| Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1869/70 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Service rifle |
| 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 and Waffenfabrik Bern |
| Number built | 36,700 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | c. 4600 g |
| Length | 1300 mm |
| Barrel length | 842 mm |
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| 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 Swiss army service rifles in use from 1869 to circa 1890, when they were replaced with the Schmidt-Rubin rifles. Modified Vetterli rifles were also used by the Italian Army.
The Swiss Vetterli rifles combined the American M1866 Winchester rifle's tubular magazine and a bolt system derived from the German Dreyse needle gun. They were also the first repeating rifle to feature a self-cocking action and a small caliber. 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.
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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 Swiss riflemaker, who worked in France and England before becoming director of the Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft's armament factory in Neuhausen. He also adapted his rifle into a single-shot centerfire variant procured by the Italian Army.
| Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1871 | |
|---|---|
| Production history | |
| Number built | 77,300 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | c. 4750 g |
Even while manufacture of the M1869/70 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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 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 | |
|---|---|
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | W+F Bern, SIG |
| Number built | c. 4,300 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3300 g |
| Length | 930 mm |
| Barrel length | 470 mm |
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| 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 percussion pistols.
| Repetiergewehr and -stutzer Vetterli, Modell 1878 and 1881 | |
|---|---|
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | W+F Bern |
| Number built | 114,000 (rifle), c. 11,000 (stutzer) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | c. 4700 g |
| Length | 1325 mm |
| Barrel length | 843 mm |
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| 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 cover. An Stutzer variant with a Stecher action, but otherwise identical to the rifle, was also produced.
The Italian Army adopted the Vetterli design, albeit in a more economical single-shot form, in 1870.
In 1887, the Italian military updated its single-shot Model 1870 Vetterli rifles with a four-round Vitali box magazine.
During World War I, like many nations Italy faced a shortage of modern infantry rifles. As an emergency measure, many Vetterli Vitali rifles were converted to fire the 6.5x52mm Carcano round, adding a 6.5mm barrel lining and a Carcano-style magazine. These conversions are not considered safe to fire with standard 6.5x52mm loads.