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LOT 315
Historic Documented Italian Terni
M91/38 “Mannlicher-Carcano” Carbine with Scope, Formerly
Owned by Ballistics Expert Monty C. Lutz of the U.S. House of
Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations, Featured in
the 1986 Movie “On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald”, with Accompanying
John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King
Jr. Assassination Related Documentation - Serial no. BS6687, 6.5
mm Carcano cal., 21 inch round bbl., blue finish, hardwood stock.
Manufactured in 1941 and subsequently upgraded with a 4x scope in an
identical configuration to the John F. Kennedy assassination attributed
“Mannlicher-Carcano” carbine (serial number C2766) which was known
to have been mail ordered in this same configuration from retailer Klein’s
Sporting Goods by accused shooter Lee Harvey Oswald. This “Mannlicher-
Carcano” carbine offered (serial number BS6687) was reportedly from the
family of Monty C. Lutz (1937-2022), who was a prominent firearms and
ballistic expert that testified in 1978 on behalf of the United States House
of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) in the
assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin
Luther King Jr. During his more than 40 year long noteworthy career,
Monty C. Lutz worked as the expert on numerous firearms related cases
for the government and military including John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther
King, Jr., James Oswald, the Mai Lai massacre, the Larencia Bembenek
murder trial (told in the movie “Run Bambi Run”), and a number of other
high profile cases. While running a crime lab in Fort Gordon, Georgia,
Monty Lutz reportedly worked with Sionics and Mitchell L. WerBel III on
the silencer for the MAC-10 submachine gun, he also worked with the
CIA to help take down Castro in the 1970s, worked with Harley Davidson
on serial number restoration that helped bring down the Hell’s Angels in
Milwaukee, and several plaques recognize Monty C. Lutz’s work as Safety
Advisor for the Shot Show for over 25 years. This exact carbine offered
was featured in the courtroom in the 1986 movie “On Trial: Lee Harvey
Oswald”, in which surviving witnesses are recalled to determine the guilt
or innocence of the man believed to have murdered President John F.
Kennedy, starring Monty C. Lutz played by himself, Vincent Bugliosi, Gerry
Spence and other real life characters acting as themselves. Accompanying
letters and an export document indicates Monty C. Lutz, listed as Chief
Firearm Analyst of the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, exported this
exact carbine, serial number BS6687, on July 18, 1986 to “London Weekend
Television, South Bank Television Centre” for use in the aforementioned
movie. A binder that contains related correspondence between Monty
C. Lutz and London Weekend Television in relation to his work on the
film is included, along with an original 1986 issued passport of Monty
C. Lutz. This carbine is also accompanied by numerous documents and
artifacts in reference to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy,
Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., including personal notes,
photographs, a photograph of the nationwide newspaper image of Monty
C. Lutz holding the J.F.K. assassination “Mannlicher-Carcano” carbine, and
9 related extensive bound book firearms
evidence reports related to the cases worked on
by Monty C. Lutz. The HSCA completed its investigation in 1978 and
issued its final report in 1979, which concluded that John F. Kennedy “was
probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.” However, the HSCA’s
conclusion challenged the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Lee
Harvey Oswald was the only shooter, and further stated that it was unable
to identify the other gunman or the extent of the conspiracy. In addition
to acoustic analysis of a police channel dictabelt recording, the HSCA also
commissioned a number of other scientific studies of assassination-related
evidence that corroborate the Warren Commission’s findings. The HSCA
also concluded that there was a “likelihood” King was also assassinated
“as a result of a conspiracy.” Monty C. Lutz’s report differed from the final
conclusion of the HSCA, in which he agreed with the conclusion of the
1964 Warren Commission in that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone using
a 6.5 mm bolt action “Mannlicher-Carcano” carbine in the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Also included is a
display case for the carbine, four metal Carcano clips, a box of spent .30-06
casings and a few fired test bullets from the Remington Model 760 used in
the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination, a thumb drive with related photos
and videos, a wax seal, and a framed presentation
to Monty C. Lutz for his work on the Firearms Panel
investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy,
presented to him by the HSCA on September 8, 1978. This carbine is fitted
with a Ordnance Optics Inc. 4x18 scope, with the serial number “BS6687”
marked on the upper left chamber area of the barrel, caliber marking on
top of the rear sight, and “8747” on the left of the buttstock. Includes a
brown leather sling.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original blue finish with some areas of
spotting and smooth brown patina. Stock is very good as sanded and
re-oiled, with a few scattered dents and light scratches. Mechanically
excellent. Scope is very fine, with lightly hazy but clear viewable optics.
This historic rifle and its accompanying artifacts, formerly owned by noted
ballistics expert Monty Lutz, would make a very fine addition to any
museum or historical firearms collection! Recent declassification of the FBI
files on this subject make this a timely offering!
Provenance: The Monty C. Lutz Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000