Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Swiss Model 1871 Vetterli repeating infantry rifle in 10.4mm Swiss Rimfire, manufactured by the uncommon private contractor Valentin Sauerbrey of Basel. Serial number 107828 is present on the receiver, barrel, butt stock, and faintly on the fore end, giving this example a particularly desirable group of matching numbered components. It retains the early under barrel tubular magazine system, double sided rimfire firing pin, two receiver gas escape holes, and early pattern rear sight.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Introduced in 1867, the Vetterli rifle system utilized the "Winchester" tube magazine system for cartridge storage under the barrel. The original 1867 model had an external hammer, like a Winchester, but in 1868 this was changed to an internal cocking bolt spring. The cleaning rod was moved to the side of the rifle, but this proved problematic, so the model of 1869 moved it back to the under barrel position. In 1871, the loading gate cover on the right side of the receiver and the magazine cutoff on the left side were deemed to be redundant, so a new Model 1871 was introduced without them, and many existing Model 1869 rifles had them removed. It also featured strengthened barrel rings and a much thicker and sturdier rear sight leaf.

This rifle is marked on the left side of the receiver:

V. SAUERBREY
IN BASEL
107828

Valentin Sauerbrey was a Basel gunmaker involved in Swiss ordnance work before establishment of the federal arms factory at Bern. Surviving records indicate that approximately 5,000 Model 1869/71 and Model 1871 Vetterli rifles were produced or assembled under Sauerbrey at the Basel arsenal, making his marked rifles a distinctly less common contractor variation.

The matching serial number:

107828

is found on the receiver beneath the maker marking, at the chamber end of the barrel, on the right side of the butt stock, and faintly on the right side of the fore end. There is also a 28 stamped onto the right side of the nose cap, however the bolt is marked with 3817 on the left side, with 17 on the cocking handle, so it is non-matching. Additional Swiss inspection and proof markings are present on various metal and wood components.

The receiver retains the two gas escape holes characteristic of the earlier production configuration. The rifle is also fitted with an early rear sight graduated to 1,000 Schritt. These features are consistent with an early contractor produced Vetterli predating the simplified rifles manufactured at the federal factory in Bern beginning in the mid 1870s.

Production of the early Vetterli rifles was divided among several private contractors. In 1875 the Swiss federal government established the Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik at Bern to increase and standardize arms production. Subsequent Vetterli developments led to the Model 1878 and Model 1881, both of which continued to use the characteristic under barrel tubular magazine before the Vetterli family was ultimately superseded by the Schmidt-Rubin system.

Overall condition is very good for a service used early repeating rifle. The metalwork shows an even combination of staining, age patina, and areas of old oxidation, which have been left largely intact rather than aggressively cleaned. The rear sight remains present and operates correctly. The cleaning rod is missing, and both sling swivels have been removed. The former swivel inlet on the underside of the butt stock has been filled.

The bolt action cycles correctly in its present condition, though a firm rearward pull is required to operate the cartridge elevator and ejector mechanism. The original double sided rimfire firing pin remains present and moves correctly. The magazine feeding system has not been tested, so no representation is made regarding its ability to feed cartridges. These observations describe only the rifle’s present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that it is safe to load or fire.

The bore retains visible rifling, with portions still showing some brightness, but is predominantly dark from substantial old fouling and oxidation. There are areas of previous peppering and pitting, consistent with considerable use and incomplete cleaning during its service life.

The stocks remain in very good overall condition with expected dents, handling wear, and staining adjacent to the metal fittings. There is evidence of past cleaning, particularly on the left side of the butt stock, where the wood is noticeably lighter. Some attractive flame figuring is visible in this area.

With its uncommon V. SAUERBREY / IN BASEL contractor marking, matching serial number 107828 on multiple major components, early receiver features, tubular magazine system, surviving double sided rimfire firing pin, and substantial original service character, this is an appealing example of the early Swiss Vetterli repeating rifle. The missing cleaning rod and sling swivels, filled stock inlet, dark fouled bore, oxidation, pitting, and evidence of past stock cleaning are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Swiss military rifle, early bolt action repeater, Valentin Sauerbrey, European service arm, or advanced 19th century firearms collection.

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: 1871-1874
Maker: Valentin Sauerbrey
Model: Repetiergewehr M1871
Serial No.: 107828
Caliber: 10.4×38mm Swiss
Cartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 inches
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 11 round internal tubular magazine
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

History of the 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 with a regular bolt featuring for the first time two opposed rear locking lugs. This novel type of bolt was a major improvement over the simpler Dreyse and Chassepot bolt actions. The Vetterli was also the first repeating bolt action rifle to feature a self-cocking action and a small caliber bore. 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 Amsler-Milbank rifles, which were a metallic cartridge conversion from previous Swiss muzzle-loading rifles.

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.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.