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Thread: How to trace the owner of my k11 (I have a troop tag.) Pics too.

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member Fruler's Avatar
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    How to trace the owner of my k11 (I have a troop tag.) Pics too.

    I recently purchased a k11 and there was a troop tag under the buttplate... I know it's to my rifle as the serial number was written on the opposite side of soldiers information.

    I have googled and googled... Even tried typing in phrases in Germanicon and Frenchicon... And have found absolutely nothing on this man...

    His name was Johann Stettler and was born in 1918.
    His address is seen in the photo... At the time he lived in Thun.
    Interestingly, he was a cook or worked in the food services, or catering service somehow while in the military... That information is presented as VPT. KP. on the troop tag...

    If anyone knows a way of finding anything about him or his life out I would really like to know... He took great care of this rifle... I'm just curious as to who he was...

    If you guys can decipher something in the troop tag that I didn't already write, please tell me.

    Edit to add this... Me. Johann Stettler even carved the rifles serial number into the sling, in a place that would be hard to see... I'm not sure if that common to do or not, but I know the sling is original most likely...
    Rifle was purchased by me from Simpson.
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    Last edited by Fruler; 02-04-2022 at 12:05 AM.
    I own a bunch of milsurp but a few of my favorites are my Lithgow smle 1942, Argentine 1909 engineer Mauser carbine and my newest favorite, my Swiss K11... It's a special rifle with a troop tag and the most accurate I own.

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    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    Good morning Fruler, I'll be glad to make a couple tries and see if I find out something.
    Starting with address and unit, it might be possible to get some info, depending on the Swissicon laws about privacy etc.
    Let's see.
    I'll keep you posted.
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    I got a first answer from the Swissicon Army Journal.
    The guy was born in 1918. His name was (I imagine he's no longer among the living) Stettler Johann.
    He was a "Supply Soldier" in the 17th supply company.
    All info were clear, but the Vpf. S., which stands for Verpflegungssoldat.
    His address is Thun, Mittlerer Strasse 25 (might be this building, as I found on Google Maps).

    The questions I raised have now been passed on to the chief Director of the journal to see if he can find further info.
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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    Legacy Member Fruler's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by Ovidio View Post
    I got a first answer from the Swissicon Army Journal.
    The guy was born in 1918. His name was (I imagine he's no longer among the living) Stettler Johann.
    He was a "Supply Soldier" in the 17th supply company.
    All info were clear, but the Vpf. S., which stands for Verpflegungssoldat.
    His address is Thun, Mittlerer Strasse 25 (might be this building, as I found on Google Maps).

    The questions I raised have now been passed on to the chief Director of the journal to see if he can find further info.
    Attachment 123708
    Thanks Ovidio. I have searched for a very long time on trying to find out something... Really there hasn't been a day in the past few weeks that goes by that I haven't tried to find out a little information on Johann Stettler.

    I appreciate your help. Hopefully you can find out some more stuff. I realized I didn't add photos of the rifle, so I'll do that in this post, if you or anyone is interested in seeing some... I did white in the serial number on the rifle with white chalk so it will be easier to see in photographs, it has since been removed... I'm going to take this rifle to the range and see how she will do at 300 meters. I got my hands on some GP11... Not cheap ammo, but this K11 deserves the best in my opinion.

    I own a bunch of milsurp but a few of my favorites are my Lithgow smle 1942, Argentine 1909 engineer Mauser carbine and my newest favorite, my Swiss K11... It's a special rifle with a troop tag and the most accurate I own.

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