Swiss vetterli 71 sniper

[artu44]

I'm quite excited having today bought at a live auction this 41 swiss vetterli in excellent conditions about 450$ plus auction premium. I see in US this sum is not peanuts for a milsurp but in Europe you can have just an average ordinary mauser. At home I've noticed it had a stecher and a mirror like barrel and was already converted to centerfire. A quick search on the net found that is a "Repetierstutzer Vetterli" made by Waffenfabrik Bern only issued to sharp shooters. From serial number 142XX I cannot say if it's a late model 71 or an early mod 81. Anyway I'll buy quickly lee dies and bullet mould and hope to see some good group.

[Texas by God]

Well done!

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[Eldon]

A great score ! Typically over $1000 for this model.

[artu44]

A great score ! Typically over $1000 for this model.

Crawling in the web I discovered more about. Judging from barrel lengt (32.8") and serial number located after model 71 but before model 81 it could be the rare mod 78 made in only 400 pieces.

http://www.swissrifles.com/vetterli/index.html

[TCLouis]

Rare or not, the thing I wish for you is that it s a great shooter and provide many ours of range time.

[Texas by God]

They've always looked like someone added a bolt to the top of a Winchester to me! I still think they are cool.

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[Smoke4320]

Congrads .. Looks like it might be a fun gun to play with
keep us updated on your progress

[woodbutcher]

Very nice Sir.Please keep us updated as you are able.May you enjoy many happy years with your purchase.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[artu44]

Sure guys. I have to wait dies from Titan and it will take about a month. In the meanwhile I'll post some pics.

[texasnative46]

artu44,

WOW!!! NICE SCORE.

yours, tex

[artu44]

There was a tale that in the Vetterli buttstock hole you can find a spare firing pin so I removed buttplate and..........

[Texas by God]

The way your luck is running you'll find some NOS .41 Swiss ammo so save that firing pin!

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[texasnative46]

Texas by God,

I wouldn't be shocked to learn, that as lucky as he is, that if he fell into a mud puddle, that he'd find a gold nugget.

yours, tex

[woodbutcher]

Or the Hope Diamond.
Good luck.have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Jack Stanley]

Or the Hope Diamond.
Good luck.have fun.Be safe.
Leo

Not sure that'd be a blessing . Look what it's done for the U.S since the Smithsonian has had it .

Jack

[artu44]

I haven't been 100%lucky: The cleaning rod is from an italian Vetterli!!!!!!!

[artu44]

Few pics

Bubba did centerfire conversion but I think I can repair this mess.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

They are beautifully made rifles, and while the Swiss might have done better by waiting a few development-packed years before ordering, they were desperately pressed by the need to make superior weapons technology cancel out a small population. Switzerland was surrounded by powerful and belligerent empires, and while it didn't really have the sort of land or moveables that were worth stealing, any of them who seized a route through Switzerland would be able to Pearl Harbor its real enemies.

The Vetterli does have an important advantage over the other tube-magazine bolt-actions, such as the Winchester-Hotchkiss and Kropatschek. A partly-emptied magazine can be topped up without immobilising the rifle for an instant. Another thing they got right was that rapid and sustained fire was more important in real-life war than the ultimate in long-range accuracy and trajectory. It is interesting to see how that rotating locking sleeve with the handle mutated into the longer and hidden one of the 1889 and 1911 Schmidt-Rubins and finally the almost full-length outer bolt body of the K31. That rifle has a pedigree.

[skeettx]

Wonderful
Good luck on the restoration
Where will you find boxer primed centerfire brass?
I made mine from 348 Winchester cases.
Mike

[artu44]

348 Win are difficult to find and quite expensive while Prvi Partizan 8x50R lebel brass are cheap and ubiquitous.