He also designed a submachine gun that was patented[1] and formally adopted into French service in 1939, but never produced.

[2] Born in Lavey-Morcles, Petter studied mechanical engineering in Bern and was a lieutenant in the infantry of the Swiss Army.

Petter received two French decorations, the Croix de Guerre and membership in the Legion of Honour.

[3] Subsequently, he was director of the French branch of the Belgian company Armes Automatiques Lewis and consultant of the Société Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques (SACM) in Cholet.

Petter eliminated the barrel bushing and used a full length spring guide which had the effect of removing some of the inaccuracy from the M1911 design and increased functional reliability.