M1870 Italian Vetterli

Vetterli Model 1870
Vetterli-Vitali rifle M1870/87
Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	Kingdom of Italy
Service history
In service	1870-1941 (at least)
Used by	Kingdom of Italy
Wars	First Italo-Ethiopian War Boxer Rebellion World War I Second Italo-Ethiopian War Spanish Civil War
Production history
Variants	M1870/87 and M1870/87/15
Specifications
Weight	M1870/87: 10.19 lb (4.62 kg) M1870/87/15: 10.19 lb (4.62 kg)
Length	52.95 in (134.5 cm)
Barrel length	33.85 in (86.0 cm)
Cartridge	M1870/87: 10.4×47mmR M1870/87/15: 6.5×52mm Carcano
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	M1870/87: 1,410 ft/s (430 m/s) M1870/87/15: 2,395 ft/s (730 m/s)
Effective firing range	M1870/87: 2,000 m (2,200 yd) M1870/87/15: 2,000 m (2,200 yd)
Feed system	M1870: single shot M1870/87: 4 round magazine M1870/87/15: 6 round magazine

The M1870 Vetterli was the Italian service rifle from 1870-1887, when it was gradually replaced with the M1870/87 Italian Vetterli-Vitali variant. The M1870 was a single-shot bolt action rifle chambered for the 10.4mm Vetterli centrefire cartridge, at first loaded with black powder and later with smokeless powder. The M1870 was based upon the M1869 Swiss Vetterli but simplified for economy.

In 1887 (until 1896), the Italian Army began converting the M1870 to a four-shot repeating rifle, based on the system designed by Italian artillery captain, G. Vitali. This conversion added a box magazine fed from a Swiss-style fabricated steel and wood stripper clip holding four cartridges, in the same caliber (10.4x47R mm) as before. The clip is pressed into the magazine, until the last round catches under the Cartridge retainer, and then the clip is withdrawn using the "pull string" in the top wooden frame of the clip. Clips of cartridges were supplied in a soldered sheet steel box, holding six clips.

The conversion to the Vitali magazine was done on the long rifle, the TS (special troops musketoon) and possibly some of the Carabinieri carbines; No Vitali conversions were done to the Moschetto da Cavalleria for metropolitan Italian troops. In 1888, the Fondo Coloniale (Eritrea) requested 500 Vitali-converted Vetterli cavalry carbines for the Eritrean Native Cavalry ("spahi"—Swahili for "horse-soldier"). There are currently five known examples still in existence ( one in Australia, two in the US, two in Italy). Collectors refer to it as the M1870/88 V.V.Eritrean cav carbine. The Regio Esercito (Royal Army) Cavalry units maintained the M1870 single shot Moschetto da cavalleria until replaced by the M1891 Moschetto da cavalleria, in 1893.

The conversion is indicted by a cartouche "Artig. Fab. D'armi Terni 1888" (dates vary), on the butt stock. The center of the cartouche displays a Crest of Savoy and the word, Riparazione (Italian for repair) is directly below the cartouche. Shortages of small arms appeared from the very beginning of Italy’s entrance into World War I on the side of the Allies.

As more of the population mobilized for the first total war in European history, the supply of modern small arms fell short before the end of 1915 and a large number of obsolete Modello 1870/87 Vetterli-Vital were issued to newly formed regiments that were not expected to be in combat, however, troops carried these antiquated rifles into battle on several occasions.