Rudolf Hammerli target rifle

[PatBig]

Now the issue is, does my rifle qualify? It's not German but Swiss, made in Lenzbourg by Rudolf Hammerli. Only number visible is 3 on top of the receiver. Under the barrel 7,9mm. it's a Martini action, and after a chamber cast it's identified as a 8X50R Lebel cartridge. The 8mm Lebel introduced in 1884 was the first smokeless military rifle cartridge in the world and standard issue for the rifle used during WW1 by the French forces. The barrel is 82 cm, 32". The rifle weighs 13 pounds with a hollow forearm in case somebody feels it's too light, there's room for some lead. The slope of the stock is adjustable. Hammerli rifles with the Swiss shooting team beat the heck out of any other nation and rifle in the 1910-1930's to such an extent they were actually purchased by the US team in the late 20's. The look is very similar to that of most German made shutzen rifles with Martini action.

[chapmen]

Interesting rifle, but never heard about an Hämmerli in 8x50R........... three or four groove barrel? Unusual is the peep sight, allowed in swiss matches where only open sights.

Here is my swiss martini, made by Wollschlegel / Neuchatel. Barrel made by Hämmerli&Hausch, chambered for 7,5x54,5 "GP90", three grooves.

[hart6314]

That is a beautiful rifle. I have never before seen an adjustable comb of that design. I would presume the sights to be a later addition. However, regarding your opening question, I would have to say no. The chambering suggests the rifle to be from French, rather than German speaking Switzerland.

Bob

[chapmen]

That is a beautiful rifle. I have never before seen an adjustable comb of that design. I would presume the sights to be a later addition. However, regarding your opening question, I would have to say no. The chambering suggests the rifle to be from French, rather than German speaking Switzerland.

Bob

even if it is chambered in an "french caliber" it is what it is, an classic Martini made in switzerland... i have no doubt that this qualifys it.

[fuhrmann]

Lenzburg is in the german-speaking part of Switzerland.
Even in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, everybody would have used the Swiss cartridge 7.5x55.
This must have been a special order by a French customer - interesting!

[PatBig]

It seems that Rudolf Hammerli changed his signature, maybe depending upon the customer, from Lenzbourg (Suisse) to Lenzburg (Schweiz), one can assume that since it's probably a French or French speaking customer who asked for this caliber the French version goes with it. The sights are for international matches not traditional shutzen, I believe they are original. The Hammerli rifles bought by the NRA in the late 20's for the US team were fitted with 30.06 barrels and diopters by Springfield Armoury. There is no provision on the barrel for another type of sight, front or rear. The design of the double set trigger is unusual, the front trigger cannot on its own fire the gun, unlike in my other German target rifles. The front trigger only releases the spring loaded back one, it can't push it up. It makes for a simpler design with only one spring for the front trigger, and one stronger one for the back set trigger. There's a screw on the frame just under the barrel which I cannot remove without some drastic action, its head is damaged. It appears that it's some kind of a locking screw for the barrel.
I bought 100 cases and 8x50R dies, I am going to try and shoot the rifle tomorrow.

That is a beautiful rifle. I have never before seen an adjustable comb of that design. I would presume the sights to be a later addition. However, regarding your opening question, I would have to say no. The chambering suggests the rifle to be from French, rather than German speaking Switzerland.

Bob

[chapmen]

would be interesting for those not french speaking what the french collectors said......

http://www.tircollection.com/t24286-...i-en-8mm-lebel

[PatBig]

I have to confess I started the discussion on the French forum. Basically the answers are that it's an unusual rifle, the comments on the markings in French rather than German I relayed on a previous post. The 8mm Lebel obviously stirred some interest, since the Lebel rifle and its bayonet nicknamed "Rosalie" were the weapon of the French infantry during WW1. The cartridge stayed in commission until the 60's in a limited number of forces, the rimmed design was cumbersome for automatic weapons and a rimless 7.5 mm was introduced in the 30's and gradually took over. Beyond that not much. I contacted the Swiss target shooting museum, waiting for an answer. The adjustable comb looks like a prototype or one off, though it's very precisely adjusted the non essential places still show rasp marks, rather unusual for a rifle that must have pricey. The number 3 on the receiver would support a "prototype" theory. A 1928 model Rudolf Hammerli rifle similar to mine was on sale some time ago in the US, the number was 459. These were not mass produced rifles, so a number 3 on my rifle could very well be the mark of an early Rudolf Hammerli production, he started to use his own name on the Hammerli rifle in 1921.

[chapmen]

Why it should be an prototype? The former firm Hämmerli & Hausch had long time experience in building match rifles with martini actions. It was just an change of the firm name after Rudolf Hämmerli joint in.
Also the SN Ranges must not be logical.