Vetterli Rifle
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 combined the American Winchester Model 1866's tubular magazine and a bolt system derived from the German Dreyse needle gun. They were also the first repeating rifle to feature a self-cocking action and a small caliber. Due to the Swiss Federal Council's early 1866 decision to equip the army with a breechloading repeating rifle, the Vetterli rifles were, at the time of their introduction, the most advanced military rifles in Europe. The Vetterli was the replacement for Milbank-Amsler rifles, which were a metallic cartridge conversion from previous muzzle loading rifles.
Read more about Vetterli Rifle: Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1867, Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1868, Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1869, 69/71, Repetiergewehr Vetterli, Modell 1871, Repetierstutzer Vetterli, Modell 1871, Kavallerie-Repetierkarabiner Vetterli, Modell 1871, Repetiergewehr and -stutzer Vetterli, Modell 1878 and 1881, M1870 Italian Vetterli
Famous quotes containing the word rifle:
“At Hayes’ General Store, west of the cemetery, hangs an old army rifle, used by a discouraged Civil War veteran to end his earthly troubles. The grocer took the rifle as payment ‘on account.’”
—Administration for the State of Con, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)