Product Description
This Vetterli model 1878/81 is in very good condition with 93% bluing. 4/5 Bore, 5/5 Stock. Stock and handguard are non-serialized but the Swiss acceptance stamp is still found in the wood. Bolt matches serial number. Bluing is very dark. Discoloration on butt plate, which is typical as this is iron instead of blued steel. Left side of the receiver is engraved with the Waffenfabrik Bern manufacturing mark, the serial number, and "M.78". Furniture has some light handling marks and small dents sparsely scattered throughout. Patina on cleaning rod and the rear barrel band spring. Includes leather sling and a bayonet. Antique; no import engraving.
Included bayonet is a Model 1887 Sawback Bayonet and includes a leather scabbard and leather frog. Bayonet is non-serialized. The 1887 bayonet's noted difference between it and the model 1881 sawback bayonet is that the grips are installed using three rivets instead of four.
The Vetterli model 1878/81 is a factory modified model 1878 to update these older rifles to reflect the upgrades made with the Vetterli model 1881. Cast iron components were replaced for steel and the rear sight was updated.
The Vetterli is a Swiss army service rifle, in service from 1869 to 1889. Swiss Vetterli rifles combined the American Winchester Model 1866's tubular magazine with a regular bolt featuring, for the first time, two opposed rear locking lugs. This novel type of bolt made the Vetterli the first repeating bolt-action rifle to feature a self-cocking action and a small caliber bore. Vetterli rifles were the most advanced military rifles in Europe, at the time of their introduction.