Italian Vetterli M70/87/15

[Greasemonkey]

I found an Italian Vetterli M70/87/15 the other week for a little bit of nothing. It was covered in dust and some surface rust from sitting, actually it was quite nasty in the action. It took me a bit to even get the bolt out of it. I'm sure the tag on it that read "Do not shoot" scared off alot of people from buying it. The counter guy asked me twice, "are you sure you want this heap?" Don't quite think I would shoot it, but it is a very neat design in how they converted it from a single shot black powder rifle to a magazine fed modern center fire. I think it's a cool piece of history in how far some nations would go to arm their troops. I have a Swiss Vetterli I have never shot, so this will fit right in with it.

[Greasemonkey]

This is the markings on it.

[ffuries]

Sweet, I like it a lot. Great find.

[SA1911a1]

I also got one of them. If I had the ammo I would load it up and invite Mike over to shoot it.

[SA1911a1]

I also got one of them. If I had the ammo I would load it up and invite Mike over to shoot it.

I know what you mean about the draw. The guy at the gun show that sold me mine had no respect for it. I think I paid $120.00 for it about seven years ago. I wouldn't take twice that for it.

[ffuries]

Hadn't come across an Italian Vetterli in my travels yet. Did buy an 1879 Swiss Vetterli 69/71 a year or so ago, then saw another one somewhere recently. The Italian version is on my wishlist.

[steelbuttplate]

Converted from what? Into a ????? Yes I admit, I don't know everything.

[WW1-WW2rifleman]

Sweet find! I don’t know much about it but, I’m guessing it saw action in at least the reunification years and WW1. A single shot, black powder rifle converted to a magazine fed rifle and later the rifle was remodeled for at least spitzer cartridges if not smokeless powder?? I’m asking because it’s only a guess


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[Greasemonkey]

Converted from what? Into a ????? Yes I admit, I don't know everything.

Converted from a single shot 10.35x47Rmm blackpowder round, that is what it was chambered for originally in the 1870's, to a Mannlicher style clip fed 6.5x52mm Carcano. The barrel is sleeved like the P-series Finnish Mosin using Italy’s Salerno method.


I have seen references of them being used from WWI, through everything else Italy tried in between the World Wars, like the Italian invasion on Ethiopia, into WWII. My understanding was they were originally built to arm back line troops. So they do carry some use and history with them.