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 November 2016

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The Cartridges of the 19th Century European Big-Bore Revolvers

PART 6: 10.4m/m Swiss Ordnance Revolvers:

 

In 1872, the Swiss Army adopted an Ordnance revolver that was similar in design to the French MAS 1873 Chamelot-Delvigne revolver. It's design allowed both single action and double action operation, and it used a 10.4mm rim fire cartridge. A limited number (less than 1000) were issued before being replaced by the Model 1878 revolver which used a 10.4mm center fire cartridge (photo shown above). The existing Model 1872 revolvers were modified to use this center fire cartridge and were designated the Model 1872/78 revolver.

The mechanism of the Model 1878 revolver utilizes a rebounding hammer for improved safety over the earlier rim fire revolver. Like the Model 1872 revolver, it allows for both a single action and double action operation, lacks a loading gate, and employs an ejector rod to remove the spent cartridge cases. The Model 1872 and 1878 revolvers were replaced by the Model 1882 Schmidt-Rubin Ordnance revolver, which was chambered for the Swiss 7.5mm cartridge.

 

 

The following 10.4mm Swiss cartridges are from my collection; I have included one loaded with a paper-patched lead bullet, one with a full metal-patched bullet, a shot load and two blank variations. All lack headstamps.

 

 

 

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  .421"     .422"     n/a        n/a       n/a       Bullet

  .423"     .427"    .417"    .429"    .382"     Neck

    n/a        n/a       n/a        n/a      .425"     Shoulder

  .435"     .437"    .439"    .440"    .439"     Head

  .524"     .520"    .527"    .526"    .526"     Rim

  .780"     .780"   1.073"    .757"   .802"     Case length

 1.262"   1.242"  1.073"    .757"    .802"     Overall length

 

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Sources:

Swiss Model 1878 revolver: The Swiss Rifles Message Board, http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/1601/The-104-mm-Waffenfabrik-Bern-Revolver-78#.VxtrGfkrKM8

General information on the Swiss 1872 and 1878 ordnance revolvers:

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1872_Swiss_revolver

SwissRifles.Com - http://swissrifles.com/pistols/index.html

 

 

 

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