M1870/87 Italian Vetterli
10.4x47R Vetterli
I bought this from a gentleman I met walking
around the PRO gunshow in Columbus, Ohio. He had this and a chopped M71 Mauser as well. I was
on my way out the door, nearly broke. The Vetterli caught my eye and we talked. I made him an
offer of what I had left in my wallet for it ($70) and he agreed. We also agreed that if
we met at the next upcoming PRO show, I would also buy his M71 from him. (I
never did see him again) He gave me 20
rounds he had already loaded for this gun. The stock had been chopped and well rounded and
finished. The barrel likewise had been nicely crowned after the chop job.
The sights look odd to me, being that they
don't have that appearance in any Vetterli liturature I have seen anywhere. The rear one
looks like it had been sweated on long after the rifle was made. Its graduated out to 2400
meters, and the Vetterli, AFAIK, was only issued with sights out to 1400 max. Any input
from viewers on this would be appreciated!
Dies are on order from CH-4D (www.ch4d.com),
brass from Buffalo Arms (www.buffaloarms.com) and bullets from Liberty Shooting Supplies.
Results will be posted as available.