Stamm-Saurer Model 1913 Long-Recoil Prototype Rifle

Hans Stamm developed a series of firearms in Switzerland in the early 1900s, and today we are looking at a second-pattern Model 1913 semiauto rifle. This was developed while Stamm was working for the Saurer company, where he headed its small arms division. Stamm’s Model 1907 straight pull rifle failed to win military adopted, and so in 1910 he began working on a quite complex long recoil system. The first prototype was finished in 1912, and by 1913 another seven examples were made.

These are sent to the Swiss and Belgian militaries for consideration, but neither are interested – and the outbreak of World War One ends possibilities for other adoption.

Previous Stamm designs:
1902 Gas-Operated Semiauto: https://youtu.be/LFJJBu4a5Lo
1907 Straight-Pull: https://youtu.be/gc8k4uv1gMk

Many thanks to the Swiss Shooting Museum in Bern for giving me access to these two very rare rifles to film for you! The museum is free to the public, and definitely worth visiting if you are in Bern – although it is closed for renovation until autumn 2025:
https://www.schuetzenmuseum.ch/en/