Vetterlis Firing Pin Interchangeability

I bought a firing pin for my Vetterli 6.5 conversion and it arrived yesterday. Attempted to install it today and it was not listed correctly and is for the non-conversion cartridge.

It has two/three issues that I can see. The bottom protrusion has two thin extenders on the bottom which prevents it from riding in the bolt rail. The tip is too thick to fit through the hole in the bolt end. I've also read they are longer than the correct pin.

It looks like something that could easily be converted but if it can't I obviously don't want to mess up this pin so it can't be used by someone else.

It also makes no sense to me that they would change out the bottom guide rail on these to convert them.

In any case, step one would be to get the pin through the bolt hole by reducing the pin diameter, step two to get the correct length of the pin by shortening it and step three to grind off the slide protrusions so it fits in the rail guide.

Please let me know if this is feasible.

30 views and no one knows. Not a good sign. I can't locate specs for them anywhere. I did contact the seller this morning and notified him it was the wrong firing pin.

Hoping I can convert this one, first pin I've seen for sale in over a year.

My original pin has gone missing which isn't helpful. My main concern isn't the length or the diameter of the pin, it's the guide. If the guide won't work when narrowed, it's a no go.

Check the MKL ... ;)

I'm not sure if this article helps you or not...

Shooting the Vetterli (Centerfire Conversions)

You also might want to try our Google 'Search Milsurps.Com' custom search engine located in the top right corner of our site. It only searches our site using Google techniques and can be quite efficient. For example, in your case, type in the words vetterli center fire, or perhaps just vetterli and see what happens ..

Regards,
Doug

Doug,

That will be a great help when I convert the extra bolt I got for my Swiss Vetterli but the firing pin in question is for the Italian Vetterli, They are very different. Italian is a centerfire one piece to begin with.

Seller said I can return it and he'll pay the postage. Not sure I want to give it up if it is easily converted. I'm figuring about 2 minutes with a belt sander and 5 with a drill and a file. Once done however, it can't be returned.

Still have not located the original firing pin. I decided to try something else. Took the firing pin out of the Swiss bolt and tried it in the Italian. The Swiss pin is similar in dimension as far at the pin base where it slide in the channel. Worked perfectly. So pretty confident that grinding down the edges on the Italian pin will work along with the tip size modifications.

I can safely report that it is possible to convert the old firing pin to the new bolt. Put the pin in a drill and used fine sandpaper and files to reduce the diameter of the pin. Then used a belt sander to remove the edges of the stop. Took about half an hour to reduce the diameter and 1 minute to remove the edges.

Have now discovered another problem. Spring in the Swiss Vetterli is a home made replacement. Apparently the Italian and Swiss springs are the same. Now off on a search for a new spring.

Found a spring, VW valve spring. Also learned something sad today. Guisan off the Swiss Rifle Boards passed away. He was the one who suggested the VW springs. If he said it works, that's good enough for me.

M1870/87 VV FPs are Longer, and fatter than those for the M70/87/15 Carcano 6,5 conversions. This is because the Bolt face ( '15) is recessed for the rimless case, and the old FP hole drilled out and sleeved for a smaller tip.

I don't know whether in 1915, they shortened and thinned down the original FPs, but I think it would have been easier and more efficient to make New Pins ( and of Better steel).

I found out that a proper '15 pin will fit in a 70/87, but is too short for proper firing pin protrusion, and sloppy fit in Larger FP hole of the Black-Powder Bolt.

Fudging an old FP for a newer rifle (so to speak) is not good practice.

Doc AV