Guns International #: 102827067
Seller's Inventory #: CM22-1028

Category - Schmidt Rubin Rifles - Military Rifles - Antique

Category
Schmidt Rubin Rifles
Military Rifles - Antique

***SOLD*** Antique Schmidt Rubin Model 1889 Straight-Pull Infantry Rifle in 7.5x53.5 Swiss w/ Bayonet & Muzzle Cover

Description:
****SOLD**** This is a very handsome and very unique Swiss Military Schmidt Rubin Model 1889 Straight-Pull Bolt Action repeating infantry rifle chambered in the 7.5x53.5 Swiss cartridge.  This Model 1889 Schmidt Rubin comes with an original military-issue muzzle cover/cap and an original Swiss Military Model 1889 bayonet.  Built in 1892, this antique rifle was issued for military service, then returned to Swiss Military stocks, then likely went thru at least one Swiss Arsenal rebuild, then identified as a rifle to be sold as surplus once the Swiss had enough of the Model 1911 rifles in inventory sometime in 1919, just post WW1.  This means this rifle was in military service for 27 years before it was sold to the commercial/private sector.  This can be determined by the "P. 19" stamp on the receiver, which indicates "Privatisation in 1919".   As it was Swiss Arsenal rebuilt, it is non-matching, but it was ABSOLUTELY professionally rebuilt by a Swiss Armorer while they were in military service.  You can see this in the pictures, and it is VERY apparent when handled in person.  All of the parts are perfectly fit together, and everything is nice and tight.  The action is slick as can be.  It really is an impressive piece of engineering, both as a rifle overall, and in the fit and finish of the small parts and action. 
     Everything about this Swiss Schmidt-Rubin Model 1889 is very impressive, and it is PARTICULARLY amazing when you consider it was designed in 1889! This was just a little more than 20 years past the standard military rifle was a muzzle-loaded, percussion ignited musket.  Then you look at this functional piece of art and engineering and look at the features it has engineered into it.  A bolt-action repeater, with a super-fast operating straight-pull rotary-locking bolt, chambered in a relatively small caliber (7.5mm or .308 caliber) high-velocity cartridge with a copper-jacketed bullet, with a integral 12-round box magazine that was extremely easy to load, with pre-loaded stripper clips made of waxed cardboard and sheetmetal inserted into the receiver with bolt open, and the cartridges were pushed down into the magazine using a slot for that purpose in the stripper clip.  This magazine was fit with a lever on the right side of the rifle that when pushed upward, lowers the magazine downward just low enough that the bolt does not strip the top round out of the magazine, so the soldier could load one round at a time by hand, and keep the magazine in reserve for assaults or repelling masses of charging troops.  The firing pin has a large loop extending from the rear, allowing the operator to drop the firing pin safety, or when cocked, can be twisted clock-wise 90 degrees and dropped into a safety slot for safe carry with a round in the chamber.  The sights are also great on this rifle, MUCH better than most of the other military arms at that time.  The rear is adjustable from the base setting good from 50 to 300 meters, all the way up to volley firing settings up to 2000 meters! The front sight blade is dovetailed into a barrel-ring mount, and is drift-adjustable.  This beauty was also designed with a free-floated 31" inch long barrel for superb accuracy.  The muzzle is crowned to aid accuracy and protect the rifling, and the length of the barrel was designed to get all of the velocity possible out of the cartridge.  The stock set was designed to be nearly full-length, with a top handguard to match, running from the front of the rear sight all the way to just behind the front sight, secured to the rifle by a fitting at the front of the rear sight it locks under, then by two barrel bands which are secured by both band-springs and by a clamping screw on each band.  In addition to securing the handguard, the top barrel band also has a stacking rod on it and the bayonet lug.  The lower barrel band carried the sling swivel, and the bottom sling swivel is inlaid into the keel of the buttstock.  The stock was designed with two grasping grooves just below the rear sight on both sides, and a steel buttplate that wraps over top of the toe and heel of the butt, protecting the wood at these two places that incur impacts most frequently.  All in all, this is a VERY COOL antique military rifle, and certainly one of the most advanced infantry rifles of the period.  
     As you can see from the pictures, this rifle is in very good condition and it  has a lot of eye-appeal.  The arsenal blue finish is still intact and shows a pleasing consistent degree of wear and patina on all of the metal parts.  There are no eyesores that stick out as ugly or detract a lot from the overall look of the rifle. Most of the finish wear or thin spots in the blue are on the high-points of the rifle, and the metal parts that were left in-the-white from the factory like the bolt and buttplate are still bright and clean with no bad staining or discoloration.  The bakelite bolt handle is fully intact and not chipped-off like many you will see.  The bore in this Model 1889 is bright, shiny, clean, and in excellent condition.  The rifling is still strong and sharp, both the lands and grooves.  There is no visible damage in the bore, nor is there pitting, or bulges.  Given the condition of the bore and the action, we have no doubt this rifle will be just as accurate today as it was 120 plus years ago.  The factory and military markings and stamps are still intact, and they are all pretty crisp and fully legible.  The internal parts are as free from mechanical wear / missing material as the exterior. The action is exceptionally smooth and precise feeling, and all of the controls on this rifle are in perfect working order.  As mention earlier, this Model 1889 comes with an original Swiss Military issue Model 1889 bayonet made by Waffenfabrik Neuhausen and an original steel and brass muzzle cap.  Both of these extras are in great shape, but the bayonet DOES NOT have a scabbard with it.  There are pictures of both of these items in the listing. 
     If you have been looking for a new addition to your military rifle/weapons collection, the Schmidt Rubin Model 1889 is an absolute necessity, particularly if you have or intend to add the Swiss Model 1911 or K31 rifles to your collection.  These rifles are still a great deal being sub-$1000 dollars, perhaps one of the best buys left in that area.  There is no doubt they will continue to appreciate as nice examples like this one continue to age and disappear into long-term collections.
                                                                      ****   AS AN ANTIQUE WEAPON, THIS CAN BE SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THE BUYER, NO FFL NEEDED!!!   ****

Price: $675.00

Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: 7.5x53.5 Swiss (GP90)
Manufacturer: Schmidt-Rubin
Model: Model 1889
Serial Number: 68458
Barrel Length: 31" Inches
Condition: Very Good
Metal Condition: Very Good
Wood Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Excellent
Action: Bolt-Action Repeating Rifle
Stock: Factory Hardwood
Finish: Blue (Arsenal Refinish)
Sights: Adjustable Iron Battle Sights
Manufacture Date: 1892