Watch this space!

[Patrick Chadwick]

Today's mystery object:

Attachment 42448

Coming Soon to a Forum Near You!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RCEMERalf]

8 X 50 case, likely Berdan primed, modified to use a small starter pistol blank as a primer?

[browningautorifle]

More than likely an adapter for an obsolete rim fire cartridge. That way you can re-prime it for reloading...

[vintage hunter]

10.4x38R rimfire case for a Swiss Vetterli, the Patrick Chadwick version.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Nearly, but not quite, Vintage Hunter!

[vintage hunter]

Ok then it's a case for the .41 Swiss Peabody you found ''last week''.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Bingo!

Pics next week.

[Patrick Chadwick]

...body

A few pics for those who have been watching this space.
One the one hand...
Attachment 42668

On the other...

Attachment 42666

Yes, it really is a Peabody!
Attachment 42664

Swiss acceptance mark

Attachment 42667

Bluing, what bluing?
Attachment 42665

Internals to come.

[jmoore]

Taunt us some more! Next thing you know, there'll be little tiny groups shot with the thing...

(Need an emoticon that's kicking itself in the rear...)

[Patrick Chadwick]

Taunt us some more!

If you insist...

This rifle is one of the 1867 version rifles ordered by the Swiss in 10.4x38R, also known as .41 Swiss Rimfire. In 1875 the rifles were modified to have a narrower extractor and a replacement block and striker (firing pin).
Attachment 42817Attachment 42799Attachment 42814
This is therefore an M1867/75 Swiss Peabody.

In 1877 there was a further conversion, using Swiss replacement barrels with a hexagonal knoxform. But for the 1875 modification, the Swiss just shortened the original barrel (removing the wide extractor cutout) made a new extractor cutout, and recut the chamber and barrel thread.
Attachment 42815
Which is why there is a small stamp on the root of the barrel that has partially disappeared into the barrel ring.
Attachment 42816

And why the (original!) cleaning rod seems a bit long for the barrel.
Attachment 42800 Attachment 42798 Attachment 42806
Note that the barrel bands have the typical "U" of American rifles of the period. The U indicates "this way Up" for correct orientation when the rifle is standing upright, and has nothing to do with US!

The number is stamped on the left side of the barrel:
Attachment 42805
And on the forestock:
Attachment 42810
And on the buttstock:
Attachment 42818
And on the backsight:
Attachment 42819
If you remove the plate with the lever,
Attachment 42809
you can see that the number is also on the block!
Attachment 42808
So I am pretty sure that the number is 5501.

By driving a .429 soft-lead bullet (from my revolver chambered in 44 Henry Rimfire – but that’s another story) through the bore – nice and tight from breech to muzzle, without the horrible looseness over the last inch or so that indicates a bell-mouthed muzzle, I was able to use the bench micrometer (with fiducial indicator) to measure the bore as:
Groove diameter 0.428”
Bore diameter 0.415” (very tricky to measure on a 3-grooved barrel)
Nice sharp, shiny grooves 0.006” deep is a healthy condition for a BPCR. If I can manage to make a good photo of the bore I shall publish it here. Until then, just trust me that it is obviously a very low-mileage barrel indeed.

The block mechanism is in an almost-as-new crisp condition:
Attachment 42813 Attachment 42812
The deeply-cut muzzle is in an excellent state.
Attachment 42804
So all in all, the Swiss Pea is ready to go!
Attachment 42802
Unfortunately, the production of .41 Swiss rimfire cases is proceeding rather slowly, and there are competitions almost every weekend from now until mid-June, so you will all have to keep watching this space to see the first shooting results! But I hope it is now clear why I am not going to go the easy route and alter this 100% original rifle to center-fire.