Has anyone ever addressed the association of the mechanical similarity of the Vetterli and the Winchester 73?

I have found some little information acknowledging this but nothing that addresses whether there was any agreement with Winchester and the Swiss manufacturer or if there was enough differences between the actions that it wasn’t necessary.

Of course I’m asking because I just picked up a pair of them from the person I got my latest Winchester,  an 1873 in 38 WCF. 

Thanks for any info,

Jeff