Fn Mauser Safety Left Side
bears against first one and then the other when in opened or closed position, holding the operating rod ready for forward or rearward thrust.
A dovetailed stud on the left side of the operating rod travels in the undercut groove on the bolt cap; while the rib travels in a slot between the main receiver cylinder (in which the bolt mechanism travels) and the secondary receiver cylinder on the right (in which the operating rod travels).
The operating rod stud working in the helical groove in the locking sleeve provides the means of revolving that element. The stud passes into the bolt cylinder through a slot and rests ahead of the forward section of the striker.
The bolt stop holds the bolt mechanism in place. As the operating rod is pulled back, the point on the bolt stop locks into the front end of the groove in the operating rod. A thumb piece is provided to depress this point to permit the bolt to be withdrawn.
The extractor is a plain flat spring type with front claw which projects beyond the face of the bolt, ft is locked into the bolt cylinder by means of a stud having a circular stem and an oval head, which can be locked into place by starting the extractor at right angles into the bolt cylinder, then turning the extractor parallel with the bolt.
The ejector passes through the left side of the receiver, where it is secured by a screw. It is a pin having a broad head and a Hat point. It does not move.
The striker is a two-part unit. The firing pin is at the forward end of the front section. A button at the end of the rear section fits into a recess in the forward part. 1'he striker cocking stud, which works in the slot in the bolt cap, is on the underside of the rear striker section. A ring at the end of the rear striker section projects from the rear of the bolt cap and can be used to pull the striker back. Turning it operates the safety.
The sear pivots on a pin in a slot cut in a projection bclowr the receiver. A
M1889 Swiss Service Rifle boll. Note that position oj lugs and shape of cam slot in boll as well as operating handle details differ from later pattern.
spiral spring raises the sear nose, passing it through a cut in the bottom of the receiver into the groove where the striker stud travels.
The trigger is a simple element pivoted on a pin in a fork at the rear of the scar.
The magazine is a detachable steel box strengthened by a steel strap which is brazed on. Two openings are provided in the bottom at each side to permit escape of rain or water from melting snow.
The top edges of the magazine are slightly folded in to retain the double column of 3 cartridges each. The magazine follower is bent to raise one side just enough above the other to insure the feeding of cartridges from alternate sides, one at a time. A zigzag wire spring provides the motive power for elevating the follower.
The magazine is designed to be loaded either with single cartridges pressed down in standard fashion, or from a special clip. This clip is of papier maché. Its bottom edges have a tinned strip of iron with two tongues 011 either side bent over to retain the cartridges firmly in the clip. (This is a modification of a very early American clip, the Russell-Livermore.)
This clip is placed vertically over the exposed magazine with its mouth downwards. There is a wide slot in the papier maché section of the clip to permit passage of the thumb between the front and rear sections of the clip, as the thumb forces the cartridges down from above into the magazine.
The triggerguard in this design is very long. The forward end of the true triggerguard screws to a guard extension at the front, while its rear is fastened with a long screw passing through the stock into the tang. Two screws passing through the guard into projections in the receiver fasten the guard, the receiver and the stock together.
The stork is a one piece design, having finger grooves for gripping. The bed of the rear sight is screwed to the barrel. It is in the form of a ring which encircles the barrel.
Operation
Opening the Bolt: This rifle is operated by drawing stiaight back on the operating handle, to unlock, extract, eject with one direct pull.
While in theory this action can be operated more rapidly than a turning bolt design, in field use the difference in extracting power of the two designs very often upsets the theory involved. Furthermore, while the lock to the rear of the magazine well is entirely adequate for the cartridge used, it does not compare in strength with the Mauser or turning bolt Mannlicher either for strength of breech support, for certainty of primary extraction, or for bolt closing.
The initial pull on the operating handle draws the operating rod back in its travel cylinder parallel with the bolt in the main receiver cylinder.
As the rod starts back, its unlocking stud travels in the straight section of the locking sleeve in which it is engaged, hence there is no unlocking motion of the bolt assembly at this point.
However, the pull stud on the rod now engages the cocking stud of the striker and starts to draw it back, thus pulling its point free from the primer of the cartridge case in the chamber and back inside the bolt cylinder. The projection in the operating rod groove pushes down the projecting point of the bolt stop.
Comparison of Swiss Service Ripe Cat. 7.5mm. Model II, and Swiss .22 Trainer, actions open. This trainer is also manufactured commer-cially for match .shooting by JHdmmerli in Switzerland.
As the rearward travel of the operating rod continues, its pull stud is com pelted to move in a straight line, since its rib is travelling in a slot between the two parallel cylinders bored in the receiver. When this stud emerges from the straight cut in the bolt locking sleeve and hits the curved scction, it provides a cam action which compels the locking sleeve to rotate. The locking lugs on the sleeve are thus turned out of their rccesses in the receiver, and enter the diagonal grooves which connec the locking recesses with the longitudinal lug travel grooves.
Since both the lugs and their recesses are cut to a screw pitch, the opening action forces the entire bolt assembly back about .0625 inch to start the cartridge from the chamber, effecting a comparatively weak primary extraction. (The extraction results from a straight pull, and does not have the advantage of the leverage found in the turning bolt designs.)
At this point the pull stud on the operating rod is at the rear of the slot in the locking sleeve and has completely withdrawn the striker.
The locking lugs enter the longitudinal grooves after passing out of the diagonal grooves and completing rotation of the locking sleeve. The sleeve recess is now forward of the cocking stud. This action is brought about when the mainspring forcing against the head of the striker pushes against the stud. The stud is then in position to drive the bolt assembly forward.
The projection in the operating rod groove now forces the point of the bolt stop down until it hits the end of its groove and halts the rearward motion of the bolt assembly. The operating rod is held parallel with the bolt by the dovetailed stud on the rod which works in the groove in the bolt cap.
The magazine spring pushing against the follower feeds the cartridges up, the top one being lined up for chamber feeding.
Closing the Bolt: When the handle of the operating rod is pushed ahead, the projection in its groove forces the bolt stop down and permits the entire bolt mechanism to be thrust ahead.
The bolt face hits the top cartridge ready to be fed and starts it towards the chamber. When the bolt proper reaches its forward position against the head of the cartridge case, the spring extractor claw snaps into the cannelure around the head of the cartridge.
The lugs pass out of their longitudinal travel grooves in the receiver and enter their diagonal rotating grooves which start the turning motion of the locking sleeve. The sleeve rotates enough to let the stud on the rod leave its sleeve recess. The action is not yet locked however.
As the bolt cap flange nears the receiver bridge, the sear nose catches the striker stud. Since the sear nose holds the striker firmly, the mainspring is compressed by the final thrust. At this point the bolt sleeve lugs have reached the entrances to their recesses in the receiver.
The final thrusting motion causes the straight moving operating rod stud to travel along the helical cam groove in the bolt sleeve. Since the stud does not turn, the sleeve must, thereby rotating the sleeve to bring the locking lugs on it firmly into their receiver recesses. The point of the bolt stop is forced up behind the projection in the groove of the operating rod, thereby preventing the rod from slipping to the rear.
A large ring at the rear of the striker projects from the rear of the bolt cap.
This forms a grip for the fingers. Pulling this back draws the striker back to cock the action without opening or unlocking it. This is of value in case of a misfire.
This ring device also acts as a manual safety. When the ring is pulled back and twisted to the left, it pulls the striker (of which it is a part) back with it; and the turning motion twists the striker cocking stud until it enters the safety slot provided for it. This prevents the striker from going forward to fire the cartridge and also prevents the bolt assembly from being pulled to the rear, since the rear face of this stud is caught in a shoulder in the groove and also in the bolt cap.
No magazine cutoff is provided in this design.
7.5mm M31 Carbine
The Model 31 has an action which is considerably altered from the Model 1911. Rather than having a long bolt body and a shorter locking sleeve encircling the bolt body which mounts the locking lugs, as on the Mi889 and M1911 actions, the Model 31 action uses the short bolt sleeve section as the bolt. The
Swiss 7.5mm Model JI Carbine 'k'li).
bolt on the Model 31 has its locking lugs mounted at the front and is only a bit over half as long as the Model 1911 bolt. The Model 31 is a much stronger and better weapon than the earlier rifles because of its modernized bolt. The locking lugs, being fron rally placed, provide a stronger action. Since the bolt is shorter, the receiver is also shorter and the M31 as a result has a barrel about 2.5 inches longer than the Model 1911 carbine although its overall length is about 1 he same. This shortening of the bolt has also allowed placing of the magazine just forward of the trigger guard 011 the M31 instead of being far forward as on the older rifles.
Swiss Roll Action Service Rifles 1889-1931 7.5mm Ml889. First of the Schmidt Rubin straight pull rifles. It has a long staggered row magazine and the bolt sleeve has its locking lugs mounted toward the rear. This is not a particularly strong action.
Swiss 7.5mm Ml889 Schmidt Rubin Rifle.
7.5mm Ml 889/1896. In this weapon the 1889 action was shortened slightly and the lug system was strengthened.
7.5mm Ml895 Carbine. This is a Mannlicher straight-pull weapon and did not last long in Swiss service. Only about 4000 were made by SIC* at Ncuhausen for the Swiss government.
Swiss :\ 19) Mannlicher Cavalry Carbine. Only a jew were made.
7.5mm M97 Cadet Riile. A single shot version of the Mi889/96. 7.5mm M1889/1906. A short rifle designed lor the use of fortress artillery, signal, balloon, and bicyclc troops. This weapon weighs about seven pounds.
7.5mm Ml965 Carbine. Same action as M1889/96 riile, weighs about 7.5 pounds.
Schmidt Rubin Units. Left: MISS9 with locking lugs at rear oj sleeve. Center: At 1911 with locking lugs at front of sleeve. Right: V/>/ with locking lugs at front of bolt.
7.5mm M19I1 Rifle, f irst Schmidt Rubin specifically buili to lake the high pressure Mil cartridge. The action is stronger than the earlier actions, having the lot king lugs mounted at the front of the bolt sleeve. The M1911 also has a bolt holding open device.
7.5mm M1889/11. A conversion of the M1889/96 rifle to make it suitable for use with the Model 1 1 cartridge. Some of the earlier carbines were also converted.
7.5mm M1911 Carbine. Short version of the M1911 rifle. Its sight is graduated to 1500 meters rather than 2000 meters as on the rifle. This weapon is used as a reserve weapon in Switzerland at present.
7.5111111 M1931 Carbine. (Covered above.)
Swiss 7.5mm Model >1/42 Sniper Rifle.
l ine of Telescope on Model 31/42 Sniper Rifle.
7.5mm M1931/42 Carbine. Sniper version of the M31, having a 1.8 power scope permanently attached to the left side of the receiver. The head of the scope is movable and can be moved up when in use or folded down against the side of the carbine when not in use.
7.5mm M1931/43 Carbine. Same as M1931/42 but scope is 2.8 power.
7.5mm M1931/55 Sniper Rifle. The 7.5mm M1931 carbine with muzzle brake, bipod, shortened sporter type stock with very lull pistol grip, and sporting type scope mounted on top of the receiver.
.SU'Ijjr 1mm Model IQJI/55 Sniper Rifle. Ike telescope is a 5.5 power hunting type.
Characteristics of the Significant Schmidt Rubins
Caliber:
Land Diameter: Weight:
Length, Overall: Barrel Length: Magazine:
295"
Ihs.
Mlq11 Rifle
7.54 mm
6 rd. detachable Ixjx
12 rd. detachable lx>x
Chamber pressure: 38,(00 p.s.i. Muzzle Velocity: 2033 f.p.s.
Mijjii Carbine 7.54111111 .-96«" S.(> Iks.
4SI"
6-rd. detachable box
Mi931 Carbine 7.51mm .295(1" 8.83 lbs.
6-rd. detachable box
Swiss 7.5mm Ammunition
The 7.5mm Model 90 cartridge was loaded with semi-smokeless powder and had a long, round-nosed, hollow-based, paper-patched, lead bullet. This round was soon replaced by the Model 90/03; this cartridge has a paper patched, steel capped bullet. The 90/23 cartridge, the next of the series, is loaded with 34 grains of smokeless powder and has a copper or steel jacketed bullet. This is the only one currently available from Switzerland which should be used with the early Schmidt Rubin models i.e. those prior to the M 189(1/11. The 7.5mm Model 11 is the current Swiss service cartridge—it should not be used in the older Swiss rifles! This cartridge has a boat-tailed, nickel steel-clad, jacketed bullet. The Swiss 7.5mm cartridge may be seen referred to as the 7.45mm, 7.54, or 7.51 Swiss.
Swiss Sporting Arms
The Swiss themselves have never engaged extensively in the field of sporting small arms manufactures for export. The Societe Industricllc Suisse of Neu-hausen manufactured submachine guns for export. In general however, very-
few small arms of Swiss manufacture ever leave that country. Even the elemen-
tary Schmidt-Rubin Army rifle was essentially a collector's item outside of Switzerland.
So called "Swiss Mausers" are actually rifles built usually on Belgian F. N. actions barreled and stocked in Switzerland. Instead of the conventional Mauser cocking piece and safety, these are often made with a modified cocking piece
Left side view of H ii mm rrl i ■ M a user anion. \:ote that the boll plug and safety differ from the standard Mauser design. The safety works on the Mauser principle, but does not lock the bolt down. Current Czech rifles are copying this bolt plug and safety.
Upper picture Swiss IlammerU-Afauserf superior sporting rifle built on F.X. [Belgian) action in Switzerland. l.ower picture shows a typical Hammerh sporting bolt action .22. Hdmmerli rifles are famous for fine construction.
carrying a low mounted modification of the Mauser safety on the left side to permit use of low telescope sight.
These rifles are made up in many calibers, since they are essentially built-up custom rifles. The favorite stock reaches below the barrel to the muzzle. These rifles are high priced even for the amount of hand work they entail.
The Swiss single shot .22 trainer is almost a duplicate in appearance and external characteristics of the Service Rifle. It is straight pull, but has a simplified locking system. It is one of the finest .22 precision rifles made, though again the price is high.
Some of the finest block action single shot rifles ever designed for target work have been built by custom gunmakers in Switzerland. Arms of this type vary so much in caliber and design that it is impossible to classify them for practical purposes. As a class they are merely modifications of the so-called Martini-Henry, Aydt and Sharps block actions, operated by levers of varying designs.
Hammerli currently manufactures several first-class match rifles. These weapons are exported to the United States and have been used fairly extensively in free matches in this country. The Hammerli Tanner 300 meter match rifle is a heavy single-shot free rifle with thumb-hole type stock, adjustable hook type butt plate, and palm rest. This bolt action rifle can be obtained in any of the common calibers used in the Olympic 300 meter match. The Model 503 and 504
Swiss Hammerli caliber .22 Model 503 Match Rifle.
are .22 caliber match rifles. They differ only in triggers, the 504 having a 5 lever set trigger which has a finer adjustment than the 503. These rifles weigh 15.5 pounds, are 49.5 inches long and have a 27.5 inch barrel. These rifles are, of course, fitted with micrometer rear sights and "tunnel" type front sights.
The Model 506 is another .22 Long Rifle Match Rifle made by Hammerli. The 506 has a differently shaped stock than the Model 503 and Model 504. Hammerli also manufactures a 300 meter match rifle called the "National" which uses the Swiss Model 31 service rifle action. The "National" is chambered for the 7.5mm Swiss service cartridge.
In the line of cheaper rifles, Hammerli manufactures two "Flobert" models. These are lightweight bolt-action rifles chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. One model is single-shot and the other model has a box magazine.
Common single shot calibers for target work are .22 long rifle, 22 extra long and 7.5mm Swiss.
Large numbers of early Schmidt-Rubin rifles, particularly the 1889 through 1911 patterns have been converted to handle 22 caliber extra long ammunition.
These are extensively used as training rifles.
Swiss manufactured and Swiss assembled rifles are imported here by Firearms International Corp. of Washington, D. C.
Hdmmerli-National 73mm 300 meter Match Rific.
HammerU'Tanner 300 meter Match Ripe.
Hammerli Cat. .22 Model 506 Match Rifle.
EARLIER BREECHLOADERS: In 1867 Switzerland equipped some of her troops with the Amsler. This was a lifting block, exposed hammer conversion design along the general lines of the familiar American Single Shot Springfield. This rifle was followed by a line of Vettcrli Rilles.
F. Vetterli, Director of the Ncuhausen arms works recognized the inherent value of the bolt action for military service. He combined the idea of the turning bolt action with an adaptation of the Henry-Winchester principle of a tube below the barrel serving as a cartridge magazine. His initial repeating rifle was ready in 1869, the Swiss Confederation having voted on the adoption of such a system in 1868. In 1870 a single shot version of the Vetterli for the .41 Rim Fire Swiss cartridge was introduced. An improved version of the repeating rifle was developed in 1871 and a Cadet in 1878. The final modification was known as the 1881. This rifle was the standard of the Swiss forces until the official adoption of the straight pull Schmidt-Rubin in 1889 for a new small bore cartridge, the 7.5mm.
The Vetterli Model 1881
This rifle is a turning bolt action repeating rifle with a magazine tube in the fore-end. The magazine capacity is 11 cartridges, plus one in the elevating cage. The bolt is locked by lugs to the rear of the boltway in the receiver. The magazine is loaded through a right side opening in the receiver. This opening is covered by a sliding hinged plate. The rifle is loaded as in the case of the Winchester, except that this side plate cover is moved aside to expose the loading opening. Cartridges are thrust in bullet first to compress the magazine spring by forcing the follower ahead in the hollow magazine tube.
The Vetterli repeater was officially adopted in 1881. It carries 11 cartridges in the tube, one in the carrier or elevating cage, and a 13th in the chamber.
Large quantities of these rifles were sold here early in the century by Bannerman of N. Y. after the Swiss had discarded the model. Thousands are still in use on American farms.
Swiss Model 1869-81 Vetterli
Caliber: 10.4mm R.F.
Overall length, rifle without bayonet: 52"
Overall weight, rifle without bayonet: g.75 lbs.
Type of action: Turnholt
Type of Magazine: Tubular
Barrel Length: 33.2" No. Grooves: 4
Bore Diameter: .4095" Groove Dia.: .4273"
With bayonet attached: 70.2" With bayonet attached: 11.62 lbs. Type of Bolt: l ugs at rear Cupacity: 12
Direction of Twist: Right Rate of Twist: 26"
Notes:
1. When the Swiss Army discarded this rifle huge quantities were sold to U. S. dealers. Many were converted to 5-shot sportcrs by shortening the forc-cnd and the magazine tube.
Swiss Cal. 75mm Model 11 Cartridge
Other Names: 7.5111m Schmidt-Rubin
Type: Rimless, Necked, Center fire
Overall Length: 3.05"
Average Wt.: 404 gr.
Type Powder: Nitrocellulose
Approximate Chg.: 49.3 gr.
Type Primer: Berdan
BULLET Type: Jacketed, Pointed Diameter: .3086" Weight: 174 gr. Length: 1.37"
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