mm Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to shoot President John F. Kennedy. While various alternative theories have emerged over the years, the overwhelming evidence points to Oswald as the lone gunman using the Carcano rifle.

Table: Characteristics of the Carcano Rifle

Bullets:

• The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone and used a Carcano rifle to shoot Kennedy.
• The Carcano rifle was a semi-automatic bolt-action rifle produced by the Italian firm Fabbrica d’Armi Luigi Carcano.
• Oswald purchased the rifle from a mail-order catalog in March 1963 and had it shipped to his home in Dallas.
• Several pieces of evidence linked the Carcano rifle to Oswald, including fingerprints, handwriting, and testimony.
• Alternative theories have emerged over the years, suggesting that Oswald may not have been the lone gunman or that the Carcano rifle was not the weapon used.