The Swiss Vetterli rifle, designed by Swiss designer Friedrich Vetterli, the manager of the Neuhausen factory, and adopted in both Switzerland and Italy, utilized a Henry (Winchester) M1866 type tubular magazine and a bolt system derived from the German Dreyse needle fire rifle. Manufacture Dates: 1882-1889 Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik, Bern According to Markku Palokangas, author of the book Military Small Arms in Finland 1918-1988Ĭapacity: 13 (12 round tube magazine +1 in the cartridge elevator) While the Swiss never used the Vetterli in any armed conflict, it is interesting to note the closest they ever came to combat was in Finland. The original parts missing or replaced prior to My ownership of it includes the rear strap mount and strap itself (which is apparently very normal for these rifles in particular), the rear sight changed to a "Bull horns" style (for what ever reason,I can only assume the original went missing or broke long ago), cleaning rod missing (also Normal I have been told) and it is without bayonet and bayonet scabbard (expected as they were used more than the guns themselves)
M81 swiss rifle serial number lookup serial#
I don't care if it is or isn't truly rare and valuable, as the one thing I must mention about this particular Vetterli, is every part stamped with a segment number is in fact original and corresponding to the serial itself including the spare firing pin and THAT, My friends is rare to find, as well as the fact it having the appropriate"Inspektor" approval stamps in all metal, small metal and wooden parts for the Era and region. After some negotiating and lite research, I decided $150 was not too much to ask, when the impending doom was ultimately the loss of an already seemingly rare piece of History. I wanted one of those rare inoperable rifles to display above my fireplace in a nostalgic manor of speaking and well as soon as I saw it I had to have it. In this event most processes tend to destroy the originality and any remaining value in old weapons like this one. I bought it from a friend, who bought it off of one of those internet firearms auction houses, who wanted to sporterise it (make it to fire modern ammo). With the amount of research I have done, I can tell You a few things of this old Military Rifle and it is likely that there is just as much I don't yet know.įirst off a bit of translation: Waffenfabrik (loosely) Weapons Factory or possibly ) and Bern being a location, Bern Switzerland.