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Please ID this rifle.....

MPinkstonMPinkston Member Posts: 799 ✭✭✭✭
edited April 2004 in Ask the Experts
On the receiver is printed: Waffen Fabrik Bern M.78. S\N 196126. It has a side opening loading gate like a lever action but it is a bolt action. Cal. around 50 or so. All the numbers that I could find match. I found this at a pawn shop near my work. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

aguncollector@prodigy.net
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Comments

  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,045 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    shounds like a .41 swiss rim fire (they also made a c.f. version)
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  • bigtirebigtire Member Posts: 24,800
    edited November -1
    This certainly sounds like it is a Swiss 1878 Vetterli rifle. These were once very common on the surplus market, with like new examples selling for $9.95 (but that was in the 1960s when a new Volkswagen bug cost $1,300, and a new Mustang was less than $2,000 and a good house was about $25,000. The Vetterli was a major breakthrough in military rifle technology with its magazine fed bolt action. However, the cartridge used was a somewhat puny .41 caliber rimfire (European designation 10.4x38mmR- (this indicates a bullet diameter of 10.4mm, case length 38mm and having a rim). Collector ammo is available for these, but I don't think any has been made since about 1940, when even American makers were producing it. Large numbers of the Swiss rifles had been sold in America after they were replaced by Schmidt-Ruben straight pull rifles beginning in 1889. I have heard that you can convert the Vetterli rifles to use centerfire ammo, but do not know any details.
    78.jpg

    MOLON LABE!
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  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Click on this link.

    http://www.swissrifles.com/

    There is a menu on the left side of the page. Click on "VETTERLIS" , the follow pages go into great detail, incliding pictures, regarding the rifle, your posting about.

    luger_4.jpg
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  • richbugrichbug Member Posts: 3,650
    edited November -1
    I have one here that the numbers are about 5,000 away from yours. In decent shape, not shortened they are worth $150-300. I am currently working on producing some ammo for mine. Ballistics are similar to a 44 magnum, but using lower pressures and a larger case. Bore diameters run from .428-436".

    My border collie is smarter than your honor student.
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