New Swiss 1911

[Calfed]

At an auction a few days ago I won 4 Swiss rifles. In addition to a K31, a 96/11 and a "private series" 1911, I also got this "regular series" 1911. It seemed pretty "garden variety", but in good shape overall.

Information

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[gunner]

Great find! Is it one from the 1917 made rifles? Can´t decipher the numbers!

[Patrick Chadwick]

"garden variety",

Of course, you're talking about a high-quality garden here!

Ulrich, I read the number as 41?204, maybe 419204 which would put the manufacturing date around mid-1916 according to Poyer.


Patrick

[Calfed]

Of course, you're talking about a high-quality garden here!

Ulrich, I read the number as 41?204, maybe 419204 which would put the manufacturing date around mid-1916 according to Poyer.


Patrick

It is a fine garden indeed.

Ulrich, Patrick is right on the money.."419204".

Here is the auction description:

Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 (WRONG!) Straight-Pull Rifle, #419204, 7.5x55mm Swiss, 30.7'' barrel, tangent leaf sight graduated to 2000 meters, blue finish, European walnut stocks, with sling. Import marked. Condition is very good retaining approx. 92% original factory blue. Stock with thinning to finish and light to just moderate dings, scuffs and scratches. Action is crisp, bore is fine.

[Calfed]

I finally got to take possession of my Swiss rifles (the 10-day "cooling-off" period ended) and I had a chance to give them all a good going over



I noticed that this one had a "P 59" stamp under the serial number



I believe that this means that the rifle was turned over to the individual by the Swiss government in 1959. That made me wonder what "mustering out" process was generally used when a rifle was turned over to the individual soldier as private property? Was the rifle given a good going over to ensure that it was in good shape? Was it simply stamped "P" and taken off the property records?

Were (and are) there private gunsmiths who specialized in working on these rifles after they left government ownership? Seems like a great retirement job for military armorers.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I believe that this means that the rifle was turned over to the individual by the Swiss government in 1959.

Correct.