The Swiss K11, like the Swiss Model 1911, was a revolutionary rifle in Swiss small arms developments. The K11, which stands for “karabiner model 1911,” was a carbine model used to replace both the Model 1905 Carbine and the Schmidt-Rubin Model 1889/1900 Short rifle. This is because the Swiss discovered that cavalrymen, support soldiers, and other units required a shorter rifle than what was available at the time.
The K11 uses the same newer technology as its sibling m1911, but is engineered into a smaller and lighter mechanism. Significantly lighter than the full-sized 1911, yet still fully accurate and precise at long distances, the rifle features a 23.3” barrel. Chambered for the modernized 7.5x55mm Swiss (GP11) cartridge, this carbine was made concurrently with the model 1911 and was produced concurrently with the m1911. Production of the K11 stopped in 1919; however, they went into production again later in 1933. There were around 184,000 rifles produced through its service life. The Karabiner 1911 was so successful at its job that it eventually led to the development of its successor, the K31.
