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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. From 1875 on Waffenfabrik Bern was the main manufacturer of the Vetterli rifles. Bern started producing the M-69/71 in 1875 at serial 114.001 all older serials could have been made by several other manufacturers too. In 1875 they made 8000 rifles so till # 122.001 In 1876 they made 8677 rifles so till # 130.678.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1869/70 | |
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Type | Servicerifle |
Place of origin | Switzerland |
Service history | |
In service | 1869 – c. 1890 |
Used by | Swiss Army, Italian Army |
Production history | |
Designer | Johann-Friedrich Vetterli |
Manufacturer | SIG andothers |
Number built | 36,700 |
Specifications | |
Weight | c. 4600 g |
Length | 1300 mm |
Barrel length | 842 mm |
Cartridge | Rimfire cartridge |
Caliber | 10.4 mm (US: '.41 Swiss') |
Action | Bolt-action |
Feed system | 11-round tubular magazine |
Sights | Iron sights(Quadrantenvisier) |
The Vetterli rifles were a series of Swissarmyservicerifles in use from 1869 to circa 1890, when they were replacedwith the Schmidt-Rubin rifles. Modified Vetterlirifles were also used by the Italian Army.
The Swiss Vetterli rifles combined the American M1866 Winchesterrifle's tubular magazine and a bolt system derived from theGerman Dreyse needlegun. They were also the first repeating rifle to feature aself-cocking action and a small caliber. Due to theSwiss Federal Council's early1866 decision to equip the army with a breechloadingrepeatingrifle, the Vetterli rifles were at the time of theirintroduction the most advanced military rifles in Europe.
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RepetiergewehrVetterli, Modell 1869/70
Cutaway diagram of the Vetterli rifle's action.
The 1869 Repetiergewehr Vetterli (English:repeating rifle,Vetterli) was the first iteration of Vetterli rifles.It was designed by Johann-Friedrich Vetterli (1822–1882), a Swissriflemaker, who worked in France and England before becomingdirector of the SchweizerischeIndustrie Gesellschaft's armament factory in Neuhausen. He also adapted hisrifle into a single-shot centerfire variant procured by the Italian Army.
RepetiergewehrVetterli, Modell 1871
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
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Production history | |
Number built | 77,300 |
Specifications | |
Weight | c. 4750 g |
Even while manufacture of the M1869/70 was underway, a new 1871model was put into production. It omitted some redundant parts andfeatured a modified sight as well as a stronger barrel and stronger ironhoops.
RepetierstutzerVetterli, Modell 1871
Repetierstutzer Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
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Production history | |
Number built | 10,000 |
Specifications | |
Weight | 4600 g |
Length | 1260 mm |
Barrel length | 783 mm |
The Stutzer (carbine) variant of the 1871 rifle was used toequip the Scharfschützen (sniper) companies of the army. The Stutzer wereequipped with a sensitive Stecher (double settrigger) action and featured a shorter barrel.
Kavallerie-RepetierkarabinerVetterli, Modell 1871
Kavallerie-Repetierkarabiner Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
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Production history | |
Manufacturer | W+FBern, Pfenninger |
Number built | c. 4,300 |
Specifications | |
Weight | 3300 g |
Length | 930 mm |
Barrel length | 470 mm |
Feed system | 6-round tubular magazine |
The Kavallerie-Repetierkarabiner (English:cavalry repeating carbine) wasanother shortened variant of the 1871 rifle for use by the cavalry,which at that time was still armed with percussionpistols.
Repetiergewehrand -stutzer Vetterli, Modell 1878 and 1881
Repetiergewehr and -stutzer Vetterli, Modell 1878 and 1881 | |
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Production history | |
Manufacturer | W+FBern |
Number built | 114,000 (rifle), c. 11,000 (stutzer) |
Specifications | |
Weight | c. 4700 g |
Length | 1325 mm |
Barrel length | 843 mm |
Feed system | 12-round tubular magazine |
To accelerate the sluggish production of the Vetterli rifles,the federal authorities built a new arms factory in Berne, theEidgenössische Waffenfabrik (W+F), in 1875. That factory produced the1878 variant of the Vetterli rifle. Its some 25 improvementsincluded a new bayonet and lug, improved sights and a finger hookon the trigger cover. An Stutzer variant with aStecher action, but otherwise identical to the rifle, wasalso produced.
M1870Italian Vetterli
Main article: M1870Italian Vetterli
The Italian Army adopted the Vetterli design, albeit in a moreeconomical single-shot form, in 1870.
M1870/87 ItalianVetterli
In 1887, the Italian military updated its single-shot Model 1870Vetterli rifles with a four-round Vitali box magazine.
M1870/87/15 ItalianVetterli
During World WarI, like many nations Italy faced a shortage of modern infantryrifles. As an emergency measure, many Vetterli Vitali rifles wereconverted to fire the 6.5x52mm Carcano round,adding a 6.5mm barrel lining and a Carcano-style magazine. These conversions arenot considered safe to fire with standard 6.5x52mm loads.
References
- Ernst Hostettler (1987). Hand-und Faustfeuerwaffen der Schweizer Armee von 1842 bis heute(3rd ed. ed.). Buch-Vertriebs GmbH Zürich. pp. 25 et seq. ISBN3-9052-1603-5.
- Swiss Vetterli rifles onmilitaryrifles.com
Externallinks
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1869/71 | |
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Type | Service rifle |
Place of origin | Switzerland |
Service history | |
In service | 1869 – c. 1890 |
Used by | Swiss Army, Italian Army, Russian Army (captured from shipment to Finland) |
Wars | First Boer War First Italo-Ethiopian War Second Boer War World War I (Russian captured) Second Italo-Ethiopian War |
Production history | |
Designer | Johann-Friedrich Vetterli |
Manufacturer | SIG and Waffenfabrik Bern |
No. built | 36,700 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4600 g (10.14 lb) |
Length | 1300mm (51.18 in) |
Barrel length | 842mm (33.15 in) |
Cartridge | 10.4×38mm Swiss Rimfire Black-powder rimfire rimmed metallic cartridge |
Caliber | 10mm |
Action | Bolt-action |
Rate of fire | 21 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 1425 ft/s |
Feed system | 11-round tubular magazine |
Sights | Iron sights (Quadrantenvisier) |
The Vetterli rifles were a series of Swiss armyservice rifles in use from 1869 to 1889,[1] when they were replaced with Schmidt–Rubin rifles. Modified Vetterlis 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 breechloadingrepeating rifle, the Vetterli rifles were, at the time of their introduction, the most advanced military rifles in Europe. The Vetterli was the replacement for the Eidgenössischer Stutzer 1851, an Amsler-Milbank metallic cartridge conversion from previous Swiss muzzle-loading rifles.
- 8M1870 Italian Vetterli
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1867[edit]
The model 1867 was the first iteration of Vetterli rifles. It was accepted into service in February 1868. The model 1867, like its successors, featured a 12-round under barrel tubular magazine and bolt action feed system. The primary distinguishing feature of the Model 1867 was the external hammer.
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1868[edit]
Before the Model 1867 was put into full production, the rifle designer, Friedrich Vetterli, updated the rifle by replacing the external hammer with an internal cocking bolt spring, rounded front barrel band and placing the cleaning rod on the left side of the rifle. It was discovered soon after that the cleaning rod in its current placement was easily damaged and was subsequently moved to the under-barrel position. The model was designated the Model 1869.
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1869, 69/71[edit]
Cutaway diagram of the Vetterli rifle's action.
The 1869 Repetiergewehr Vetterli (English: repeating rifle, Vetterli) was the first iteration of Vetterli rifles to go into full mass production. It was designed by Johann-Friedrich Vetterli (1822–1882), a Swiss riflemaker, who worked in France and England before becoming director of the Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft's armament factory in Neuhausen Switzerland. He also adapted his rifle into a single-shot centerfire variant procured by the Italian Army. In 1871 the Model 1869 was updated by removing the loading gate and magazine cutoff switch. This change was designated the Model 1869/71
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1871[edit]
Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
---|---|
Production history | |
No. built | 77,300 |
Specifications | |
Mass | c. 4750 g |
Even while manufacture of the M1869/71 was underway, a new 1871 model was put into production. It omitted some redundant parts and featured a modified sight as well as a stronger barrel and stronger iron hoops.
Repetierstutzer Vetterli, Modell 1871[edit]
Repetierstutzer Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
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Production history | |
No. built | 10,000 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4,600 g (10.1 lb) |
Length | 1,260 mm (50 in) |
Barrel length | 783 mm (30.8 in) |
The Stutzer (carbine) variant of the 1871 rifle was used to equip the Scharfschützen (sniper) companies of the army. The Stutzer were equipped with a sensitive Stecher (double set trigger) action and featured a shorter barrel.
Kavallerie-Repetierkarabiner Vetterli, Modell 1871[edit]
Kavallerie-Repetierkarabiner Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
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Production history | |
Manufacturer | W+F Bern, SIG |
No. built | c. 4300 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3,300 g (7.3 lb) |
Length | 930 mm (37 in) |
Barrel length | 470 mm (19 in) |
Feed system | 6-round tubular magazine |
The Kavallerie-Repetierkarabiner (English: cavalry repeating carbine) was another shortened variant of the 1871 rifle for use by the cavalry, which at that time was still armed with percussionpistols.
Repetiergewehr and -stutzer Vetterli, Modell 1878 and 1881[edit]
Repetiergewehr and -stutzer Vetterli, Modell 1878 and 1881 | |
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Production history | |
Manufacturer | W+F Bern |
No. built | 114,000 (rifle), c. 11,000 (stutzer) |
Specifications | |
Mass | c. 4,700 g (10.4 lb) |
Length | 1,325 mm (52.2 in) |
Barrel length | 843 mm (33.2 in) |
Feed system | 12-round tubular magazine |
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. That factory produced the 1878 variant of the Vetterli rifle. Its some 25 improvements included a new bayonet and lug, improved sights and a finger hook on the trigger guard. A Stutzer variant with a Stecher action, but otherwise identical to the rifle, was also produced.
M1870 Italian Vetterli[edit]
The Italian Army adopted a modified Vetterli design, however as a single-shot, in 1870. Unlike the Swiss model, it was chambered for a centrefire cartridge, the 10.35×47mmR.
M1870/87 Italian Vetterli-Vitali[edit]
In 1887, the Italian military updated its single-shot Model 1870 Vetterli rifles with a four-round Vitali box magazine.
M1870/87/15 Italian Vetterli[edit]
During World War I, like many nations Italy faced a shortage of modern infantry rifles. As a stop-gap measure, hundreds of thousands of Vetterli-Vitali rifles and a few carbines and musquetoons were converted in Rome and Gardone to fire the 6.5x52mm Carcano round, by adding a 6.5mm barrel liner and a Carcano-style magazine. These conversions were never meant for extended firing with standard 6.5x52mm loads, as the smokeless powder 6.5×52mm cartridge generates higher pressure than the black powder 10.35×47mmR, but have withstood modern CIP proof firing without difficulty.[citation needed]
Civilian use[edit]
Surplus Vetterli rifles were used in 'surprising number' by civilians in the U.S. for hunting deer through 1972.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ abBarnes, p.196, '10.4x38R Swiss Vetterli M69/81'.
- Ernst Hostettler (1987). Hand- und Faustfeuerwaffen der Schweizer Armee von 1842 bis heute (3rd ed.). Buch-Vertriebs GmbH Zürich. pp. 25 et seq. ISBN3-905216-03-5.
- Swiss Vetterli rifles on militaryrifles.com
External links[edit]
Media related to Vetterli rifle at Wikimedia Commons
- Italian Vetterli rifles[permanent dead link]
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