I have an old Swiss .41 caliber, model 1881 rifle that my Father gave me just before he passed away. I derived that it is the 1881 because of the difference in the rear sight, Vs the 1878. It takes a rim fire cartridge and is marked on the side of the receiver 'WaffinFabrik Bern' M.78. I fired this rifle when I was about 12 years old and as I watched my Father load this rifle it appeared to me to have a cartridge almost the size of a hot dog wiener. Of course, it wasn't, but I remember him firing it very well. That was the last time it ever was fired, ammo was very difficult to come by and quite expensive back then.
My Dad bought it from a man that had come by it and the second shot that he fired through it, some way or another, accidentally killed his Brother and he no longer wanted it. I don't know how long my Dad owned the rifle but he had always told me that if anything ever happened to him to make sure that I got the rifle before...
My Dad bought it from a man that had come by it and the second shot that he fired through it, some way or another, accidentally killed his Brother and he no longer wanted it. I don't know how long my Dad owned the rifle but he had always told me that if anything ever happened to him to make sure that I got the rifle before...