M.78?

[BudS]

My wife's grandmother has a rifle with bayo, but the cocking handle is missing from the bolt. It loads the shells from the right side, like the old cocking lever "cowboy" rifles. The bayonet is mounted on the side of the muzzle, not underneath like most.

On the side of the rifle, I found this: "Waffenfabrik" Underneath that is "Bern"; underneath that is "199741" which I suppose is the ser#; and underneath that is "M.78"

Is this an old German-made rifle? Is there anywhere I could get some history on it? Thanks a bunch!

 

[BEARMAN]

For info on NON-U.S. BLACKPOWDER METALLIC CARTRIDGE, STANDARD ISSUE, MILITARY RIFLES. go to [ http://militaryrifles.com/IDWizard/IDWizard.htm ] After you follow the steps and answer the simple questions it leads to a few choices , then they have some pictures, it's quite a neat site. From your discription your Wife's grandmother probably has a SWISS VETTERLI M1878 in 10.4MM RIMFIRE there is a picture at the above site and it matches your discription.

 

[BudS]

BINGO!

Thanks, Bearman! Now, I need to find a handle assembly for the rear of the bolt...and I didn't see anything on the site (which I "bookmarked"!). Maybe Numrich?

Thanks again!