Manufacture Dates - Schmidt-Rubin Rifles

To determine the date of manufacture of a particular rifle, one needs to know both the model and
the serial number. Given the model, go to the appropriate table and look for the range of serial
numbers that spans the given serial number. The corresponding date for that serial number is
shown in the left column of the table.

For example, given a Model 1911 with a serial number of 2673xx, the tables show no such serial
number for a Model 1911. There is a range spanning this serial number for a Model 1889/96, however,
showing a manufacture date of 1900. Knowing that the M89/96s were converted to approximate the
M1911 form, we conclude that this rifle is a Model 1889/96/11 manufactured in 1900.
As another example, given a Model 1931 with a serial number of 9999xx, the tab les indicate that
this rifle was manufactured in 1953.

Note: Some rifles will have an uppercase P either after or below the serial number. Upon retirement
from acti ve duty, the retiring Swiss soldier was given the opportunity to keep his service rifle.
Rifles so obtained were stamped with the uppercase P near the serial number, and should not be
confused with the "Private" series of rifles indicated in the tables below. The "Private" series
of rifles were manufactured to fill special orders with the factory (such as for export).

Model = 1889 - Training Rifles (Instruktionsgewehre)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1893

40

E1-E39 (E20 doubled)

1895

2

E43, E45

1896

2

E42, E44

 

 

 

 

Model 1889 - Repeating Rifles (Repetiergewehre)
Manufacture ended on Apr il 29, 1897

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1891

24900

1-24900

1892

90100

24901-115000

1893

59100

115001-174100

1894

8787

174101-174887
175001-183000

1895

12500

183001-195500

1896

12500

195501-208000

1897

4000

208001-212000

 

 

 

 

Cavalry Carbine Model 1893 (Kava lleriekarabiner)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1896

250

4251-4500

1897

250

4501-4750

1898

250

4751-5000

1899

250

5001-5250

1900

400

5251-5650

1901

500

5651-6150

1902

500

6151-6650

1903

500

6651-7150

1904

300

7151-7450

1905

300

7451-7750

1895-1905

96

P1-P96 - Private series,
numbers P46-P84 for a commercial company, Paris

1897-1903

11

E1-E11, extra series,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern

 

 

 

 

Model 1889/96 - Training Rifles (Instruktionsgewehre)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1897

2

E2-E3

1899

4

E4-E7

1900

4

E8-E11

1904

4

E12-E15

1908

4

E16-E19

 

 

 

 

Model 1889/96 - Repeating Rifles (Repetiergewehre)
Manufacture ended in November 1912

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1895

50

1-50

1897

9000

212001-221000

1898

15500

221001-236500

1899

15500

236501-252000

1900

16500

252001-268500

1901

11500

268501-280000

1902

12000

280001-292000

1903

10000

292001-302000

1904

8000

302001-310000

1905

6000

310001-316000

1906

6000

316001-322000

1907

5000

322001-327000

1908

5000

327001-332000

1909

4800

332001-336800

1910

6300

336801-343100

1911

1900

343101-345000

1912

4000

345001-349000

 

 

 

 

Model 1897 Cadet Rifles (Kadettengewehre)
Sub-caliber Trainers (per J. Walter) (Einsatzgewehre)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1899

18

E1-E18

1900

6

E19-E24

1901

9

E25-E33

1902

3

E34-E36 (P9+P34?)

1903

2

E37-E38

1904

1

E39

1907

1

E40 (P40)

 

 

 

 

Model 1897 Cadet Rifles (Kadettengewehre)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1898

2100

1-2100

1899

1649

2101-3749

1900

1580

3750-5329

1901

499

5330-5828

1902

193

5829-6021

1903

232

6022-6253

1904

151

6254-6404

1905

114

6405-6518

1906

183

6519-6701

1907

150

6702-6851

1908

82

6852-6933

1909

37

6934-6970

1910

236

6971-7206

1911

99

7207-7305

1912

115

7306-7420

1914

231

15001-15231

1915

33

15232-15264

1916

70

15265-15334

1918

2

15335-15336

1924

26

15337-15362

1925

20

15363-15382

1926

80

15383-15462

1927

15

15463-15477

1898-1919

45

P1-P45, Private series
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern

 

 

 

 

Model 1889/1900 Short Rifles (Kurze Gewe hre)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1901

5000

1-5000

1902

885

5001-5885

1903

915

5886-6800

1904

1000

6801-7800

1905

1500

7801-9300

1906

1500

9301-10800

1907

1750

10801-12550

1908

1750

12551-14300

1909

1650

14301-15950

1910

1500

15951-17450

1911

1300

17451-18750

?

176

P1-P176 [sic], Private span class series,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern

1903 Zoll

89

P72-P150

1904 Zoll

300

P173-P472

?

50

P501-P550

Zoll

394

P551-P944

Zoll

190

P951-P1140

Zoll

103

P1141-P1243

 

 

 

Note:

Zoll - Customs service

Model 1905 Cavalry Carbines (Kavalleriekarabiner)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1906

810

1-810

1907

2790

811-3600

1908

2600

3601-6200

1909

500

6201-6700

1910

600

6701-7300

1911

600

7301-7900

1906-1914

39

P1-P39, Private series,
entry in the expo= rt book of Waffenfabrik Bern

 

 

 

 

Model 1896/11 Infantry Rifles (Infanteriegewehre)
These rifles carry the serial numbers of the Model 1896 rifles from w hich they were modified

Year

Quantity

1912

5000

1913

40000

1914

51000

1915

38000

1916

1500

1918

200

1919

50

1920

20

 

 

 

Model 1911 Infantry Rifles (Infanteriegewehre)
Manufacture ended on October 1 / 1919

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1912

6000

355001-361000

1913

14000

349001-355000
361001-369000

1914

5000

369001-374000

1915

22000

374001-396000

1916

32000

396001-428000

1917

31000

428001-459000

1918

20000

459001-479000

1919

3000

479001-482000

?

200

P5000-P5200, Private series,
last manufactured on October 10, 1919,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern

?

1

P5219

?

698

P5251-P5948

 

 

 

 

Model 1911 Carbines (Karabiner) Manufacture ended on July 11, 1933

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1914

6000

30001-36000

1915

4000

36001-40000

1916

13000

40001-53000

1917

16100

53001-54400
55001-62000*
62301-70000**

1918

19000

70001-89000

1919

2000

89001-91000

1920

6500

91001-97500

1921

8500

97501-106000

1922

7500

106001-113500

1923

7900

113501-121400

1924

7600

121401-129000

1925

7500

129001-136500

1926

9900

136501-146400

1927

12600

146401-159000

1928

11500

159001-170500

1929

12800

170501-183300

1930

9900

183301-193200

1931

8800

193201-202000

1932

9200

202001-211200

1933

3900

211201-215100

1913-1919

300

P2001-P2300, Private series
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern

Zoll

18

P2013-2030

Zoll

8

P2037-P2044

Zoll

30

P2071-P2100

Zoll

100

P2101-P2200

without entries

4

P2201-P2204

?

19

P2205-P2223

Zoll

50

P2251-P2300

 

 

 

Notes:

Zoll - Customs service
* Serial numbers 54401-55000 and 62001-62300 are missing (900 pieces)
** Serial numbers 69701-69750 have double entries, but are only entered
once in this list. Consequently, the total of the Model 1911 Carbines class
listed here comes to 185150 pieces.

Special Model 1911 Rifles (Extra-Gewehre)

Year

Who

Serial numbers

1915

Kriegstechnische Abteilung, Bern -

E500

1914

Koenigliche Gewehrpruefungskommission, Ruheleben-Spandau -
Spanische Gesandtschaft, Bern -

E501
E502

1919

Emile Galley, Lausanne

E503

1920

Hollaendische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
Englische Gesandtschaft, Bern -

E504
E505

1915

Eidgenpessiosches Militaerdepartement, Bern -

E506-E507

1917

Sektion fuer Munition, Thun -

E508

1918

Amerikanische Gesandtschaft, Bern -

E509

1919

Franzoesische Gesandtschaft, Bern -

E510

1920

Franzoesische Kriegsministerium, Paris -
Tiro Suizo, Buenos Aires -

E511-E520
E521-E522

1921

Italienische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
Italienischer Militaerattache, Bern -
Flugplatzdirektion, Duebendorf -
Sektion fuer Schiessversuche, Thun -

E523
E524
E525
E526-E527

1922

Eidgenoessische Munitionsfabrik, Thun -
Eidgenoessische Munition sfabrik, Thun -
Internationales Wettschiessen, Mailand -
The High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia, London

E525?
E528-E529
E530
E531

1923

Franzoesisches Kriegsministerium, Paris -

E532

1924

Eidgenoessisches Schuetzenfest, Aarau -
KTA, fuer Schweden -
KTA, fuer Tschechoslowakei

E533-E534
E535
E536

1925

KTA, fuer Waffenfabrik Oviedo -
KTA, Bern -
Schiessschule Walenstadt

E537
E538-E539
E540-E541

1926

Afghanische Regierung (mit Dolch 18) -
KTA, fuer Tschechoslowak ei -

E542
E543

1934

J. Alder W+F, Bern -

E544

 

 

 

Notes:

KTA - Kriegstechnischen Abteilung des schweizerischen
Militaerdepartements
W+F - Waffenfabrik

Special Model 1911 Carbines (Extra-Karabiner)

Year

Who

Serial numbers

1918

Amerikanische Gesandtschaft, Bern

E1

1919

Amerikanische Gesandtschaft, Bern

E2

1920

Hollaendische Gesandtschaft, Bern
Tiro Suizo, Buenos Aires -
Tiro Suizo, Buenos Aires -

E3
E5
E6

1921

Direktion Eidgenoessische Waffenfabrik, Bern

E7

1923

Franzoesisches Kriegsministerium, Paris

E4

1926

Afghanische Regierung

E8

1932

Wojskorny Zaklad, Warschau -
Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik, Oerlikon -

E9
E10

1952

unreadable

E11

 

 

 

 

Model 1911 Carbines (Karabiner) Converted from Model 1889/1900 Short Rifles and Model 1905 Cavalry Carbines

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1913

1000

1-1000

1914

8000

1001-9000

1915

8000

9001-17000

1916

8200

17001-25200

1917

900

25201-26100

1918

100

26101-26200

1919

70

26201-26270

1920

65

26271-26335

 

 

 

 

Model 1911 Trials Carbines (Versuchs-Karabiner)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1923

KTA, Bern

V1-V10

1926

KTA, fuer Schiessschule Walenstadt

V1-V200

 

 

 

Note:

KTA - Kriegstechnischen Abteilung des schweizerischen
Militaerdepartements

Model 1931 Carbines (Karabiner)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1933

1193

520010-521202

1934

15534

521203-536736

1935

13664

536737-550400

1936

11326

550401-561727

1937

11639

561728-573366

1938

10344

573367-583700

1939

15300

583701-599000

1940

33575

599001-632575

1941

54150

632576-686725

1942

49350

686726-736075

1943

50475

736076-786550

1944

51900

786551-838450

1945

26200

838451-864650

1946

15600

864651-880250

1947

20950

880251-901200

1948

20100

901201-921300

1949

15500

921301-936800

1950

13200

936801-950000

1951

23050

950001-973050

1952

21400

973051-994450

1953

5549
7450

994451-999999
215001-222450

1954

17150

222451-239600

1955

11250

239601-250850

1956

6400

250851-257250

1957

2950

257251-260200

1958

3130

260201-263330

 

 

 

 

Model = 1931 Carbines - Private series

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1934

16

?

1935

500

400001-400500

1936

100 Zoll

401001-401100

1937

150 Zoll
200

401101-401250
400501-400700

1938

150

400701-400850

1939

20

401501-401520

1940

150
530
50
50

400851-401000
401521-402050
402151-402220
402251-402300

1941

300

402301-402600

1942

650

402501[sic]-403150[sic]

1943

350

403151-403500

1944

400

403501-403900

1945

600

403901-404500

1946

837

404501-405337

1947

929
30

405322[sic]-406250
E519767-E519796

1948

400

406251-406650

1949

650

406651-407300

1950

400
50

407301-407700
408001-408050

1951

300
50

407701-408000
408051-408100

1952

300

408101-408400

1953

450
50

408401-408850
409051-409100

1954

200
100

408851-409050
409101-409200

1955

450
100

409201-409650
410151-410250

1956

450

409651-410100

1957

50
300

410101-410150
410251-410550

1958

475

410551-411025

1959

425

411026-411450

1960

300

411451-411750

1961

300

411751-412050

1962

400

412051-412450

1963

50
400

267331-267380
412451-412850

1968-1969

150

various numbers

1971

150
50

269431-269580
269881-269930

Stand (?) 1972

250

various numbers

 

 

 

Note:

Zoll - Customs service

Model 1931 serial number allocation, valid after November 1 / 1952

Serial number

Allocation

215001-350000

K31 Carbine series, ordered by KTA for KMV

350001-400000

K31 Carbine series

P400001-P450000

Private K31 Carbine series

450001-500000

K31 Carbines with telescopic sights (sniper versions)

500001-500200

Trials versions

E519701-E519900

Various special K31s

519901-519999

Cutaway K31s (running backwards?), last number 519970

520001-520150

Carbine series ordered by KTA, delivere by W+F for special purposes

520081-520100

Ditto, reserved for W+F

520151-999999

Carbine series, ordered by KTA for KMV

after 550651

Hardened magazine boxes

after 540001

Hardened receivers

 

 

Notes:

KTA - Kriegstechnischen Abteilung des schweizerischen
Militaerdepartements
KMV - Kriegsmaterialverwaltung
W+F - Waffenfabrik

Models 1931/42 and 1931/43 Sniper Rifles (Zielfernrohr-Karabiner)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1943

96

?

1944

403

?

1945

1537

?

1946

205

?

 

 

 

 

Model 1955 Sniper Rifles (Zielfernrohr-Karabiner)

Year

Quantity

Serial numbers

1957

170

1001-1170

1958

3030

1171-4200

1959

800

4201-5000

?

150

5001-5150

 

 

 

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