M1870 Italian Vetterli
Encyclopedia
The M1870 Vetterli was the Italian service rifle from 1870-1878, when it was replaced with the M1870/87 Italian Vetterli-Vitali variant. The M1870 was a single-shot bolt action rifle chambered for the 10.4mm Vetterli centrefire cartridge, at first with black powder and later with smokeless powder
. The M1870 was based upon the M1869 Swiss Vetterli but simplified for economy.
In 1887 (until 1896), the Italian Army began converting the M1870 to a four-shot repeating rifle, based on the system designed by Italian Artillery Captain G. Vitali. This conversion added a box magazine fed from a Mannlicher
-style en-bloc clip, in the same caliber 10.4x47R mm as before.
The conversion is indicted by a cartouche
"ARITG. FAB. D'ARMI TERNI 1888" (date varies), on the butt stock.
The center of the cartouche displays a Crest of Savoy and the word, "Riparazione" (Italian for repair) is directly below the cartouche.
Shortages of small arms appeared from the very beginning of Italy’s entrance into World War I on the side of the Allies.
As more of the population mobilized for the first total war in European history, the supply of modern small arms fell short before the end of 1915
and a large number of obsolete Modello 1878/87 Vetterli-Vital were issued to newly formed regiments that were not expected to be in combat,
however, troops carried these antiquated rifles into battle on several occasions.
, many M1870/87 rifles were converted to share the same 6.5mm smokeless powder round as the primary service rifle, the Carcano
, by adding a 6.5mm barrel lining and a Carcano-style magazine. These conversions are not considered safe to fire with standard 6.5x52mm loads.
Smokeless powder
Smokeless powder is the name given to a number of propellants used in firearms and artillery which produce negligible smoke when fired, unlike the older gunpowder which they replaced...
. The M1870 was based upon the M1869 Swiss Vetterli but simplified for economy.
M1870/87
- 10.4mm Fucile di Fanteria, Modello 1870/87 Vetterli-Vitali
In 1887 (until 1896), the Italian Army began converting the M1870 to a four-shot repeating rifle, based on the system designed by Italian Artillery Captain G. Vitali. This conversion added a box magazine fed from a Mannlicher
Ferdinand Mannlicher
Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher was an engineer and small armaments designer. Along with James Paris Lee, Mannlicher was particularly noted for inventing the en-bloc clip charger-loading magazine system...
-style en-bloc clip, in the same caliber 10.4x47R mm as before.
The conversion is indicted by a cartouche
Cartouche
In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an ellipse with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name, coming into use during the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty under Pharaoh Sneferu, replacing the earlier serekh...
"ARITG. FAB. D'ARMI TERNI 1888" (date varies), on the butt stock.
The center of the cartouche displays a Crest of Savoy and the word, "Riparazione" (Italian for repair) is directly below the cartouche.
Shortages of small arms appeared from the very beginning of Italy’s entrance into World War I on the side of the Allies.
As more of the population mobilized for the first total war in European history, the supply of modern small arms fell short before the end of 1915
and a large number of obsolete Modello 1878/87 Vetterli-Vital were issued to newly formed regiments that were not expected to be in combat,
however, troops carried these antiquated rifles into battle on several occasions.
M1870/87/15
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, many M1870/87 rifles were converted to share the same 6.5mm smokeless powder round as the primary service rifle, the Carcano
Carcano
Carcano is the frequently used name for a series of Italian bolt-action military rifles and carbines. Introduced in 1891, this rifle was chambered for the rimless 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano Cartuccia Modello 1895 cartridge. It was developed by the chief technician Salvatore Carcano at the Turin...
, by adding a 6.5mm barrel lining and a Carcano-style magazine. These conversions are not considered safe to fire with standard 6.5x52mm loads.
Sources
- Italian Vetterli, MILITARY RIFLES IN THE AGE OF TRANSITION
- http://www.militaryrifles.com/Italy/ItalVetVitali.htm M1870/87 Italian Vetterli-Vitali], MILITARY RIFLES IN THE AGE OF TRANSITION