Infanteriegewehr Modell 1911

Introduction

Although the first generation of straight-pulls had proven themselves to be serviceable rifles, the 7.5x53mm Gewehrpatrone 1890 (Rifle Cartridge 1890) which they fired left more than a little to be desired, in terms of performance. It used smokeless powder and a relatively small-bore bullet, both positive attributes to have, but it fired a primitive, heavy 13.6g (210 grain) round-nosed, heeled, paper patched lead bullet with steel cap. Operating pressures - and thus muzzle velocity - were low, partly restricted by the weakness of the rear-locking Ig. 89 action. 

By the mid-1900s, however, developments in ammunition technology were beginning to make themselves apparent. The German invention of the Spitzegeschoss (pointed bullet) allowed for greatly improved bullet aerodynamics. Less affected by air resistance, bullets could fly straighter, flatter, and further, retaining their energy over longer distances. The Swiss Army was well aware of these advantages, and with the significantly stronger Ig. 89/96 action available, a series of experiments were undertaken. Under the leadership of Colonel Eduard Rubin, head of the Eidgenössische Munitionsfabrik (Federal Ammunition Factory) in Thun (abbreviated as MF+T), an experimental high-velocity, spitzer cartridge was trialled in 1907, and the Army subsequently convened a committee in the following year to thrash out the design of a corresponding rifle. 

The outcome was that a new rifle and cartridge were recommended by the committee for adoption - both designated as the Modell 1908 - in 1909. This process was delayed somewhat, however, with the government finally issuing a decree to adopt the new designs (thereafter known as the Infanteriegewehr 1911 (Ig. 11) and Gewehrpatrone 1911 (GP 11)) in April 1911. 

The Ig. 11 was not a particularly radical design. The action and receiver were unmodified from the 1896 design developed from Colonel Schmidt's Ig. 89 system by Rebholz and Vogelsgang, and the basic layout of the rifle was essentially the same as all of the preceeding infantry rifles. The notable changes, aside from the new barrel with much tighter throat and slower twist rate, were to the sights, stock, and magazine. The rear sight was redesigned into a reasonably convention tangent leaf sight, with a sliding adjuster to set the range setting. The greatly improved ballistics of GP 11 over GP 90 are easily apparent from how much lower the maximum elevation is over the same distance. The stock, meanwhile, incorporated some improvements first seen on the Kavallerie-Karabiner 1905 (Cavalry Carbine 1905), namely, a semi-pistol grip to aid in pulling the rifle into the shoulder and a much flatter buttplate. The magazine capacity was reduced to six rounds - which could potentially be seen as a disadvantage, but in testing was deemed to be worth the trade-off due to a negligible reduction in sustained rate of fire (due to rounds only being supplied in six-round clips anyway), while affording improved handling and ergonomics, particularly when shooting from prone or moving through difficult terrain.

As well as manufacturing brand-new rifles, existing stocks of Ig. 89/96s were also converted into Ig. 96/11s - see the page on that model for further information.

Nomenclature

Following a reform of Swiss Army terminology in 1908, standard-issue rifles were officially known as Infanteriegewehre (Infantry Rifles), and it was with this designation that the Ig. 11 was adopted. This would remain the correct term for its entire service life, although some sources (both modern and contemporary) do occasionally refer to them as 'Langgewehre' (Long Rifles), 'Repetiergewehre' (Repeating Rifles), or other terms. These are not, however, offical or officially accepted. 

By this time, too, the army had created a standardised scheme for abbreviating designations, under which Infanteriegewehr was shortened to 'Ig.' - which can be written either with or without the period. By regulations, the 'I' should be capitalised, with the 'g' in lower case, and a space should be left between the term and (two-digit) year of adoption. The correct abbreviated form is thus 'Ig. 11'. Later, a reformed abbreviation scheme was adopted, under which 'Gewehr' was to become 'Gw.', but some legacy abbreviations continued to be used as they had become too entrenched to be worth changing. The Ig. 11 - and the GP 11 ammunition it fired - thus were never changed to 'Inf. Gw. 11' or 'Gw. Pat. 11', respectively. 

Serial Numbers and Dates of Production/Delivery

We have created a tool to look up your rifle's serial number in the Waffenfabrik Bern purchase records, which you can find here! 

The bloc of serial numbers assigned to Ig. 11 production picked up where the Ig. 89/96 had left off, running from 349001 to 482000, for a total run of 133,000 rifles. Total deliveries by year were as follows:

• 1912: 355001 - 361000 (6,000 rifles)

• 1913: 349001 - 355000 and 361001 - 369000 (14,000 rifles)

• 1914: 369001 - 374000 (5,000 rifles)

• 1915: 374001 - 396000 (22,000 rifles)

• 1916: 396001 - 428000 (32,000 rifles)

• 1917: 428001 - 459000 (31,000 rifles)

• 1918: 459001 - 479000 (20,000 rifles)

• 1919: 479001 - 482000 (3,000 rifles)

Service History

From its adoption in 1911, the Ig. 11 was to be the standard infantry rifle of the Swiss Army, to be equipped to all non-specialist troops (specialists were instead issued with the Karabiner 1911 (Kar. 11). The earliest examples were delivered in 1912, and by 1919 a total of 133,000 examples were in Army hands. These were mostly sent to Cantonal Arsenals for issue out to fresh recruits, as well as re-equipping the members of the Auszug and Landwehr. The Landsturm continued to use Ig. 89s in the short term. From 1933 onwards, newly-produced Kar. 31s would supersede the Ig. 11 and Ig. 96/11 as the standard rifle in recruit schools, but continued in use in the hands of older reservists through the Second World War and beyond. 

In the postwar period, the Landsturm and much of the Landwehr continued to be armed with infantry rifles, in order to free up as large a supply as possible of Kar. 31s for the frontline troops of the Auszug. From 1950 onwards, sufficient quantities of rifles were available to replace the Ig. 89s in use with the Ortswehr and Luftschutz with Ig. 11s and Ig. 96/11s, and they remained the standard rifle for these rear-line forces until their abolition in 1968. That year also saw the infantry rifles finally being phased out at all levels, with the Kar. 31 having been replaced with the Stgw. 57 and moving up into position as the reserve rifle for older troops. 

Having been declared obsolete, stockpiles of Ig. 11s and Ig. 96/11s were liquidated, with vast quantities being sold to international dealers for sale as surplus on the civilian market. Many were also sold domestically or handed over to civilian target shooters, with infantry rifles being preferred to carbines due to their much longer sight radius (especially when used with diopter/globe target iron sights). 

Technical Characteristics

Action: two-lug, centre-locking straight pull bolt action

Length: 1.31m (4'3.57")

Barrel length: 780mm

Unladen weight: 4.6kg (10.14lbs)

Calibre: 7.5x5mm Gewehrpatrone 1911

Feed system: detachable six-round double-stack, double-feed box magazine

Muzzle velocity: c. 805m/s (approx. 2641 fps)

Accessories

• Infantry-type leather sling (with buttons at both ends)

• Muzzle cap (brass, long type)

• Bayonet (Dolchbajonett Modell 1899 or 1889/18)

• Cleaning kit

Ammunition

As the Ig. 11 was designed for the 7.5x55mm GP 11 cartridge, it will perform best with that round. Earlier GP 90-type ammunition will feed and function safely, but will not give particularly good accuracy due to the much slower twist rate and tighter chamber. 

The original, military loading featured a cupronickel-jacketed 174grn boat-tailed spitzer bullet. Surplus ammunition can sometimes be found, and will provide the best results, but supplies have largely dried up and the recreational shooter outside of Switzerland will thus have to use commercially-made ammunition. This should perform well, and the brass can be reloaded if one has the necessary equipment.