The M-66 SP sports a 24.5” barrel with the last three inches composed of a rather beefy muzzle brake/flash hider. The cold forged chromium vanadium barrel is heavy and free floating-like one would expect from such a rifle and has a 1 in 12, four groove, right hand twist. The bore was in outstanding condition- a round mirror from throat to crown. The muzzle brake has ten vertical slots, five on each side with a transverse slot just behind the exit hole angled rearward at 45 degrees, and is serial numbered to the gun. I can’t imagine why a group of snipers or armorers would get together and decide to remove their muzzle brakes and mix them up, but then again more inane things than that have occurred.

The thumbhole walnut stock is massive. As stated earlier, these guns were built by Mauser in 1980- not all that long ago to preclude the use of a synthetic stock. There is a bit of gunsmith wisdom that goes, “the tree is not dead until it is burned”. Apparently to avoid some of the problems with impact shift and warpage the good folks at Oberndorf decided to make the stocks oversized to compensate. There is a large spring-loaded adjustable cheek piece that is held in place by a large set bolt. The adjustable cheek piece is a moot point as the rifle is most comfortable when locked all the way down. At one time there was sharp stippling in the forearm and pistol grip area reminiscent of that found on some Olympic target rifles, but has been smoothed out from use. The free- floating action is held in the stock with three large hex bolts. The sporting versions of the M-66 have barrels that are easily removable and interchangeable with no other tool than an Allen wrench. The SP model however, was not designed with this feature and I didn’t even contemplate trying to lift the action.

The action is well, different-not bad by any means, just different . Yeah, it’s a Mauser, but it’s greatly removed from the Model 98. It still uses the venerable two front locking lugs found on most bolt guns, however the bolt is guided on the receiver by a sleeve which in turn moves back and forth when the action is worked. Bolt length is short, just over five inches, and the bolt travel is four and a quarter inches. I would rate the action as being smoother and the lock time quicker than that of a standard 98k, M1903 Springfield, or the current M-24. The safety is located on the right rear of the bolt and is easy to manipulate. Pushing it rearward makes the weapon safe and the opposite motion enables it to fire. There is no bridge on the rear of the receiver, nothing at all like you’d find on a 98’. Since there’s no bridge the ejector is a spring-loaded plunger in the bolt ala’ the M-1 Garand or M-24. The bolt handle is the safety lug as it fits down into a notch in the right side of the receiver when the rifle is in battery. To remove the bolt you lift up on the bolt handle, press down on a stamped button on the right side of action, and remove the bolt and sleeve. That’s it. Assembly is in reverse order.

While we’re on the subject of the action, I should mention that the M-66 SP only holds three rounds of 7.62 NATO. In order to increase rigidity in the stock a blind magazine is used. I’ve never owned a centerfire rifle that held so few rounds but I guess if you’re one of those guys that grabbed the pebble from the Master’s palm on the first try and are really into the Zen of the one shot hit, then three rounds is probably enough.

But what’s a sniper rifle without a good scope? The IDF Mauser comes with a really top of the line glass: a Swarovski 6X42 MM with a 200-1000 meter range finding scale in the field of view somewhat like you find on a SVD PSO-1 scope, but much simpler. The crosshairs are the traditional Teutonic design of a heavy cross hair at the 3,6, and 9 o’clock position, and thin crosshairs in the middle and at 12 o’clock. This is a really nice tube and the clarity is like looking through clean mountain air on a cold day. The elevation drum at the top has positions on it corresponding to the range scale on the reticle, and has “M118” engraved on it so there was no mystery as to the kind of ammo it was designed for. The objective bell of the scope is sheathed in a thick rubber jacket to help protect the piece from the inevitable dings and bangs that are drawn to any precision instrument designed for troops. The scope tube itself is standard European in diameter- 30 MM. The scope rings and mounts are solid steel, extremely beefy, and appear to be just about bulletproof. My only complaint about the sighting system is that there are no emergency iron sights.

To test the rifle I grabbed a bucket full of match ammo and went to one of the premier ranges in the southwest, the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club in Mesa, Arizona. Due to time constraints I was only able to set up on the main range that goes out to 335 yards, but that was enough distance to see what the rifle is capable of. Starting out at 100 yards and dipping into my stock of M118 Lake City Match I was able to get three shot groups that measured just under an inch. Yeah I know, not spectacular as even my SVD can beat that. Switching to Federal Gold Medal Match though, brought much better results. Groups began running from just one-half to three-quarters of an inch. Usually two shots would pair into one hole and the third would break formation a quarter or half-inch away. A lot of this was due to the wind picking up and starting to gust at 10-20 knots as the morning wore on. Just for the heck of it I threw some standard Austrian military ball down the barrel and my groups still weren’t much larger than an inch.

Once I got the rifle dialed in, no target on the range was safe from a one shot hit. Of course, all shooting was done from the bench so the credit belongs to the rifle and not to me. At two hundred yards the rifle easily got center head hits on a pepper popper. A ten- inch hanging steel plate at three hundred yards was easy prey. The furthest target at 335 yards, a life size, self resetting, steel prairie dog, had the snot knocked out of it (OK, I did miss a couple of times-my fault not the guns). The M-66 SP’s excellent three and half pound trigger pull was also a large factor in achieving this accuracy. During the test, I fired a tad over 100 rounds and as expected encountered no difficulties. At each ten shot interval I ran a brush dipped in solvent and five or six patches down the barrel to clean it out. I didn’t detect any difference in group size after these cleanings, but a rifle like this should be given a little extra attention.

It should be no surprise that I heartily recommend and endorse this rifle. In fact, after shooting this sucker I did what no gunwriter should do if he wants to turn a buck in this business-I bought the test rifle. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own a real piece of history that can also be taken to the range and shot without guilt. Of the 360 SP’s that Mauser produced only 100 went to Israel.

Now if you absolutely can’t live with a bolt gun or would like to have a really awesome collection of IDF sniper rifles, Springfield has also imported the parts sets from the 600 M-14 sniper rifles the IDF also used in combat and assembled them on their excellent M1-A receivers. In 1984 I was with IDF for a short time in South Lebanon at Beaufort Castle and saw one of these M-14’s in the hands of an IDF sniper. Like the M-66 SP, these IDF M-14/M1A’s are also special guns. The Israeli’s built up the cheek piece on the wooden stock and added a rubber recoil pad. They also added a steel scope mount that held a 6X40 Israeli “Nimrod” scope and fitted the weapon with a Harris bipod. Springfield offers the same rifle with an AN/PVS-2 night vision scope. Price of the IDF Mauser M-66 SP is $2225.00 retail with the IDF M-14/Nimrod scope going for $1875.00 and $2229.00 for one with an AN/PVS-2 night vision scope. For more information contact Springfield, Inc., 420 West Main St., Geneseo, IL, 61254 telephone 309-944-5631.

I make a habit of perusing European gun magazines. Not only do I get a different perspective of shooting and firearms, but I often get advanced information about new products before they appear on our shores. Several years ago I began to notice that a Swiss suppressor company called “Brügger & Thomet” was mentioned in more and more advertisements and articles. Cursory examinations of their suppressors (or as they are called in Germany and Switzerland “schalldampfers”) in Swiss gunshops showed they were very well made and robust in construction. However in all honesty I must admit that my interest, while somewhat piqued, was still not enough for me to investigate further. This all changed though when I read in gun publications such as Shotgun News, Gun List, and last but not least Small Arms Review, that not only were Brügger & Thomet (pronounced Brewger & Tommet) suppressors being offered for sale in the US, but that Heckler & Koch had adopted B&T suppressors after they passed a grueling 10,000 round endurance test. I happened to mention in passing to a Swiss friend of mine that I would like to visit their company. As luck would have it my friend (who is also a gun dealer) was acquainted with Messrs. Brügger & Thomet and arranged an appointment for me to visit their offices.

Brügger and Thomet was founded in 1992 by Karl Brügger and Heinrich Thomet and is located in Spiez, Switzerland. Spiez, about 50 kilometers southeast of Bern, is found in the heart of some of the most beautiful mountains and lakes in Europe if not the world. Herr Brügger and Thomet were long time automatic weapons enthusiasts and the liberal (in the classic sense of the word) gun laws of Switzerland allowed them to actively pursue their interest. In the late 80’s and early 90’s the MP-5 became a very popular submachine gun in Switzerland. Just as in the United States, most “MP-5’s” started out as Hk-94’s semi’s and were then converted to full auto as Heckler & Koch would not sell any factory MP-5’s to civilians. There was also a demand for the MP-5SD (the SD being an acronym for schalldampfer) and a number were converted to this version as well. Unfortunately many of the SD conversions were poorly executed and were a far cry from the Oberndorf models. Enter Messrs. Brügger & Thomet.

Karl Brügger and Heinrich Thomet felt this situation was intolerable and began to search for ways to fix the poorly converted MP-5SD’s. Before I go further you have to understand the following: Prior to January 1st, 1999, there were absolutely no restrictions whatsoever on suppressors in Switzerland. A Swiss citizen could just walk into a gunshop, buy a suppressor, and walk out. No tax, no paperwork, and no license. This freedom gave a steady market for suppressor sales and ready feedback on their performance. Through hard work, experimentation, and lots of sweat, Brugger & Thomet began to gain a solid reputation for quality and dependability. Gradually the partnership evolved and Herr Thomet became the Managing Director and Herr Brügger, who is by trade a mechanical engineer, the chief designer. As the firm grew, B&T created their own designs and continually improved upon them always searching for new techniques in manufacturing and materials.

While B&T worked on their line of suppressors they also became a retail firearms dealer selling rifles, pistols, ammunition, and accessories to the public. As time passed the firm evolved and grew from being a retailer to the sole Swiss distributor for companies such as Heckler & Koch, Beretta, Steyr, Trijicon, Eagle Industries, and others. Currently the Brügger & Thomet partnership has three divisions: The B&T Trading and Consulting Division which buys, trades, and sells obsolete/surplus weapons (B&T was responsible for exporting 50,000 Austrian StG-58 FAL parts kits to America), the Manufacturing Division which develops and manufactures suppressors and other accessories, and finally the Representing Division which represents the aforementioned companies.

Arriving on a sunny Friday afternoon in August I was greeted by Herr Thomet and sat down for a pleasant chat. He discussed the history of the company and how it had changed over the years. Every time I speak to someone like Heinrich Thomet I feel a little guilty and am very grateful for their time as I know just how busy a successful entrepreneur is. Phones and faxes were busy ringing away and employees were unpacking inbound crates and packing outbound ones. Later we were joined by Herr Brügger and they showed me some their current products.

I was particularly interested in their Impulse II-A suppressor as this model was adopted by the elite German KSK Commando’s and survived the aforementioned 10,000 round endurance test by Hk with no damage to the test pistol or suppressor. Hk was so impressed by the quality and durability of B&T suppressors that they entered into a contractual agreement with them and now sell Hk pistols matched and serial numbered to the B&T can. This acceptance by Hk was no mean feat as Hk has incredibly high standards. Karl showed me an Impulse II-A that was rejected by Hk for having nothing more than a slight scratch on the tube that was barely noticeable.

The Impulse II-A shares most of the same internal characteristics of other B & T suppressors. The tube is constructed from aircraft grade aluminum and the six steel baffles are made of a special Swiss ordnance steel called ETG-100. All told, the Impulse II-A weighs ten and one half ounces and is affixed to a threaded barrel with a locking ring. The II-A is designed for 9X19, 10 MM, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP handguns that utilize Browning style barrel locking designs. The impulse module (also called a Nielsen device) can easily be adjusted to change the impact point of the bullet without the operator going crazy adjusting the sights. This is a great feature as the pistol can shoot close to the same point of aim whether the suppressor is attached or not. The unit is simple and easy to disassemble for cleaning and the shooter needs no tools. The Impulse II-A has a sound suppression of -36 db wet and -26 db dry.

What I found intriguing with B & T suppressors was the unusual six fluted step cone baffle design. Karl told me he got the idea for this design while working as an apprentice in the Swiss Government Powder Factory (similar to our Rock Island or Picatinny Arsenal) in 1983. The basic concept had been developed at the factory but the Government had done nothing further with the design. Karl continued to refine the concept on his own after he left the factory and developed it into the present system.

Following the Impulse model Karl then showed me their MP-5 QD (Quick Detachable) model and it really lives up to its name. Karl produced an MP-5 and after a little practice I could pop it on and off in three or four seconds. Once on the weapon and locked down you would swear the can is welded to the barrel. The three standard protruding barrel lugs fit into a corresponding collar on the suppressor which in and of itself is sufficient to lock the can on the weapon. However there is a twist-literally. With nothing more than a spring lock to hold the suppressor it would be possible in CQB and other scenarios for the operate to inadvertently slam the weapon into an object (or lets be frank here-a hard contact shot to an enemy) which could dislodge the can. The B&T design holds the suppressor on the barrel by the spring loaded locking collar and a manually twisted locking ring. All you have to do is snap the can on the barrel, give the locking ring a twist and a half, and voila, it’s attached! If the shooter wants to drop the can and shoot loud, B&T has a quick detachable five prong flash suppressor that locks on the barrel in the same manner the sound suppressor does.

Heinrich let me have a sneak preview of a prototype suppressor and barrel for an M-249 SAW (FN Minimi to the Europeans) that was really neat. The can slides over an integral flash suppressor on the barrel so an operator isn’t blinded by the flash or gives away his position in a tactical situation when the can is removed. A similar system is used on their SOPS Assault Rifle Suppressor except the flash suppressor allows the use of rifle grenades. They also make several suppressors for 7.62 NATO sniper rifles and even have a model for a Barrett Light Fifty-a weapon that can really use one!

Currently B&T has sold over 11,200 suppressors worldwide which means they must be doing something right. Try as I might I couldn’t find out just which high speed, low drag units were using B&T suppressors. Part of this is do to the fact they sell their products wholesale to companies such as SIG and Hk who market them on their own. The other reason is that a number of their direct customers have non-disclosure clauses in the purchase contract and B&T is not allowed to reveal this information.

B&T also makes a number of scope mounts that allow the use of the Aimpoint and several other brands of holograhic sights on such diverse weapons as the AK-47 and MP-5. Complimenting their scope mounts is B&T’s line of tactical light mounts for ASP flashlights that mount on pistols, submachine guns (particularly the MP-5), and assault rifles. Karl also showed me the blueprints for a new design he created to mount an ASP tactical light to an MP-5 and then asked me, “Sam what are you doing this evening-would you like to go shooting?” (“oh gee, I don’t know, let me think for a moment, well,uhhhhhhh, I guess so” ). I immediately said yes and we made plans for a rendezvous later that evening.

After a fine traditional Swiss dinner with my wife, Karl picked me up at the hotel and off to the range we went. Arriving at a rather non-descript looking building, we entered and descended down a flight of stairs and I found myself in a modern underground shooting facility replete with pro shop, cappuchino/snack bar, and dining area. There was also a spectator gallery from which visitors could look out into a multi-lane 25 meter range. The range was divided in two sections: a 25 meter paper target range with automatic target placement and retrieval, and a 25 meter row of 10 inch falling plates with remote control reset. In all honesty I must admit that I have never liked indoor shooting ranges, however if all were as nice as this one I’d probably change my mind.

Karl opened his range bag and withdrew ammo, magazines, an Hk USP in 9 MM, one of B & T’s Impulse II-A suppressors, and we prepared to make ready. We ran a man sized silhouette target out to 15 meters and Karl handed me the USP now loaded and sporting the Impulse II-A. I squeezed off five rounds at the center of the target and immediately noticed the absence of any holes. Well, color me embarrassed. Now I know that when someone misses a target that badly a popular refrain is, “Well geez, it ain’t me! It’s gotta be the gun!”. But seriously I didn’t see how I could miss with all five shots-after all, I’ve earned four Expert Diplomas from Gunsite, at least proving that I can hit the floor with my foot once in three tries. Karl said, “don’t worry”, disassembled the suppressor, and adjusted the index ring. He then reassembled it, locked it once more on the USP, and handed it back to me saying, “Try it now”. I fired five more rounds and noticed a world of difference- five shots about three inches above point of aim at 15 meters falling roughly into a two and a half inch circle. Five more rounds fell in the same area and didn’t open the group any larger-now this was more like it!

All told I ran about 150 rounds through the USP both with and without the Impulse II-A and except for the reduction in sound, the only other characteristic I noticed was a decrease in the pistols cyclic speed. Accuracy and reliability appeared unimpaired. Moving on to something with a little more power Karl pulled out his MP-5/10 in 10 MM.

I’m a big fan (fan as in fanatic) of the full power 10 MM. For a number of reasons I think the 10 MM is the best pistol cartridge in the last 30 years. I mentioned this earlier to Karl whereupon he asked if I had ever fired the MP-5 in 10 MM. When I told him I hadn’t he brought his along. Perched atop his MP-5/10 was an Aimpoint holosight on a B&T mount. The nice thing about the B&T mount is that it rests very low to on the weapon and allows the use of the factory installed iron sights. Springfield Armory was so impressed by this mount they became the exclusive US distributors for it. At this point we moved to the falling plates side of the range and both Karl and I fired a number of mags through the “Ten”. The Aimpoint on the B&T mount coupled with the MP-5/10 made short work of the plate rows.

While Karl and I were taking turns on the MP-5/10 I noticed a gaggle of rubberneckers in the spectator area who were pointing their fingers at us and studying our every move. I was puzzled as to their behavior. I mean yeah, sure, we were shooting subguns and suppressors-but that’s not really that big of a deal in Switzerland. Karl noticed me staring at them and anticipating my query said, “German tourists, they can’t believe we can own these here!”. Mystery solved.

About this time the owner of the hotel we were staying at and a friend of Karl and Heinrich’s showed up at the range with his MP-5A3 also fitted with a B&T suppressor. We fired a number of mags through it, and, like the Impulse II-A, it worked flawlessly. I also must admit that I could shoot the falling plates faster and more accurately with the “Nine” than I could with the “Ten”.

Several weeks later I toured B&T’s factory and was very impressed. Almost every part and component, other than a few finishing processes, is done on state of the art CNC machines. The nice thing about CNC tooling from a diversification aspect is that a manufacturer is not strictly tied to one type of enterprise. For instance everything from prototype artillery shell components for the Swiss Army, to artificial hips (no joke), was being produced alongside suppressor baffles.

In conclusion I was very impressed by Brügger & Thomet. They have got the gun business down cold. That is they understand guns and business. How many times have we seen someone who knew guns and had a great product(s) go bankrupt because they didn’t understand business. On the flip side I have witnessed successful firearms firms and one major firearms training center lose money and respect because they acquired a bean counter at the helm who didn’t understand guns. Karl Brügger and Heinrich Thomet however are dialed in and a I predict a long and profitable future for their partnership.

Due to red tape caused by a plethora of bureaucratic barnacles, Brügger & Thomet suppressors manufactured in Switzerland are not available in the United States. However they are manufactured under license here by Capitol City Firearms (P.O. Box 29009, Richmond, VA, 23242, phone 804-740-4926, fax 804-740-9599) and follow the same strict tolerances and quality control standards as the Swiss models. If you want a suppressor with a new age design built with old world craftsmanship I strongly suggest you check out Brügger & Thomet.

Of all the countries in Europe, my favorite without hesitation has to be Switzerland. The scenery is breathtaking, the people are friendly, you can drink the tap water without worry, and the gun shops are great. You can walk into a Swiss gun shop and find all of the really neat guns which can’t be imported into the United States: Vektor L-4’s, MAS 5.56’s, AK-101’s, Saiga combat shotguns with folding stocks, etc. The Helvetian Confederation, more commonly known as Switzerland, has some very liberal gun laws (liberal in the classic sense of the word that is). As most people know Switzerland hasn’t been involved in a war for hundreds of years and follows strict neutrality. There are two notable reasons the Swiss have been able to maintain this neutrality: guns and geography.

Switzerland’s picturesque scenery is mostly due to the rugged beauty of the Swiss Alps. This imposing terrain when even minimally fortified presents a formidable obstacle to an invader. In fact the terrain is so rugged the Swiss Army is one of the few modern military organizations in the world that still uses horses and mules as nothing better has been found for mountain transport. The second reason the Swiss have been left alone by the great powers over the march of time is their well-armed citizenry.

For centuries every able bodied Swiss male had to undergo military training and was required to keep his weapon at home. For instance one of my Swiss friends has the 1911 Model Schmidt-Rubin rifle his grandfather was issued, the 1931 Model Schmidt-Rubin that his father was issued in 1940, and now has his issue full auto Sturmgewehr. When their military term of obligation has expired (30 years), Swiss citizens have the opportunity to buy their issue weapon for a nominal fee. It has been this way for generations. Unlike the rest of Europe, which had masses of downtrodden peasants and various levels of privileged nobility, Switzerland has always been composed of free citizens. Where most European countries distrusted and feared an armed populace, the Swiss embraced it. Switzerland has remained free because its citizens have been ready, willing, and able to use their personal weapons, be they crossbows, pikes, muskets, or rifles to defend their borders.

In order to arm their people the Swiss Confederation in its early history (the 1500’s) decided to maintain a series of arsenals across the country. Switzerland is composed of 23 Cantons. A Canton is roughly equal to one of our states however unlike our “federation” the Cantons are not as subordinate to the central government. The goal was that each Canton would have its own arsenal. This was done to varying degrees but over time the centers of Swiss arms production gravitated to three main arsenals found at Neuhausen (S.I.G.), Bern, and Solothurn. Several months ago a Swiss friend of mine offered to be my guide and show me the Arsenal Museum at Solothurn which I gladly accepted.

The city and Canton of Solothurn (pronounced “Soloturn”) is located in northwest Switzerland. In 1463 the arsenal was first mentioned in Swiss records as an “armour hut and spear house”. In the next century a gunsmith foundry and powder mill was added and the area around the arsenal grew into a walled fortress with large towers as protective strong points. Over the centuries the walls were gradually torn down to make way for other buildings and the city of Solothurn that grew up around the Arsenal. As warfare changed the Arsenal began to concentrate on artillery and munitions production. Small arms production and development occurred primarily at the arsenals in Neuhausen and Bern. Weapons and munitions production in Solothurn ended in the early 1940’s never to resume.

The building where the museum is located is known as the “Old Arsenal Building” and was built between 1609 and 1614. Considering that Churches were usually the largest buildings during this period the Old Arsenal was quite large consisting of four main floors accessed by a wide stone spiral staircase. There is no basement or substructure so extremely heavy objects or equipment can be placed on the ground floor. This is where the museum has positioned it’s displays of artillery that were produced in Solothurn.

As soon as we entered through the front door of the museum I could feel a broad grin creep across my face as this was indeed an arsenal and the long trip had been worth every kilometer. In front of us was an incredible display of artillery tubes produced at Solothurn, which spanned many generations of military technology. I was surrounded by muzzle loading field pieces and mortars as well as guns produced in the 1870’s and 80’s which showed the transition to breech loading rifled cannons. Then there were the heavy guns with tracked steel wheels made in the event that WWI spilled over into Switzerland. Of special interest to me was finding a rare brass Maxim-Nordenfeldt MG 1894 machine gun mixed incongruously with field pieces and anti-aircraft guns. It was obviously placed there because it was mounted on a huge two wheeled artillery style carriage.

I’m no expert on Maxim-Nordenfeldts but a feature on it intrigued me. On the right side of the pistol grip just above the trigger was a selector lever and the word “schnell” which means “fast” in German written at the top. As I recall very early Maxim’s had the capability to increase or decrease the rate of fire at the discretion of the gunner. Unfortunately the lighting in parts of the Museum was dim at times and I couldn’t see the gun well enough to get a detailed inspection. Nevertheless this was an intriguing piece of ordnance and extremely rare.

On a raised dais across the room were four models of 20 MM “Panzerbuchse” semi-automatic anti-tank guns manufactured at Solothurn. Many of these 20 MM guns were sold to Germany prior to WWII and were in turn captured by the Allies. These are slick guns and are the man portable artillery equivalent of a Rolex watch. The Swiss were so meticulous in producing these weapons that even the small shovel issued with the gun was serial numbered to it. The four Panzerbuchsen in the exhibit were mounted by a variety of methods-bipod, tripod, and one even had small wheels and a bullet shield which made it look like a Lilliputian field piece.

One of the showpieces the Museum is very proud of is their “Organ Gun” that was made in Solothurn circa 1620. 39 muzzle-loading musket barrels were fixed in a large triangular wooden block that was held in a wheeled carriage. The barrels would be rotated to line up and fire one at a time through a single barrel, basically like a huge mutated revolver. Very interesting but I think just bundling 39 separate barrels together would have been simpler and less expensive.

Moving up the spiral staircase we entered the second floor which was filled with row after row of military rifles in plexi-glass protected racks and showcase displays on three walls. Many of the rifles in the racks were various models of Swiss Vetterli’s and Schmidt-Rubin rifles. I guess I’m like most Americans-quite frankly I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to both weapons. Let’s face it, there just aren’t many in circulation and the ammo is fairly expensive when you find it. These displays gave me a crash course in the history of both weapons. Like I didn’t know the Vetterli was made in a carbine or there were over eight models of the Schmidt-Rubin. All told, there were probably 150 Vetterli and Schmidt-Rubin rifles in pristine unfired condition.

The rest of the rifles were a potpourri of designs that spanned many nations and much time. There were racks of wheel locks, flintlocks, and percussion muskets and rifles. At one end of the room were late medieval guns made in Solothurn in the 1500’s and fired with a lit fuse. Somehow the Museum acquired six experimental semi-auto Mauser rifles three of which were serial numbered “2”, “4”, and “5”. They were very reminiscent of the early attempts Springfield Armory made to convert M1903 rifles into self loaders. All in all, one could find everything from Spencer carbines to a Johnson Automatic. A dizzying array of shoulder fired weaponry to be sure.

Looking beyond the rifles, I was called by the chatter of the belt fed and was lured closer by some very unusual looking automatic weapons. What caught my eye at first glance reminded me of a Dashka but it turned out to be a tripod mounted French St. Etienne M1907 heavy machine gun. Slung under the end of the barrel was an extremely unusual muzzle attachment that looked a little like a plow. Maybe it was some sort of device to help prevent dust being raised when shooting, but its true purpose was a mystery to me. The whole weapon appeared to come off the set of “Starship Troopers”.

Following the M1907 were various models of Swiss machine guns with a few French and German automatics such as an MG-42, Chauchat, Hotchkiss, and a Darne sprinkled in for good measure. The Swiss Model 1925 Light Machine Gun according to my guide was an early attempt at designing a universal automatic weapon. While it appeared to be extremely well made (like all Swiss weapons) I think it’s lack of a belt feed doomed it from it from being anything more than an automatic rifle. Actually the tripod it sat on I’d wager was heavier than the gun. The Swiss did produce genuine belt feds though and there were three different Swiss made Maxims present: 1894, 1900, and 1911 models. The most interesting of the three was the M1894. It was designed to be a man portable machine gun that had a metal pack frame attached to the muzzle end of the barrel jacket. When the gunner wished to engage a target he could unfold the frame and convert it into a firing platform.

On wall near the machine guns was a cased display that told an abbreviated history of Swiss assault rifle development. At the bottom of the case was the abysmal French M1917 St. Etienne semi-auto rifle. Chambered in 8MM Lebel, the rifle held ten shots and it was hoped the boost in firepower would help break the stalemate on the Western Front during WWI. Instead it was such a failure that all were withdrawn from front-line duty, converted to manual operation, and shipped off to Africa for native colonial troops. Fortunately the next rifle in the display was the excellent StG 44 which greatly influenced Swiss and other European weapons designers. The next rifles in the showcase though were all home grown Swiss creations.

Shown above the St. Etienne and StG 44 was the AM-55 a forerunner of the StG-57 and chambered in 7.5 X 55 MM Swiss. Directly atop the AM 55 was the StG-57 which was the mainstay of the Swiss army for years until replaced by the SIG 550. Having handled a few StG-57’s in the past this is one rifle I really wouldn’t have wanted to pack through the Swiss Alps. Loaded, it weighs in at twelve pounds and the balance is atrocious. My Swiss friends with tongue in cheek call it their “light machine gun”. Of course being a Swiss firearm it is supremely accurate and very well made.

Beginning in the last half of the 1960’s the Swiss started to experiment with infantry rifles that were chambered in smaller calibers and were more portable than the StG-57. Displayed was a SIG 530-1 produced in 1967, and two models of the StG 541 made in the early 80’s. All three were in 5.56 MM and unlike the StG-57 none used the delayed roller lock system but rather a conventional gas driven operating rod and rotating bolt. For all lovers of the SIG AMT there was a SIG 510-6 with green plastic furniture chambered in 7.5 Swiss.

The final rifle in the exhibit was an experimental StG-22 rifle in 6.45 X 55 MM made at the arsenal in Bern. My Swiss guide actually owns one of these rifles and allowed me to field strip it in his home. The 6.45 X 55 cartridge was created by necking down the standard 7.5 Swiss case to 6.45 MM. It uses an operating rod connected to a bolt carrier which holds a rather smallish dual lugged rotating bolt. My Swiss friend thinks it’s a terrible design and I defer to his expertise when it comes to Swiss military rifles. Ammunition is very scarce and an ersatz solution is found by reloading the spent cases utilizing 6.5 MM bullets. My friend acquired this rifle directly from the Swiss Arsenal at Bern. From time to time the Arsenal releases prototypes and experimental rifles which they feel are no longer needed. Since my friend is a collector he bought one as a piece of Swiss history. This intrigued me. Could you imagine the collector stampede if the Springfield Armory National Historical Site decided to sell some of their T20E2’s or if Anniston Arsenal put Stoner 63’s up for sale?

Moving to the third floor (second floor to Europeans) I exited the staircase and was stopped in my tracks by what seemed an endless collection of Medieval armour which filled most of the floor space. Standing before me were over 400 sets of armour. Like most of the contents of the Museum they were in outstanding condition-no rust, dents, or scratches. At one time the Arsenal contained 1500 sets but 900 were sold in 1833 to buy new artillery pieces. To complement the armour suits was a fine selection of halberds, billhooks, and the weapon which literally drove fear into and through the hearts of European armies-the dreaded Swiss pike. The condition of these weapons matched that of the armour.

The top floor was filled with exhibits populated by mannequins wearing the various uniforms of the Swiss military from the beginning of the Swiss Confederation to present day. Unfortunately half the floor was closed for remodeling.

If you are in Europe the Old Arsenal Museum is well worth the trip. I have never been in a museum that had weapons in better condition. Most of this I believe is due to the fact that Switzerland, unlike its neighbors, hasn’t had to fight a war in hundreds of years so their weapons haven’t become used, abused, lost, or looted. The only curious thing about the Old Arsenal Museum was that it contained no submachine guns. I didn’t notice this at the time as I was so overwhelmed by everything else though. From May-October the Museum is open from 10 AM-1200 noon, and 2 PM-5 PM Tuesday through Sunday. From November-April it is open Tuesday-Friday 2 PM-5 PM, and Saturday/Sunday 10 AM-1200 noon, and 2 PM-5 PM. Admission is 5 Swiss Francs and there is a donation box. The Museum is located at Zeughausplatz 1, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland, phone (41) 32 623 35 28

I would like to give special thanks to Herr Thomas Kuhne who guided me through the Old Arsenal Museum and assisted me in the preparation of this article.