Vetterli M1878 Grenzwächter Carbine
Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik (Swiss Federal Arsenal) · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1880
Also known as: Repetier-Karabiner für Grenzwächterkorps M1878, M1878 Border Guard Carbine, Grenzwacht-Karabiner 1878
Overview
The Vetterli M1878 Grenzwächter Carbine was a purpose-built Swiss bolt-action repeating carbine issued to the Border Guard Corps (Grenzwächterkorps). A short-barrelled derivative of the M1878 infantry rifle chambered in the 10.4x38mm Swiss rimfire cartridge, it fed from an under-barrel tubular magazine and, unlike the cavalry dragoon carbine, added an extra barrel band and a rifle-type nose cap with an integrated bayonet lug so it could mount a bayonet.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3300 g (116.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 945 mm (37.20") |
| Barrel Length | 485 mm (19.09") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Internal Hammer |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Muzzle Velocity | 435 m/s (1427 fps) |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 10.4x38mm Swiss Rimfire · primary — also known as 10.4mm Vetterli, .41 Swiss, 10.4x38R Swiss
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Mounted Safety
- Features: Tubular Magazine, Self Cocking Bolt, Rimfire Cartridge, Bayonet Lug, Quadrant Rear Sight, Additional Barrel Band
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Swiss Border Guard Corps (Grenzwächterkorps) · adopted 1880 · as Repetier-Karabiner für Grenzwächterkorps M1878
Production
Estimated total produced: 400 · Production years: 1880-1881
Only about 400 border-guard carbines were built for Swiss Border Control personnel; purpose-manufactured rather than converted from rifles.
Origin
Country of origin: Switzerland
Designer: Friedrich Vetterli
Discontinued: 1881
Notes
Distinguished from the M1878 dragoon (cavalry) carbine by an additional barrel band carrying the front sling swivel and a bayonet-lug nose cap. These were manufactured in their own serial-number run rather than cut down from rifles, and fitted with a Modell 1878 Schmidt quadrant carbine sight graduated from roughly 225 m to 600 m.
Background
Reserved for Switzerland's Border Guard Corps, only around 400 of these bayonet-capable carbines were ever built, making the Grenzwächter pattern one of the scarcest of all Swiss Vetterli variants.