History Italian Vetterli-Vitali
Rifle marked Torre Annunziata (City of mfg?), 1876, s#UV.4xxx, box mag, should be 10.4mm, but appears to be 6.5mm. Any info? Has what appears to be 100% original blue, clear, sharp stamp on butt, excellent bore. Value? If find ammo, safe to shoot?
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The rifle was originally designed by a Swiss engineer named F. Vetterli. As originally adopted by the Italians in 1870 the rifle was 10.35x47 rimmed. The rifles were produced at several locations including Torre Annunziata which was a royal arsenal. In 1887 a magazine designed by Giuseppe Vitali was aproved and many thousands of rifles were converted to magazine feed from 1888-95. These rifles were converted to 6.5 mm from 1916 on, and many were actually used in W.W.I and W.W.II. Your rifle should take the standard 6.5x52mm Italian service round, and should be safe to shoot with standard loadings. 0 -
On the other hand, if it is in the original caliber, ammo is- I think- rimfire and hard to find. If you did find some it should be safe; or you can do a centerfire conversion to a pistol caliber of similar size. A lot of guys do this with Swiss Verlettis.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.0
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