Original Item: Only One Available. The M1870 Vetterli was the Italian service rifle from 1870-1887. The M1870 was a single-shot bolt action rifle chambered for the 10.4mm Vetterli centrefire cartridge, at first loaded with black powder and later with smokeless powder. The M1870 was based upon the M1869 Swiss Vetterli but simplified for economy. Starting in 1887, all model 1870s were updated to the M1870/87 Italian Vetterli-Vitali variant, which has a 4 round magazine. Many were later converted to work with 6.5mm ammunition after 1915, so unconverted examples like this are hard to find. We have had many of the 6.5mm examples, but only a handful of examples like this.

Additionally, the rifle is really in great shape, looking to have had the metalwork fully restored at arsenal long ago. The stock also has lovely carved designs on the left side, with some going over to the right, which definitely shows a high level of artistry. This was definitely done post service, however as best we can tell this rifle never did see much use anyway. It's possible it was some type of sample kept at arsenal. Definitely some great research potential.

This example bears serial number D 4716 on the barrel nocks form and right side of the butt stock, and is offered in excellent condition. It is marked TORINO on the left side of the barrel, indicating manufacture in the Arsenal at the mountain city of Turin. There is a maker symbol on the top of the nocks form, but it is unfortunately not one that we recognize. There is no date on the left side of the barrel, as that area was ground down, but we think we can still see remains of possibly an 1873 date. We have previously had serial number "D 6786", which was dated 1873, and by the 1880s Torino marked guns were into double letter serial numbers. All production of Vetterli Rifles ceased by 1890, when it was replaced by the Carcano Rifle, so all Italian Vetterli rifles are definitively Pre-1899 Antique Firearms.

The stock is in great shape, showing a lovely color, and no major damage. There are still visible cartouches in many areas, such as one on the right side, which we assume was from when the rifle was updated with the Vitali magazine system. This is not a cartouche that we have seen before, and it reads:

This indicates that this rifle was "Repaired" at Artigiana Fabbrica D'Armi Terni (Artisan Weapons Factory Terni) in 1886. The "U" cypher is for King Umberto I of Italy, who reigned 1878 to 1900. This however seems to be a bit early for a Vitali magazine conversion, unless it was one of the very first done. As mentioned previously, the left side of the stock has some lovely carved designs, which are high relieve floral and vine shaped. They extend a bit onto the right side, and it looks like eventually the entire butt stock was going to be carved, however the process was interrupted.

The metalwork is overall lovely, showing strong bluing on the barrel, magazine, and other fittings, while the receiver shows a lovely polished steel patina. We do no see any peppering or rust issues at all. Mechanically it functions great, cycling correctly with a good dry fire, and is just a bit sticky due to dried grease in the action. The magazine cutoff ring is still present, and moves into place correctly, though we have no way of testing it. We checked the bore, and it is in excellent near mint condition, with a mirror bright finish and crisp lands and grooves. There is just the tiniest bit of wear, making this a truly exceptional bore for a gun from the era of black powder.

The rear sight is fully functional, with an intact adjustment button, and both sling swivels are still present. It has the original cleaning rod still present, which is in lovely condition, and still threads correctly into the stock. The unusual safety on the right side of the receiver is still present, and seems to work correctly.

Overall an excellent example of this somewhat rare and desirable weapon that definitely led an interesting life, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1873 - updated 1886.
Caliber: 10.4×47mmR
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 34 inches
Overall Length: 53 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 4 round magazine

History of the Vetterli Rifle

The 19th Century proved a critical one for the advancement of firearms. Up to this point, the flintlock muzzle-loading system was the adopted standard but all this changed with the advent of the percussion cap system and breech-loading configuration. Add to this the arrival of the self-contained cartridge and the gun of the late 1800s was a far cry from that of early part of the decade.

In Switzerland, Johann-Freidrich Vetterli had developed a new cartridge-based, breech-loading, bolt-action rifle that entered service with the Swiss Army in 1869 - the "Vetterli Rifle". This long gun was based around the 10.4x38mm Swiss cartridge, a rimfire cartridge with black powder content. The rifle went on to provide service from the period of 1869 to 1890 with some of the 36,700 units seeing combat service into World War 1 (1914-1918) on the side of the Russians.

The Italian Army, in search of a modern cartridge-based long gun themselves, adopted the Swiss gun a short time later and these came to be known as the Model 1870 "Italian Vetterli". The Italian model differed somewhat from its original Swiss design in that attention was paid to streamlining the product for Italian Army requirements. The rifle - once an 11-round tube-fed weapon - was reduced to just single-shot firing and rechambered for the 10.35x47mmR, a centerfire cartridge with black powder content. On the whole, the rifles maintained the same design form as the Swiss version with its long wooden stock, ornate trigger guard, and turn-down bolt handle. A large rear sighting assembly was an identifying feature of the Italian mark and a two-banded arrangement was seen on the long wooden body leading up to the muzzle.

In 1887, the rifle was upgraded with a four-round projecting magazine case for repeat-firing, this afforded much efficient use out of the bolt-action arrangement. The magazine was of a local design by Italian artillery Captain G. Vitali - his surname making it into the revised designation of Model 1870/87 "Italian Vetterli-Vitali". This magazine was fed by way of Mannlicher-style preloaded clips while still chambered for the 10.4x47R cartridge. The modified guns were appropriately marked along their butt stocks.

By the time of World War 1 (1914-1918), the Italian government - as with other world powers - found itself desperately short of many viable war-making products including service rifles. It committed to the war effort on the side of the Allies in 1915 and quickly scoured its stores for useful weapons of all types. This meant that the aged Model 1870s were still in play, numbering in the hundreds of thousands by this point. However, local conversions were forced upon the design in an attempt to produce a more modern end-product - chief of these changes being the conversion to the 6.5x52mm Carcano standard Italian rifle cartridge with smokeless powder content. The move also required new barrel lining and new magazine (Mannlicher type).

The 6.5mm Italian Vetterli guns were issued to second-line Italian Army regiments in the hope that these groups would not be pressed into serious combat action - but if they were they could carry with them a somewhat useful infantry rifle. This did not prove the norm on the whole however for the rifles did see direct combat action against the enemy during several of the Italian offensives of the war.

The Italian Vetterli was still in circulation throughout the inter-war period following and some even played a role in the Italian invasion of Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935-1936), the Italians claiming a decisive victory.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.