Old gun ID from pic

[indiucky]

Thanks, guys - and that's what I choose to remember about INGO.

So, as I go down that rabbit hole, it looks like a US military noncom might've been holding that in Europe or in the US. But, based on other information, it was speculated that it might have been in the Philippines during that poorly-remembered US military action, but that seems unlikely.

Welcome back T Lex....

imho...


That photo is of a national guardsman holding a captured Swiss Vettereli rifle from the Battle of Blair Mountain...he was probably like, "look what these hillbilles they are fighting with can you believe it" pic.....


Here's a pic of some captured arms...there is a list somewhere and there was a sh*t load of them...very popular through Sears and Roebuck, Monkey-gomery Ward and others....

 

[indiucky]

Hey indi, nice to see you around.

It looks to me, based on sites like this:

M1878/81 & M1881 Vetterli | MilitaryRifles.com

www.militaryrifles.com

That the Italian variants typically had all wood, but the Swiss seemed to have the metal showing for the loading gate. That kind of specificity might help identify the original pic.

Also, any thoughts on how a US doughboy might've gotten his pic with one?

See post above lol....

 

[indiucky]

These ads give an idea of why they were so prevalent at Blair Mountain.....

 

[indyblue]

Off-topic, I know but -
That outdoor grill in the background looks very familiar, like mine

 

[indyblue]

Isn’t Ingo great? it’s so full of fire arm, historians. You never know what you’ll learn.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Off-topic, I know but -
That outdoor grill in the background looks very familiar, like mine
View attachment 317364

Dad built the shed and bbq when he built our house.

 

[mcapo]

Late to the party but such a cool old gun. Always wanted one; never stumbled into the right one. Either find one that is toast or convert to centerfire.

Oh...the list of gun needs remains long....

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Late to the party but such a cool old gun. Always wanted one; never stumbled into the right one. Either find one that is toast or convert to centerfire.

Oh...the list of gun needs remains long....

I always liked the "steampunk" look that they had.

 

[T.Lex]

Welcome back T Lex....

imho...


That photo is of a national guardsman holding a captured Swiss Vettereli rifle from the Battle of Blair Mountain...he was probably like, "look what these hillbilles they are fighting with can you believe it" pic.....


Here's a pic of some captured arms...there is a list somewhere and there was a sh*t load of them...very popular through Sears and Roebuck, Monkey-gomery Ward and others...

So, that's certainly plausible. And crossed my mind, too.

As these things tend to happen, the pic was found in a bunch of other family pics. Most of the people are known. This one isn't, but one of the family members that it could be has been documented as serving with the US military in the Philippines in that time period. Of course, several relatives in that time period also served in WWI. None are known to have been in WV during that period of time, although the coal mines of Pennsylvania figure prominently in the family.

So, really just trying to figure out the odds of any given scenario.

 

[indiucky]

So, that's certainly plausible. And crossed my mind, too.

As these things tend to happen, the pic was found in a bunch of other family pics. Most of the people are known. This one isn't, but one of the family members that it could be has been documented as serving with the US military in the Philippines in that time period. Of course, several relatives in that time period also served in WWI. None are known to have been in WV during that period of time, although the coal mines of Pennsylvania figure prominently in the family.

So, really just trying to figure out the odds of any given scenario.

Federal troops were brought in...not just National Guard...I had no idea.....that ended it because the miners wouldn't fire on federal troops as many of them were vets...they would, however, fire on local national guard lol.....Billy Mitchell, of WW2 fame had pilots drop bombs on the miners.....If I was a betting man I'd say he was part of those federal troops brought in at the end who handled the surrender....The Swiss rifle was the 2nd most common rifle among the weapons surrendered...lots of Smith and Wesson and Colt's as well....topbreaks I frames and police positives....I

I'm just spit balling here lol...


"Federal troops arrived by September 2. The miners, many of whom were veterans themselves, were unwilling to fire on U.S. troops.[43][44] Bill Blizzard passed the word for the miners to start heading home the following day. Miners fearing jail and confiscation of their guns found clever ways to hide rifles and handguns in the woods before leaving Logan County. Some were found later, along with many spent and live cartridges which helped archeologists reconstruct the course of the fighting.[5]"

 

[T.Lex]

Kinda reminds me of the Bonus Army and the military leaders that were involved in that.

"Only" 100 years ago....

 

[T.Lex]

Something else I just thought of - would that gun (in either chambering) even be legal for deer in Indiana these days?

Of course, people were better marksmen back then (overall), and placement beats caliber, right?

 

[Purdue1991]

Something else I just thought of - would that gun (in either chambering) even be legal for deer in Indiana these days?

Of course, people were better marksmen back then (overall), and placement beats caliber, right?

The 10.4 x 38mm Swiss round would be legal on both public and private land. It has a bullet diameter of 0.41" and case length of 1.47".

The 6.5 Carcano would only be legal on private land.

 

[Cavman]

Just got done reading in about Blair mt and all your guys posts and pictures. Wow. Never had heard of that before. Great piece of history!

 

[indiucky]

Just got done reading in about Blair mt and all your guys posts and pictures. Wow. Never had heard of that before. Great piece of history!

Here's the prelude to the battle of Blair Mountain....this skirmish ignited the fire that became the battle......from the film Matewan....

As a side note, if you have ever white water rafted the New river with ACE Outfitters in WV the beach at the end of this scene is where you launch your raft from to run the upper New river...

 

[Cavman]

Here's the prelude to the battle of Blair Mountain....this skirmish ignited the fire that became the battle......from the film Matewan....

As a side note, if you have ever white water rafted the New river with ACE Outfitters in WV the beach at the end of this scene is where you launch your raft from to run the upper New river...

Now I am gonna have to watch whole movie!

 

[Mongo59]

I went to college in Charleston, WVa and the same mentality of the coal miners was present in that time. Always looking for a fight and trusting no one.

Now a days you could just leave a stash of kick butt drag boats for them to find and they would all voluntarily kill themselves trying to make them fly, no need for any shots to be fired...

 

[Wolfhound]

Late to the party but such a cool old gun. Always wanted one; never stumbled into the right one. Either find one that is toast or convert to centerfire.

Oh...the list of gun needs remains long....

I can hardly believe it but one just popped up in the classifieds. Sure looks similar.

WTS/WTT: - Waffenfabrik Bern 1869/71 in .41 Swiss

Waffenfabrik Bern I believe to be a Model 1869/71 chambered in .41 Swiss. For being well over 100 years old, I believe it is in very good condition. Metal is mainly patina. Stock is clean, and all numbers match. Asking $500 obo. Mainly looking for cash, but would consider rare, unique guns on...

www.indianagunowners.com