Original Swiss Vetterli Repetiergewehr M1871 Magazine Rifle by Waffenfabrik Bern Serial 139756 - 10.4×38mm

Original Item: Only One Available. Introduced in 1867, the Vetterli rifle system utilized the "Winchester" tube magazine system for cartridge storage under the barrel. The original 1867 model had an external hammer, like a Winchester, but in 1868 this was changed to an internal cocking bolt spring. The cleaning rod was moved to the side of the rifle, but this proved problematic, so the model of 1869 moved it back to the under barrel position. In 1871, the loading gate cover on the right side of the receiver and the magazine cutoff on the left side were deemed to be redundant, so a new model 1871 was introduced without them. It also featured strengthened barrel rings and a much thicker and sturdier rear sight leaf. Later models after this changed over to the box Magazine found on most rifles of the WWI era.

To accelerate the sluggish production of the Vetterli rifles, the federal authorities built a new arms factory in Berne, the Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik (W+F), in 1875. This factory is usually thought to have started with the M1878 variant of the Vetterli rifle, however this is definitely an M1871 model, with some of the improvements on the M1878 already implemented. The rifle does not have the two gas escape holes in the receiver, indicating post-1875 manufacture, though it does have the 1000 Schritt rear sight. Definitely an interesting piece of history!

This rifle is nicely maker marked on the left side of the receiver:

✚
WAFFENFABRIK
BERN
139756

Serial number 139756 is found on the receiver below the maker mark, as well as on the chamber end of the barrel and 756 on the bottom of the feed block/ejector, sight base, and on the butt plate. This is also stamped on both barrel bands, the nose cap, and on the left side of the bolt. There are additional proof marks on metal components of the rifle, as well as some on the stock, including a Swiss D7✚C1 stamp on the butt stock spine.

Offered in very good condition, this was a rifle serving at the time of Britain's legendary Martini-Henry Single Shot Rifle, also introduced in 1871 and not replaced with a magazine rifle until 1888. The metalwork is in very good shape, with the original bluing well preserved in some areas, while it is worn on the receiver and some of the fittings. It looks to have suffered some surface oxidation on the exterior, which was then cleaned away. There is still a bit of peppering on the top of the barrel. The wood stocks are in very good condition, with the usual dents and scrapes from service, with some staining on the fore stock. We did notice that there is a crack on the bottom of the fore stock where it is checkered, which extends from the receiver up almost to the lower barrel band, which looks to have been repaired in the past. Both sling swivels are present and move well, while the cleaning rod is unfortunately missing.

The action cycles well, with the carrier block moving correctly and easily, and we did not notice any issued except for a bit of stiffness. We do not however have any way to check to see if the feed mechanism is still functional. The U-shaped striker for the rimfire ammunition is present and functional, as is the extractor on the bolt. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with strong lands and grooves. There is some past oxidation and wear visible, so it definitely did see at least a moderate amount of use while in service.

The Vetterli was an Italian design ahead of its time but was soon outclassed by the German Mauser 1871/84 magazine Rifle. This is a very nice example, in lovely condition with no signs of restoration. The Swiss Vetterli rifle is one of the very first bolt-action "repeating" rifles and getting scarce to find today.

Honest used examples like this are getting very hard to find. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: 1875-1878
Caliber: 10.4×38mm Swiss
Cartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 inches
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 11 round internal tubular magazine

History of the Vetterli rifle: The Vetterli rifles were a series of Swiss army service rifles in use from 1869 to circa 1890, when they were replaced with Schmidt-Rubin rifles. Modified Vetterli rifles were also used by the Italian Army.

The Swiss Vetterli rifles combined the American Winchester Model 1866's tubular magazine with a regular bolt featuring for the first time two opposed rear locking lugs. This novel type of bolt was a major improvement over the simpler Dreyse and Chassepot bolt actions. The Vetterli was also the first repeating bolt action rifle to feature a self-cocking action and a small caliber bore. Due to the Swiss Federal Council's early 1866 decision to equip the army with a breechloading repeating rifle, the Vetterli rifles were, at the time of their introduction, the most advanced military rifles in Europe. The Vetterli was the replacement for Amsler-Milbank rifles, which were a metallic cartridge conversion from previous Swiss muzzle-loading rifles.

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