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Military Rifles in the Age of Transition
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Swiss Vetterli Short Rifles
(Stutzers)
Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1871
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
For a discussion of the Historical Context in which Switzerland found itself in the latter half of the 19th 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 very 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 And while the rifles were withdrawn concurrently as the follow-on Schmidt-Rubin rifles were being fielded, some carbines continued to serve until nearly the dawn of the 20th century.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 Die Handfeuerwaffen, Schmidt, Rudolf, 1875, 1968 Note the depictions of the M1871 Repetiergewehr and cut-away of a M1871 Repetierstutzer as well as tools and accoutrements
GENERALLY
Marksmanship (the Stutzers) and utility (the Carbines) seem to have been the driving considerations in regard to Switzerland’s various specialty rifles. While most major countries also fielded lighter and smaller versions of their rifles for cadet use in military school settings, Switzerland, already committed to overall infantry marksmanship, is perhaps one of the only countries in the 19th century to have developed rifles specifically for warfare use by marksmen. Their variety of carbines also attests to the multiplicity of special uses that they expected the bearers of these arms to engage in.
In addition to the several (3 to 5, depending upon how you count) Swiss Vetterli infantry rifles produced between 1869 and 1887 (see M1869 & M1869/71 Vetterli Rifles and also see M1878 & M1881 Vetterli Rifles), the Swiss also manufactured three Stutzer rifles detailed in this page, about 6 to 7, maybe 8, Vetterli carbines (again how one counts, see: M1870 to M1895 Vetterli Carbines) and two slightly different models of M1870 Vetterli Cadet Rifles.
Each of these will be discussed chronologically in more detail below, but you can skip directly to any particular model by using the links in this list.
But take note, many of the carbines are particularly difficult to identify with certainty as they were produced in very small number, so there are few exemplars, and many if not most seem to have been modified in service, rendering identification frustrating!
Swiss Vetterli Stutzer Rifles
M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer (Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1871)
M1878 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer (Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1878)
M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer (Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1881)
M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer Rifle
(Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1871)
M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer Short Rifle
The Swiss, a small country with a small but fiercely independent population, has always prized their marksmanship an excellent sign of martial competence together with their independence. Indeed, if you are at all familiar with William Tell, one of Switzerland’s most famous legendary heroes, widely considered the father of the Swiss Confederation, you will understand why marksmanship is held in the highest regard, more than any other nation in the world.
Thus it is unsurprising that since the early history of firearms, shooting expertise has mattered to the Swiss; so much so that they manufactured and issued rifles specifically dedicated to marksmen since muzzle-loading times, such as the capping breachloaders M1851 and later M1864 Swiss Stutzers. Their specialty role continued even after such rifles were converted to cartridge arms, such as the M1851/67 and the M1864/67 Swiss Stutzer rifles.
The "Stutzer" short rifles are a series of double set-trigger rifles which Switzerland adopted to supplement its regular infantry rifle. Stutzers were adopted as adjuncts to both the country’s earlier M1867 Swiss Milbank-Amsler Rifles as well as the later Vetterli Stutzer Rifles discussed here. The Stutzers were adopted to arm the "riflemen" (today’s “Designated Marksmen”) as distinguished from the general infantry.
Distinguishing Characteristics of the M1871 Vetterli Stutzer Short Rifle
The M1871 Stutzer is a somewhat shorter version of the corresponding M1869 and M1869/71 Swiss Vetterli rifles but retains most of the features of those rifles, albeit with several very distinct differences.
However, foreshadowing the later M1878 & M1881 Swiss Vetterli rifles, this stutzer’s forestock is retained with only a single barrel band between the transverse stock key and the cleaning rod retaining nosecap. It is also fitted with a deeply curved heavy buttplate, which was later adopted generally for the M1878 infantry rifles and carried forward to the M1881.
As it is a stutzer, with the uniquely Swiss double-set triggers of this class of rifles, The M1871 Stutzer is also manufactured with a rather long and deep trigger guard, very much akin to that of the M1869 and M1869/71 Swiss Vetterli rifles, into which is fitted the stutzer’s unusual Thury double set-trigger system. However, just to be interesting, the stutzer’s trigger guard is a bare extra 5mm internal length longer than that of its rifle counterpart (55mm internal length for the M1869 vs 60mm for the M1871 stutzer).
Triggers & trigger guard of the M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer, also with view of the shallow trigger spur also found on M1869/71 infantry rifles
The rear sight of the M171 Stutzer very closely resembles that of the M1871 Vetterli infantry rifle. Indeed, they are at first glance indistinguishable, except that the leaf has a slightly shorter but more sharply angled sighting notch portion.
Rear sight of the M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer
With the introduction of the M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer also came the fielding of a heavy and substantial buttplate of wholly new design. Not as elaborate nor as deeply curved as the earlier M1851/67 and M1864/67 Swiss Milbank-Amsler Stutzers, but much more curved and styled than the relatively plain flat buttstock of the M1869 and M1869/71 Vetterli infantry rifles.
M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer buttplate
MARKINGS
Receiver and serial number markings of the Stutzer follow those of the M1869/71 Swiss Vetterli infantry rifle. The first 1,000 M1871 Vetterli Stutzer rifles were manufactured by SIG in 1871-72 and SIG marked. Thereafter Eidgenössische Montier- Werstätte, Bern built 9,000 from 1872 to 1874. Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik built the remaining 3468 of the 13,460 M1871 Vetterli stutzers produced.
Receiver markings of a M1871 Vetterli stutzer manufactured by Eidgenössische Montier- Werstätte
Receiver markings of a M1871 Vetterli stutzer manufactured by Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik.
We have not yet been able to locate one of the 1,000 M1871 Swiss Vetterli Stutzers manufactured by Schweizerichse Industry‑Gesellshaft to photograph its markings. However, as the Eidgenössische Montier- Werstätte, factory marked their Stutzers identically to the markings found on their infantry rifles, and Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik also did likewise, we presume, but do not know, that the manufacturer marking for the SIG built stutzers would also follow SIG rifle markings, and that such a short rifle would be marked as are the SIG infantry rifles. The markings of a SIG-built infantry rifle are pictured here.
BAYONET
MANUFACTURING DATA
A total of about 13,460 M1871 Vetterli Stutzer rifles were built; 1,000 were made by Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG), Neuhausen, between, 1871 and 1872 and later, Eidgenössische Montierwerkstätte manufactured 9,000 from 1872 to 1874. Thereafter, between 1875 and 1879 Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik, Bern took over production manufacturing another 3,468 more M1871s from 1875 to 1879.
M1871 STUTZER SPECIFICATIONS, STATISTICS & DATA
Overall Length: 1,260 mm (49.6 in) (Note difference in length from other rifles and later stutzers)
Weight, empty: 4.6 Kg (10.2 lbs)
Barrel Length: 783mm (30.9 in)
Rifling: 4-groove; RH, concentric
Magazine: Tube magazine under barrel, 10+1 round capacity
Sight: M1871 Quadrant sight, a single leaf graduated 225 m to 1,000 m (246 yds to 1,312 yds)
Trigger Assembly: A Thury double-set trigger which was fitted within a trigger guard of very close dimensions to that of the M1871 Swiss Vetterli Infantry rifle
* Unlike the M1878 and M1881 stutzer rifles which shared the same barrel lengths as their rifle counterparts and thus shared the same rear sights, the rear sight of the M1871 Stutzer is slightly different from that of the M1871 Vetterli infantry rifle.
M1878 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer
(Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1878)
The M1878 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer (Photo Credit: Handfeuerwaffen System Vetterli, see References, below)
Perhaps the most probative issue to keep in mind regarding the M1878 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer is that records suggest only 400 were ever produced, those by Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik in 1880 and 1881. This makes finding examples to examine exceedingly difficult, not the least because should a M1878 stutzer have had its rear sight upgraded to the M1881 version, it would be almost impossible to tell them apart without confirming either receiver markings or disassembly and examination of the trigger system.
Unlike the M1878 & M1881 Swiss Vetterli Infantry Rifles, while the manufacturers name and the rifle’s serial number appear on the left receiver flat, the model number is NOT embossed into the left receiver flat (neither “M.78” nor “M.81”), thus offering no specific indication of which version rifle is being manufactured nor when it was produced.
The M1878 Stutzer rifle is a much closer approximation of the standard M1878 Vetterli Infantry rifle than its predecessor, the M1871 Vetterli Stutzer discussed above. Firstly, unlike the shorter M1871 Vetterli stutzer, the M1878 stutzer rifle is the same length as the M1878 infantry rifle and is only slightly modified from its M1878 rifle counterpart, distinguished from the M1878 infantry rifle by an early version of the Schmidt type double set-trigger and by the single leaf rear sight of its M1878 rifle counterpart. Also like the repetiergewehr M1878, this repetierstutzer “sharpshooter’s” rifle was also made by the Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik, Bern.
M1878 STUTZER DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The M1878 stutzer’s most salient distinguishing characteristic is its Schmidt double set-trigger system, although it is not easy to distinguish it without disassembly. (See M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer, immediately below).
While the underlying M1878 & M1881 Swiss Vetterli infantry rifles adopted a much smaller and more rounded trigger guard than their predecessor M1869/71 Vetterli infantry rifles, this stutzer version continues to house its triggers in an elongated trigger guard with a new, much more sharply curved trigger guard spur. This trigger guard itself is similar to, but differs slightly from, the guard utilized with the M1871 Stutzer, above. Note again that the finger spur is significantly more strongly curved and set slightly further back than that of the predecessor M1871 rifles and stutzers.
Triggers & trigger guard of a M1878/81 or M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer, (which would be identical to that of a M1878 Stutzer)
As with the M1878 and M1881 rifles, these later Stutzers and carbines also dispensed with the gas relief ports previously drilled into earlier rifles’ receivers.
Note the absence of a pair of gas relief ports drilled through the receiver ring of this likely M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer.
The introduction of the M1878 Vetterli infantry rifle also saw the introduction of a particularly large and robust new sawback bayonet, which necessitated the intro of a bayonet lug now mounted on the front barrel band/nosecap. This new bayonet (see below) mounts on the bayonet lug as well as with a muzzle ring and is also adapted to this M1878 Vetterli Stutzer.
Like the Model 1871 Stutzer, above, look for the two trigger levers within the triggerguard it what would otherwise look like a regular M1878 Swiss Vetterli.
The M1878 continues to carry the “standard” iron cleaning rod finished bright, “in the white” below the front barrel band/nosecap and below the forestock.
(Note that any photos of stutzers in this M1878 section are either of M1878/81 or M1881 Vetterli Stutzers)
This rear sight is very closely similar to the rear sight which would have adorned a M1878 Stutzer when originally produced.
M1878 STUTZER MARKINGS
Unlike its Model 1878 infantry rifle counterparts, the 1878 stutzer’s model number (for example “M.78” or “M.81”) is NOT embossed into the left receiver flat, thus offering no specific indication of what model rifle is being manufactured nor when it was produced. What is marked is a very simple Swiss Cross, above “WAFFENBRIK” (meaning weapons factory) above “BERN” the city of manufacture above a usually 5-digit serial number.
Otherwise, like their M1878 infantry rifles’ counterparts, these stutzers exhibit all matching serial numbers. The matching serial numbers are stamped either in full or the last three digits, on the receiver, barrel, bolt, rear sights, magazine lifter, nosecap and buttplate. There are no serial numbers stamped on remaining parts of this series of rifles.
BAYONET
The new M1878 “Pioneer” sawtooth Sabre Bayonet issued concurrently with the M1878 Swiss Vetterli infantry rifle.
MANUFACTURING DATA
To the best of our knowledge, M1878 Swiss Vetterli Stutzers were only manufactured in 1880 and 1881 by Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik in Bern, and no more than 400 were produced during that time before the armory switched in 1882 to building the new M1881 Vetterli infantry rifles and its accompanying M1881 Vetterli Stutzers which are profiled immediately following, below.
M1878 STUTZER SPECIFICATIONS, STATISTICS & DATA
Overall Length: 1325mm (52 3/16 in) - Same as M1878 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Barrel Length: 834mm (32 13/16 in) - Same as M1878 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Weight, empty: 4.6 kg (10.1 lbs)
Rifling: 4-groove; RH, concentric - Same as M1878 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Magazine: Tube magazine under barrel, 12+1 round capacity - Same as M1878 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Sight: A Single leaf Quadrant sight, graduated 225m to 1,200m (246 to 1,312 yds) - Same as M1878 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Trigger Assembly: An internally improved Schmidt double-set trigger which was fitted within a new longer trigger guard with deeply curved trigger spur.
M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer Rifle
(Schweizerischer Repetierstutzer Modell 1881)
M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer (Photo Credits: Stephan Juan)
The M1881 Vetterli Stutzer is, like the M1878 Stutzer, a much closer approximation of the standard M1881 Vetterli Infantry rifle. The Schmidt type double set-trigger is slightly improved internally but without obvious external differences. The rear sight is the improved M1881 Schmidt Quadrantenvisier graduated from 225-1,200 meters, marked externally on the left side of the large sight base, but now containing an additional sliding leaf to extend the range to 1,600 meters. Like the Models 1871 Stutzer and 1878 Stutzer, above, look for the two trigger levers within the elongated triggerguard.
This rifle is the final iteration of the Swiss Vetterli Stutzer “sharpshooter” series. It is a variant of the M1881 infantry rifle but fitted with yet once more improved Schmidt double set-triggers and issued with the M1881 bayonet, a very slightly modified M1878 bayonet. But for the trigger system, the Stutzer is identical to the infantry rifle.
M1881 STUTZER DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Exactly like the M1878 stutzer, above, this rifle’s model number (for example “M.78” or “M.81”) is NOT embossed into the left receiver flat, thus offering no specific indication of what model rifle is being manufactured nor when it was produced. What is marked is a very simple Swiss Cross, above “WAFFENBRIK” (meaning weapons factory) above “BERN” (the city of manufacture), above a usually 5-digit serial number.
Otherwise, these stutzers exhibit all matching serial numbers (the matching serial numbers are stamped either in full or the last three digits, on the receiver, barrel, bolt, rear sights, magazine lifter, nosecap and buttplate. There are no serial numbers stamped on remaining parts of this series of rifles.
A M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzer left receiver markings.
Like most all Swiss Vetterlis, all major components are serialized
BAYONET
M1878 and M1878/81 “Pioneer” sawtooth Sabre Bayonets as well as a later, slightly modified M1889 “Pioneer” sawtooth Sabre Bayonet were all available for use with the M1881 Vetterli Stutzer, as were the earlier M1863 and M1871 Swiss spike socket bayonets!
Please see the links for detailed bayonet information.
M1881 STUTZER SPECIFICATIONS, STATISTICS & DATA
Overall Length: 1325mm (52 3/16 in) - Same as the M1881 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Barrel Length: 834mm (32 13/16 in) - Same as the M1881 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Weight, empty: 4.6 kg (10.1 lbs)
Rifling: 4-groove; RH, concentric
Magazine: Tube magazine under barrel, 12+1 round capacity - Same as the M1881 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Sight: Quadrant sight, graduated 225m to 1,200m (246 to 1,312 yds) - Same as the M1881 Vetterli Infantry Rifle
Trigger Assembly: An again slightly improved Schmidt double-set trigger fitted within a trigger guard with deeply curved trigger spur, similar to that of the M1878 Stutzer rifle.
M1878 & M1881 CARTRIDGES
ALL Swiss Vetterli Rifles, Stutzer Rifles, Carbines and even Cadet Rifles were chambered for the M1867 10.4 x 38 mm Gewehr Patrone rimfire cartridge.
We hope to eventually describe this cartridge and its varieties in detail in the CARTRIDGE section of the 10.4mm Swiss Milbank-Amslers, the first rifles to adopt this excellent black powder cartridge; however that page has not yet been addressed as part of our 21st century site revision project. In the meantime, there is some good discussion and photos in the CARTRIDGE section of the M1869 & M1869/71 Vetterli Rifles page linked here.
Of note is that the practically identical cartridges remained in Swiss service from 1867 to the adoption of the smokeless powder Schmidt-Rubin in 1889.
MANUFACTURING DATA
Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik in Bern manufactured approximately 7,538 M1881 Swiss Vetterli Stutzers from 1882 up until Vetterli production ceased with the introduction of the Schmidt-Rubin in 1889. Serial numbers are believed to range from about 13800 up to about 21000, which would not account for all production figures that have been reported.
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 3/8/25
Page Updated 3/17/25