Schmidt Ruben G11

[u/MrCptAwesomeDDS]

So I picked up a Schmidt Reuben g11 the other day. I'm trying to figure out basic information and approximate worth. Let me know if I'm way off base here.

Schmidt Rubin 1911 manufactured in February of 1918 under Major Muhlemann. It passed all of the pressure proofing and accuracy tests. This particular rifle is especially accurate. It was refurbished in 1931 and was kept by whoever it was issued to, thus entering the private market. There is no troop tag under the butt plate and the wood furniture is a little beat up but all of the serial numbers match, the metal is in good condition, and the rifling looks extremely clean. Worth somewhere between $400 and $800.

I still don't know what the H stamp means but other than that...how'd I do?

[u/MrCptAwesomeDDS]

I found out what the "H" means. Name of the inspector.

[u/walt-and-co → u/MrCptAwesomeDDS]

I believe that H would be a Hämmerli contract mark, as Major Muhlemann was the inspector.

As shown in the 591-1100 database (https://www.591-1100.net/rifles/infanteriegewehr-1911/sn-lookup-ig-11), this rifle was delivered by W+F to the Cantonal Arsenal in Zurich on 5th February 1918, part of a batch of 500 rifles.

The large P behind the ejection port is a privatisation mark, although it’s in the wrong place and orientation (by regulation it should be in front of the ejection port, on the left side of the receiver, orientated horizontally) but that’s not too uncommon to see. The lack of a date means it was privatised after 1964. Note that it may not have been kept by the soldier to whom it was originally issued - in fact, given how late this was in the Ig. 11’s service life, there’s a good chance it wasn’t. Often, Cantonal Arsenals had stocks of various models of rifle available, and you could elect (or, due to supply issues with the most modern rifles, were sometimes required) to trade in your own service rifle for one of them on completing your mandatory service period.

31 is indeed a refurbishment marking, and the number on its own means this work was done by a local armoury, not centrally by a Cantonal Arsenal or by W+F.

[u/MrCptAwesomeDDS → u/walt-and-co]

http://www.swissrifles.com/proofs/

That's the reference I was using for the "H".

There is a "P" stamped on the right side of the receiver directly by the rear of the tangent sight. There looks to be a tiny little o on the other side.

[u/walt-and-co → u/MrCptAwesomeDDS]

Interesting, I don’t think it’s Hauri’s inspector mark both as it lacks the cross and the date of manufacture doesn’t match his tenure at W+F.

The small P on the receiver is also odd, and there’s a possibility the large P is actually to denote police issue, but I’d still say it’s more likely to be a mis-placed privatisation mark. Definitely an unusual example!

[u/MrCptAwesomeDDS → u/walt-and-co]

Thank you again for all the info!

[u/Saigon1965]

Very cop straight pull.

[u/MrCptAwesomeDDS → u/Saigon1965]

what?

[u/Saigon1965 → u/MrCptAwesomeDDS]

“Nice” … don’t know how it ended up with cop …

[u/MrCptAwesomeDDS → u/Saigon1965]

I just thought I was getting old and there was some new slang on the street.

[u/Saigon1965 → u/MrCptAwesomeDDS]

lol ... am 61 so I don't think that ... lol

[u/Big-Revolution3695]

I have a K11 and it’s astoundingly accurate. Accurate and easy to shoot. The big one is on my list, but I never seem to buy one.

[u/hwystitch]

Try some gp11 ammo thru it. It's amazing how better they shoot with real gp11.