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M1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadet Rifle, Type I & Type II
(Schweizerischer Gewehr Modell 1870, Type I für Kadetten)
This is a M1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadet Rifle, Type II
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
For a discussion of the Historical Context in which Switzerland found itself in the latter half of the 19the Century, please see: M1869 & M1869/71 Swiss Vetterlis.
DEVELOPMENT
The design and development of Switzerland’s various specialty Vetterli rifles naturally followed the design developments and evolution of the country’s primary infantry rifles. The earliest carbines were fielded not long after the rifles themselves began being manufactured. And the last stutzers and carbines were built only at the tail end of Vetterli manufacture. And while the rifles were withdrawn concurrently as the follow-on Schmidt-Rubin rifles were being fielded, some carbines continued to serve until nearly the dawn of the 20th century.
From Rudolf Schmidt, 1875 & 1878
The Swiss Vetterli Cadet rifle is a single-shot model authorized by the Eidgenössische Militärdepartment on November 22nd, 1870 to arm the Cadet Corps. It initially was made with both the one-piece stock and the rotating dust cover of the M1870 Italian Vetterli infantry rifle. However, it is considerably shorter and lighter than the Italian rifle, lacks a safety and, unlike any of the Italian rifles or short rifles, has an integrated nosecap barrel band-cleaning rod holder while the Italian rifles have a separate nosecap and front band, which retains the cleaning rod.
Cadet rifles were manufactured in two different series which are virtually identical, the Type I were originally fitted with and mounting a shortened but otherwise standard infantry rifle cleaning rod, the Type II dispensing with the dust cover and being supplied with a unique, specially issued cleaning rod with a smooth sided, slotted, bronze tip. (I speculate that cadets may not have been as careful with cleaning their bores as might otherwise be desirable.)
The Swiss Vetterli Cadet rifles were initially manufactured by SIG, but these rifles were not manufacturer marked. Thereafter Eidgenössische Montier- Werstätte, Bern, manufactured what seem to be the greatest number of such rifles and Waffenfabrik Bern building at least some number of them as well.
M1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadet Rifle, Type I & Type II
(Schweizerischer Gewehr Modell 1870, Type I für Kadetten)
Close-ups of a Type I Swiss M1870 Vetterli Cadet Rifle
(the small brass inlays on this highly collectible little rifle are “Bubba’s” contributions)
M1870 VETTERLI CADET RIFLE
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The M1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadet rifle is the most distinctive of all of the Swiss Vetterli family of rifles. The Cadet is the only Vetterli with a single piece stock, and that stock is without checkering of any kind. It is the only Swiss Vetterli that is a single shot, no magazine whatever, and, other than its diminutive size, bears a far closer and even striking similarity to its M1870 Italian Vetterli Infantry Rifle cousin than to its Swiss brothers.
Unfortunately, the two photos of the Type I Cadet rifle (Schweizerischer Gewehr Modell 1870, Type I für Kadetten) shown below are the only Type I Cadet rifle photos that we have been able to locate. All other photos in this section are of Type IIs. But note that the ONLY differences between the two types are the rotating receiver cover and the rifle-type steel-tip cleaning rod of the Type I. Otherwise the rifles are identical.
The action of the Vetterli Cadet rifle showing its small rear sight and fully rounded triggerguard
This cleaning rod is probably a replacement, but similar to what the Type I Cadet Rifle would have originally been equipped with
This Cadet Rifle was manufactured by Eidgenössische Montier- Werstätte, Bern
The single-shot chamber of the M1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadet rifle and its almost dainty upper receiver tang.
The M1870 Swiss Cadet was, like its concurrent m1869 7 m1869/71 infantry rifles also produced with gas vents in the receiver ring. But because of the single-shot nature of the rifle and its off-set feed/ejection port the gas vents are likewise off-set to the right.
The unique cleaning rod of the TYPE II Vetterli Cadet Carbine. All other Swiss Vetterlis used the standard steel-tipped cleaning rod, including the Type I Cadet rifle.
Lifted rear sight of the Vetterli Cadet Rifle showing ranging marks as well, if you look closely, the serial number on both the sight base and the back of the sight leaf.
Swiss Vetterli Cadet rifles were, like the M1869 & M1869/71 infantry rifles, finished with only the barrels and sights blued, the remainder finished bright (“in the white”)
MARKINGS
As the m1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadets are single shot, without the large box receiver of the rest of the Swiss Vetterli family, there is no large flat surface to accept manufacturing and serializing stamps. The Cadet is serialized and manufacture-market on the left flat of the barrel just below the rear sight.
Those Cadet Rifles that are not manufacturer marked are believed to have been produced by Schweizerichse Industry‑Gesellshaft in Neuhausen (SIG). Thereafter Eidgenössische Montier- Werstätte, Bern, (+ MW) manufactured what seem to be the greatest number of such rifles with Waffenfabrik Bern (+ WF) building at least some number of them as well. We do not know in what manner the serial numbers of such rifles might have been assigned.
Other than markings on the barrel receiver flat, like most all Swiss Vetterlis the serial number, in whole or last three digits, is carried on most all of the significant part of the rifle, including, on the receiver (bottom, beneath the stock), bolt, rear sights, barrel bands, nosecap and buttplate and stock.
The receiver is serialized below the wood stock
Even some screws are serialized. For whatever reason.
M1870 VETTERLI CADET SPECIFICATIONS, STATISTICS & DATA
for BOTH TYPE I & TYPE II
Overall Length: 1150 mm (45.25 in)
Weight, empty: 7.16 lbs
Barrel Length: 680 mm (26.75 in)
Rifling: 4-groove; RH, concentric
Sight: Quadrant sight, graduated 225 m to 600 m (655 yds)
BAYONET
Unlike so many other nations of the world at the time, neither Type I nor Type II M1870 Swiss Vetterli Cadet Rifles, were ever issued with bayonets, and no Cadet bayonets were produced by Switzerland for its Cadet Corps.
While the M1863 and M1871 bayonets will fit, the Cadet Rifle barrel diameters are slightly smaller than the diameters of any other Vetterlis, and such bayonets will wobble rather loosely and obviously. The cadets just did not get to play with bayonets; probably a good thing.
MANUFACTURING DATA
We have been unable to find any Manufacturing Data for the Swiss Vetterli Cadet rifles. Serial numbers we are aware of range from 1567 to 7255, but these are not meaningful without knowing the assignment of serial numbers to manufacturers. And a production run of 6,000 Cadet rifles sounds quite large. Production totals are currently, simply unknown to us.
ALL OF THE VETTERLI MODELS
This excellent and interesting chart by Jan van Gelderen lays out most of the official Federal Swiss Vetterli Models produced during the service life of Switzerland’s Vetterli firearms.
In addition to following links to other Swiss Vetterlis via the MilitaryRifles.com MAIN Index page / Switzerland, you can also navigate to other Swiss Vetterli pages directly from here:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Note that our data and observations were made much more readily comprehensible by the extensive research conducted and compiled by: www.swissrifles.com, the best source on the internet for Schweizerischer Gewehr information. After more than 25 years, still recommend.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
All manufacturing data referenced on this page is sourced either from direct examination of example Swiss Vetterli arms or from Handfeuerwaffen System Vetterli, Bewaffnung und Ausrustung der Schweizer Armee seif 1817, Verlag Stocker-Schmid, AG, Dietikon-Zurich, 1970.
Die Repetiergewehre der Schweiz Die Systeme Vetterli und Schmidt-Rubin, Reinhart, Christain. Kurt Sallaz. Michael am Rhyn, Verlag Stocker-Schmid, 1991 (ISBN 3727671025, 9783727671029. Our understanding is that this book recompiles information from Handfeuerwaffen System Vetterli, above and adds additional information, but we have not yet been able to acquire a copy.
Page Created 3/16/25
Page Updated 3/20/25