Interesting Markings on Swiss Rifles

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Eaglelord17

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Hi all,

I recently found out what some markings on the Receiver of my Gewehr 96/11 are and I felt I would share this information with you all so maybe someone else can benefit from it. There is a P 51 marked into the receiver of the rifle and for the longest time I wondered what it was as it was rather crude (in comparison to the normal quality on a Swiss firearm). What it means is that is the date the rifle was privatized (i.e. sold out of government stores). My rifle was privatized in 1951 as shown by the picture below. So if you have similar markings (a P then what ever the number is) that is the year it was sold out.

Well as a thread is worthless without pics, here is my G 96/11




 
Yes, stamped with a "P" means privatized. My K31 has this as well only its located behind the action, on the tang.
 
I have a Swiss K31 rifle that has a "P" as the first digit of the serial number. P408###

It is set up with diopter sights and was used as part of the Swiss marksmanship program with privately owned Swiss rifles.

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Have you looked under the butt plate to see if there is a tag there with the Military owner's name on it?

Swiss Soldiers, upon finishing their Service, were allowed to privately purchase their rifles.
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There are actually three "P" markings. One is like yours with the "P" and the last two digits of the date, the second is a "P." and the last two digits of the date, and the third is with the "P" over a line with the two date digits underneath the line.

Your rifle was made in 1904 and was originally a Model 1889/96. These rifles were modified and updated to 1896/11 rifles between 1912 and 1920, keeping the same original serial numbers.
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My K31 bayonet has a "P" marking on the blade and scabbard.

My understanding is that this marking signifies the weapon was retained by the Swiss soldier upon retirement from active duty. The number, in your case "57", would denote the year this occurred.
 
I just looked all over on my K31 to try and find the 'P' mark and the only thing I could find is a 57 on the tang which doesn't match up with the receiver at all. It is a 1954 manufactured rifle so 57 would be when the person completed there 3 years. So would the 57 by itself be the privatization date as I can't think of anything else it could mean.
 
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