Product Description
Rare Swiss private series 1889/96 infantry rifle in very good condition with 85% original finish. 3/5 Bore. 1/5 Stock. Stock and handguard matching serial numbers. Bolt matching serial number. Magazine matching serial number. Bore is bright but rifling is worn. Tiger striping seen on the rear of the stock. Furniture has various small pressure marks throughout. On the left side of the stock is a series of heavy pressure marks below the receiver. There is also small fracture on the the grip, below and to the left of the receiver tang, which has not been repaired. Receiver has dark bluing but there is light pitting present from previous rust that had been cleaned off. Both barrel bands have good bluing. Both have wear on the right side at the screw, and the front barrel band has finish wear on the left side at the hinge. Trigger plate bluing is thinning. Trigger guard has light edge wear. Magazine finish is thinning with patina. Includes muzzle cover and non-military woven leather sling.
Behind the butt plate, the stock is stamped with "4 97" indicating a manufacture date of April 1897. The underside of the barrel is stamped with "H&H A86", indicating the barrel was manufactured by Hammerli [& Hausch].
Antique; no import engraving.
This rifle at first glance is easily confused with the original 1889 infantry rifle, and looking at the bolt, it may be mistaken as an 1896/11. This is one of the few remaining 1889/96 rifles that were not converted to the 96/11. Note the lack of pistol grip on the stock that was found beginning with the 96/11, as well as the presence of the original 12rd magazine, magazine cut-off lever. The bolt was updated, with the help of Col. Vogelsang, and the bolt sleeve was shortened and the bolt lugs moved forward. This design continued with the 96/11. The receiver is 20mm shorter at the rear, compared to the original 1889 rifle. It is still chambered in GP90 as this was produced prior to the development of GP11 ammunition, so please do not attempt to use GP11 ammunition with this rifle.
Note: Magazine capacity is greater than 10 rounds.