Swiss Vetterli Rifle Model 1881

Bolt action

33.2 inch round barrel

Twelve shot magazine

10.4mm Swiss Rimfire caliber (Obsolete, no licence needed).

Made from 1881 to 1887.

Superb original Bolt action Vetterli, all original parts and most of the original finish on the gun, infact over 95% of the original blue. There is no pitting anywhere on the gun, it is a real top example of this model.

Every single part on this gun has matching numbers (215756) including the reciver, bolt, barrel, butt plate, action, bayonet band. Original sling swivels and original ramrod. Plus original rear 'Snail' sight ranged upto 1600 meters!

All marking are crisp and like new including the Swiss army stock cartouche. The wood is also excellent with no chips and just a few handling marks, superb for a military issue rifle.

The action works excellent on this rifle and the bore is absolutly as new, it is shiney with crisp rifling, looks un-shot. My picture does not do it justice.

The 1881 model Vetterli was the last of the bolt action line to be made before the M1889 pull action models. They where the smootest of the bolt actions and where only made at the Bern factory and only 16000 where made of all types, which is not a large number for a military rifle. The last and best of the bolt actions that was based on the Winchester 1873 action but was bolt action instead of lever action.

These rifles are also very popular in the USA and have been for many years as hunting wepons, the Vetterli rifles have a much flatter bullet trajectory than other military rifles of the same era so made fine sporting rifles. They where also the only military rifle made in a rimfire caliber but they where also available in Europe as a sporting center fire, many these days are being converted to centerfire for shooting, the gun is in an obsolete caliber whether it is centerfire or original rimfire so either can be collected.

Many thanks for looking, any questions are welcome.