In a discussion of lever action rifles, I recently referred to the difficulties encountered by an early settler (Jules Sandoz, known as "Old Jules") that resulted from the high trajectory of his .41 Vetterli rifle. The story had been told by his daughter Mari (I incorrectly referred to her as Marie) in her biography of her father. I said that Mari referred to the rifle as a single shot Vetterli
It was correctly pointed out by someone else that Vetterlis were repeaters.
I have confirmed two things: Mari did write about a single shot Vetterli, and there was such a gun. I dug out my old copy of The Book of Rifles by W.H.B. Smith and Joseph E. Smith. Here's the scoop:
So much for Swiss rifle trivia. I didn't want to continue to take the other thread off course.
By the way, I remember seeing .41 Vetterli rim fire cartridges for sale in green Remington boxes. Probably made before WWII.
It was correctly pointed out by someone else that Vetterlis were repeaters.
I have confirmed two things: Mari did write about a single shot Vetterli, and there was such a gun. I dug out my old copy of The Book of Rifles by W.H.B. Smith and Joseph E. Smith. Here's the scoop:
- F. Vetterli combined the turn-bolt design with an adaptation of the Henry-Winchester tubular magazine; the rifle was approved for adoption by the Swiss in 1868 and was ready in 1869.
- In 1870 a single shot version was introduced.
- An improved version of the repeater came out in 1871.
- The final version was the 1881, which was the Swiss standard rifle until the first Schmidt-Rubin model came out
So much for Swiss rifle trivia. I didn't want to continue to take the other thread off course.
By the way, I remember seeing .41 Vetterli rim fire cartridges for sale in green Remington boxes. Probably made before WWII.
