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.

[3] Commonly known in the Italian press as the Cei Gas Rifle, it attracted widespread attention in international military circles for a time, while the Italian arms company Glisenti-Bettoni managed to secure the rights to produce the rifle and attempted to sell it in Italy and abroad.

[3] Described by Johnston and Nelson as an innovative, but never perfected design, it was intended to avoid the violent blow associated with the direct impingement operation, ultimately proving to be an overly complex mechanism.

[10] 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.

[10] According to Johnston and Nelson, representants from Glisenti-Bettoni demonstrated the Cei-Rigotti at the Royal Small Arms Factory in March, 1901.