MINT BORE**MATCHING NUMBERS INCLUDING BOLT**Swiss Military Waffenfabrik Bern Vetterli M78 (Model 1878) 10.4 x 42mm Obsolete Calibre Bolt Action Rifle With Tube Magazine. A 1093 Bolt Action 11 mm Rifles

**MINT BORE**MATCHING NUMBERS INCLUDING BOLT**Swiss Military Waffenfabrik Bern Vetterli M78 (Model 1878) 10.4 x 42mm Obsolete Calibre Bolt Action Rifle With Tube Magazine. A 1093 - A 1093

The Vetterli rifles were a series of Swiss army service rifles in use from 1869 to circa 1890, when they were replaced with Schmidt-Rubin rifles. Modified Vetterli rifles were also used by the Italian Army. The Swiss Vetterli rifles had the American M1866 Winchester rifle's type tubular magazine & Henry type lifter. Designed by Frederic Vetterli who worked for the famous Swiss arms company SIG, these rifles were the 1st repeating bolt action rifles in the world to be adopted by a National army. Due to the Swiss Federal Council's early 1866 decision to equip the army with a breech loading repeating rifle, the Vetterli rifles were, at the time of their introduction, the most advanced military rifles in Europe. This is an excellent M78 Vetterli bolt action rifle in 10.4x42 mm UK obsolete calibre. The regulation steel metal work has even patina with much original blue finish. The metal has several inspection marks. It has all original, wood furniture in excellent condition with just very light bumps and bruises to be expected with age. The stock is stamped with military ‘Swiss Cross’ mark cartouche. The action is signed by the maker Waffenfabrik Bern, model designation 'M78’, Swiss Cross mark & serial number ‘177494’ which is repeated on the barrel, underside of the action, butt plate tang & bolt. It has an adjustable tangent wedge rear sight graduated to 1600 M, block & blade foresight, sling swivels, spurred trigger guard, bulbous striker cover, steel butt plate and original cleaning rod. The rifle is 52” overall length with a 33” barrel. The barrel’s bore is near mint, clean & bright with well defined rifling. The loading & firing actions are crisp. The price for this excellent Vetterli includes UK delivery. NB As an obsolete calibre antique rifle no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. A 1093

£925.00