AR742 – Swiss Model 1878 Vetterli rifle.
A 10.4mm R/F Vetterli Model 1878 rifle. No.: 175685. The Model 1878 was made between 1878-1881 at the arsenal: Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik, Bern, and is one of approximately 15,700 out of total production of 55,000 from all makers. There had been attempts to improve the Model 1869/71 design, however, with only minor alterations and improvements, the Model 1878 action was changed very little.  Externally, the 1878 had only one barrel band and lacked the chequering on the forend of the earlier models.  A couple of other changes were the omission of the gas relief holes (which says a lot about Swiss ammunition manufacturing), the adoption of a curved buttplate similar to the successful Schuetzen models. Changes were also made to the metal finishing process.  For flexibility, the 1878 front barrel band was fitted with a bayonet lug to allow it to mount a sword bayonet, rather than a socket bayonet.  The older style sights were replaced with the Schmidt Quadrant Sight  rear sight, which were, in turn,  later replaced by an improved Model 1881 Quadrant on most 1878s. This example has the modified rear-sight retro fitted. Missing clearing rod.