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{{Infobox weapon
{{Infobox weapon
|name= Mondragón M1908 rifle
|name= Mondragón rifles
| image=
| image= {{multiple image
| image_size = 300
| direction = vertical
| width = 300
|caption=
| image1 = Armamento - Museo de Armas de la Nación 97 (Mondragon cropped).jpg
| image2 = German WW I rifles and pistols (Mondragon cropped).jpg
}}
|caption= Mondragón M1894 straight-pull rifle (top) and M1908 semi-auto rifle (bottom)
|origin= Mexico
|origin= Mexico
|type= [[self-loading|Semi-automatic rifle]] / [[straight-pull]] [[bolt action|bolt-action rifle]]
|type= [[self-loading|Semi-automatic rifle]] / [[straight-pull]] [[bolt action|bolt-action rifle]]
Line 9: Line 13:
|is_ranged=yes
|is_ranged=yes
<!-- Service history -->
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1911 (Mexico)<br>WW1 (Germany)
|service= 1911 (Mexico)<br />1914–1918 (Germany)
|used_by = {{unbulletedlist|
|used_by = {{unbulletedlist|
* {{flagicon|German Empire}} German Imperial Army (trials only), Flying Corps
* {{flagicon|German Empire}} German Imperial Army (trials only), Flying Corps
Line 15: Line 19:
}}
}}


|wars= [[Mexican Revolution]]<br/>[[World War I]]<br>
|wars= [[Mexican Revolution]]<br />[[World War I]]<br />
<!-- Production history -->
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= [[Manuel Mondragón]]
|designer= [[Manuel Mondragón]]
Line 35: Line 39:
|max_range= {{convert|2000|m|yd}}
|max_range= {{convert|2000|m|yd}}
|feed= The 1908 model utilized 5 round stripper clips into 10 round magazine. The 30-round drum was only used by the German flying corps.
|feed= The 1908 model utilized 5 round stripper clips into 10 round magazine. The 30-round drum was only used by the German flying corps.
|sights= rear: ladder, graduated 400–2000 m <br/>}}
|sights= rear: ladder, graduated 400–2000 m <br />}}


The Mondragón rilfe refers to one of two rifle designs developed by Mexican artillery officer [[General]] [[Manuel Mondragón]]. These designs include the straight-pull bolt-action M1893 and M1894 rifles, and Mexico's first [[Semi-automatic rifle|self-loading rifle]], the M1908 - the first of the designs to see combat use.
The '''Mondragón rifle''' refers to one of two rifle designs developed by Mexican artillery officer [[General]] [[Manuel Mondragón]]. These designs include the straight-pull bolt-action M1893 and M1894 rifles, and Mexico's first [[Semi-automatic rifle|self-loading rifle]], the M1908 - the first of the designs to see combat use.


==Straight-pull bolt-action rifles==
==Straight-pull bolt-action rifles==
Mondragón began working on his initial rifle design in 1891. During his stay in Belgium, he filed a patent application for which he had received a grant on March 23, 1892 (No. 98,947). Mondragón was granted a further Patent on April 20, 1892 from the French Patent Office (No. 221,035). He also filed for a Patent for his design with the United States Patent Office on February 8th, 1893, which was granted on March 24, 1896 (No. 557,079).<ref name=m1892>{{cite web|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=Breech Loading Bolt Gun|url=http://www.google.com/patents/US557079|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref>
Mondragón began working on his initial rifle design in 1891. During his stay in Belgium, he filed a patent application for which he had received a grant on March 23, 1892 (No. 98,947). Mondragón was granted a further Patent on April 20, 1892 from the French Patent Office (No. 221,035). He also filed for a Patent for his design with the United States Patent Office on February 8, 1893, which was granted on March 24, 1896 (No. 557,079).<ref name=m1892>{{cite web|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=Breech Loading Bolt Gun|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US557079|access-date=2 June 2014}}</ref>


The rifle, referred to as model M1893, was of a straight-pull, [[bolt action]] design, chambered in the 6.5x48mm cartridge (also developed by Mondragón), with a fixed magazine which held an 8-round en-bloc clip.<ref>Hughes, James B. (1968). ''Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866-1967''. Houston: Deep River Armory. pp. 19.</ref> The rifle operated with three settings:<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=International Congress of Engineers|date=1893|location=Chicago|page=851}}</ref> "A" (safe), "L" (normal operation), and "R" (rapid). The "automatic" fire setting allowed the rifle to fire a cartridge each time the bolt was manually cycled to closed position,<ref name=m1892 /> in similar fashion to [[Winchester Model 1897|Winchester M1897]] pump action shotgun. The rifle could be equipped with a knife bayonet, measuring {{convert|41|cm|in}} and {{convert|575|g|lb}}, or a blade-type bayonet of {{convert|28|cm|in}} length.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=International Congress of Engineers|date=1893|location=Chicago|page=852}}</ref>
The rifle, referred to as model M1893, was of a straight-pull, [[bolt-action]] design, chambered in the 6.5×48mm cartridge (also developed by Mondragón) or the 5.2x68mm cartridge (developed by Colonel Rubin), with a fixed magazine which held an 8-round en-bloc clip.<ref>Hughes, James B. (1968). ''Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866-1967''. Houston: Deep River Armory. pp. 19.</ref> The bolt was locked by two pairs of six small radially-arranged lugs (reminiscent of, e. g., [[AR-15]]) locking in helical grooves in the [[receiver (firearms)|receiver]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/rifles/mondragon-model-1894 | title=Mondragon Model 1894 | date=4 January 2013 }}</ref> The rifle operated with three settings:<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=International Congress of Engineers|date=1893|location=Chicago|page=851}}</ref> "A" (safe), "L" (normal operation), and "R" (rapid). The "automatic" fire setting allowed the rifle to fire a cartridge each time the bolt was manually cycled to closed position,<ref name=m1892 /> in similar fashion to [[Winchester Model 1897|Winchester M1897]] pump-action shotgun. The rifle could be equipped with a knife bayonet, measuring {{convert|41|cm|in}} and {{convert|575|g|lb}}, or a blade-type bayonet of {{convert|28|cm|in}} length.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=International Congress of Engineers|date=1893|location=Chicago|page=852}}</ref>


At the time of the rifle's design, Mexico did not have any manufacturers capable of producing them to the required tolerances. Mondragón, with the backing of Diaz, subsequently entrusted the Swiss Industrial Company (''[[Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft]]'') of Neuhausen, Switzerland with the production of the rifles. SIG received the first order for 50 rifles in 1893, and a second order for 200 rifles followed in 1894. The rifles from the second order were chambered in the 5.2 × 68mm round developed by Swiss colonel [[Eduard Rubin]], and were referred to as the model M1894 (to differentiate them from the versions chambered in the 6.5mm cartridge).<ref name=twgr>{{cite book|last1=Ford|first1=Roger|title=The World's Great Rifles|url=https://archive.org/details/worldsgreatrifle00ford|url-access=limited|date=1998|publisher=Brown Books|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/worldsgreatrifle00ford/page/n78 101]–102}}</ref>
At the time of the rifle's design, Mexico did not have any manufacturers capable of producing them to the required tolerances. Mondragón, with the backing of Diaz, subsequently entrusted the Swiss Industrial Company (''[[Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft]]'') of Neuhausen, Switzerland with the production of the rifles. SIG received the first order for 50 rifles in 1893, and a second order for 200 rifles followed in 1894. The rifles from the second order were chambered in the 5.2 × 68mm round developed by Swiss colonel [[Eduard Rubin]], and were referred to as the model M1894 (to differentiate them from the versions chambered in the 6.5mm cartridge).<ref name=twgr>{{cite book|last1=Ford|first1=Roger|title=The World's Great Rifles|url=https://archive.org/details/worldsgreatrifle00ford|url-access=limited|date=1998|publisher=Brown Books|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/worldsgreatrifle00ford/page/n78 101]–102|isbn=9781897884331}}</ref>


==Self-loading rifle==
==Self-loading rifle==
Mondragón continued his work, and on August 8, 1904 he filed a patent application (No. 219,989) for his new design for a self-loading rifle. The Patent (No. 853,715) was granted on May 14, 1907.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=Firearm|url=http://www.google.com/patents/US853715|accessdate=3 June 2014}}</ref>
Mondragón continued his work, and on August 8, 1904 he filed a patent application (No. 219,989) for his new design for a self-loading rifle. The Patent (No. 853,715) was granted on May 14, 1907.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mondragón|first1=Manuel|title=Firearm|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US853715|access-date=3 June 2014}}</ref>


The design was adopted by the Mexican Army in 1908 as the '''Fusil Porfirio Díaz Sistema Mondragón Modelo 1908'''. The same year, the Mexican government contracted with SIG for the production of 4,000 M1908 rifles, chambered in the [[7×57mm Mauser]] Mexican service cartridge. Due to the [[Mexican Revolution]], by 1910 only 400 rifles had been delivered by SIG. The rifle's inability to cope with the poor quality of ammunition available at the time, along with the high unit cost of [[Swiss franc|SFr]]160 per rifle, led to the cancellation of the order by the Mexican government.
The design was adopted by the Mexican Army in 1908 as the '''Fusil Porfirio Díaz Sistema Mondragón Modelo 1908'''. The same year, the Mexican government contracted with SIG for the production of 4,000 M1908 rifles, chambered in the [[7×57mm Mauser]] Mexican service cartridge. A few number of samples arrived to Mexico in a number no greater than forty units. The rifle's inability to cope with the poor quality of ammunition available at the time, along with the high unit cost of [[Swiss franc|SFr]]160 per rifle, led to the cancellation of the order by the Mexican government.


The Mondragón Modelo 1908 was a [[gas operation|gas-operated]] rifle with a [[rotating bolt]] using a cylinder and piston arrangement, a design considered unusual at the time. The bolt was locked by lugs in helical grooves in the [[receiver (firearms)|receiver]]. A switch, located on the charging handle, would disengage the bolt from the gas system, allowing the firearm to effectively operate as a straight-pull bolt-action rifle. The Mondragón Modelo 1908 rifles were fitted with a bipod. In addition to the knife bayonet introduced with the previous rifles, Mondragón designed a spade bayonet for use with the Modelo 1908, <ref>Hughes, James B. (1968) ''Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866–1967''. Houston: Deep River Armory. p. 52 </ref> for which he filed a patent application (No. 631,283) on June 6, 1911.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mondragón |first1=Manuel |title=Combined Weapon and Tool |url=http://www.google.com/patents/US1003119 |accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref>
The Mondragón Modelo 1908 was a [[gas operation|gas-operated]] rifle with a [[rotating bolt]] using a cylinder and piston arrangement, a design considered unusual at the time. The bolt and the locking lugs was very similar to the bolt-action rifle. A switch, located on the charging handle, would disengage the bolt from the gas system, allowing the firearm to effectively operate as a straight-pull bolt-action rifle. The Mondragón Modelo 1908 rifles were fitted with a bipod. In addition to the knife bayonet introduced with the previous rifles, Mondragón designed a spade bayonet for use with the Modelo 1908,<ref>Hughes, James B. (1968) ''Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866–1967''. Houston: Deep River Armory. p. 52</ref> for which he filed a patent application (No. 631,283) on June 6, 1911.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mondragón |first1=Manuel |title=Combined Weapon and Tool |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US1003119 |access-date=2 June 2014}}</ref>


==Use during World War I==
==Use during the Mexican Revolution==
[[File:Mondragon Rifle at the Museo Nacional de Historia, 2023.jpg|thumb|upright|A Mondragón M1908 in the [[Museo Nacional de Historia|National Museum of History]] of Mexico]]
In 1914 the [[German Empire]] bought the remainder of the M1908 model rifles produced by SIG<ref name=illuency /> (as many as 4000 units, depending on the total SIG production for their Mexican contract). The Germans tried to modify the rifles to chamber the [[7.92×57mm Mauser|7.9×57mm S-Patrone]], the service cartridge of Germany until the end of [[World War II]]), but their attempts were unsuccessful.<ref name=le>{{cite book|last1=Erenfeicht|first1=Leszek|title=Ilustrowana Encyklopedia - Broń Strzelecka XX Wieku|date=1995|publisher=Espadon|location=Warszawa|page=18}}</ref> The rifles were tested by the German Army, but they proved highly susceptible to fouling caused by mud and dirt in the [[trenches]], a common problem even with less complex designs such as the Canadian [[Ross rifle|Ross Mk III]] [[straight-pull]] [[bolt-action rifle]].<ref>Fitzsimons, Bernard (1978). ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 20''. London: Phoebus Publishing Company. p. 2223.</ref>
A few of the Mondragón rifles may have been used by Mexican soldiers during an ambush on [[Pancho Villa]].<ref>http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/14389/14554592_3.jpg?v=8CF99F84CB579B0 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203090139/http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/14389/14554592_3.jpg?v=8CF99F84CB579B0 |date=2014-02-03 }} {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}</ref> Although some sources claim that the Mexican Army had used the rifle since 1911,<ref>Hatcher, Julian S. (1957). ''Hatcher's Notebook, 2nd Edition''. Harrisburg: Telegraph Press. p. 157.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Westwood|first=David|title=Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact|year=2005|url=https://archive.org/details/riflesillustrate00west|url-access=limited|publisher=ABC-CLIO|pages=[https://archive.org/details/riflesillustrate00west/page/n135 117]}}</ref> two pictures from ''Crónica Ilustrada Revolución Mexicana, Volume 1'' on pages 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/planvalla/02.jpg |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230238/http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/planvalla/02.jpg |archivedate=2014-02-01 }}</ref> and 159 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/prilevanrevo/17.jpg |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201231946/http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/prilevanrevo/17.jpg |archivedate=2014-02-01 }}</ref> and an article from Guns magazine<ref>{{cite journal|last=Edwards|first=William B.|title=Guns for a Nation of Riflemen|journal=Guns|year=1958|issue=7|pages=45, 47}}</ref> suggest that the rifle was in service as early as 1910.


==World War I German service==
The [[Imperial German Flying Corps]] (Luftstreitkräfte) decided to adopt the rifle, where operating conditions lessened the chances of the action being fouled by mud, and issued two rifles to each aircraft's crew. The M1903 proved to be a significant improvement over the bolt-action [[Gewehr 98]] rifles and [[Luger pistol|Parabellum-Pistole]] pistols usually issued to crews. The M1908 rifle was re-designated as the '''Fl.-S.-K. 15''' (''Flieger-Selbstladekarabiner, Modell 1915'' - Aviator's Selfloading [[Carbine]], Model 1915) and was issued with 30-round drum magazines.<ref name=illuency /> The drum magazine issued with the Fl.-S.-K. 15 was that designed and patented by [[Friedrich Blum]],<ref>Walter, John (2003). ''Military Rifles of Two World Wars''. London: Greenhill Books. p. 69.</ref><ref name=tb&lap>{{cite book|last=Görtz|first=Joachim|title=The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, Volume 2 |date=2010 |publisher=Brad Simpson Publishing|location=Galesburg|pages=966–967, 1007–1008}}</ref> with a later 32-round version of the drum magazine (''Trommelmagazin 08'') that had been designed for the 1913 [[Parabellum-Pistole]] (LP 08). The corps used the Mondragón rifle until a sufficient number of machine guns equipped with a [[synchronization gear]] became available, after which the M1908 was phased out of service and given to the navy. Very few of the Mondragón rifles survived the war,<ref name=illuency>{{cite book|last=Fitzsimons|first=Bernard|title=Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 18|year=1978|publisher=Phoebus Publishing Company|location=London|pages=1933–1934}}</ref> although almost all of the rifles were still in use by the [[Imperial German Navy]] when the First World War ended. The usage of the Mondragón in the German Imperial Navy would involve destroyer crews and Seabattlions Pioneers being entirely issued Mondragón and pistol carbines<ref>Walter, John (2006). ''The Rifle Story: An Illustrated History from 1756 to the Present Day''. London: Greenhill Books. p. 192.</ref> In Switzerland, the Mondragón self-loading rifle was modified to use the [[7.5×55mm Swiss]] cartridge, came equipped with a 12-round magazine and a ''Hülsenfangkorb'' (a device to collect the ejected cartridges).


[[File:German WW I rifles and pistols.jpg|thumb|left|Variety of WWI German rifles and pistols. The Mondragón is the center most rifle]]
The Mondragón rifle was also briefly installed in the World War I era two-seater aircraft, the ''Häfeli DH'' and the ''Blériot'', however it was soon replaced by fully automatic weapons.


In 1915, the [[German Empire]] bought the remainder of the M1908 model rifles produced by SIG<ref name=illuency /> (as many as 4000 units, depending on the total SIG production for their Mexican contract). The Germans tried to modify the rifles to chamber the [[7.92×57mm Mauser|7.9×57mm S-Patrone]], the service cartridge of Germany until the end of [[World War II]], but their attempts were unsuccessful.<ref name=le>{{cite book|last1=Erenfeicht|first1=Leszek|title=Ilustrowana Encyklopedia - Broń Strzelecka XX Wieku|date=1995|publisher=Espadon|location=Warszawa|page=18}}</ref> The rifles were tested by the German Army, but they proved highly susceptible to fouling caused by mud and dirt in the [[trenches]], a common problem even with less complex designs such as the Canadian [[Ross rifle|Ross Mk III]] [[straight-pull]] [[bolt-action rifle]].<ref>Fitzsimons, Bernard (1978). ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 20''. London: Phoebus Publishing Company. p. 2223.</ref>
== Additional notes==

A few of the Mondragón rifles may have been used by Mexican soldiers during an ambush on [[Pancho Villa]].<ref>http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/14389/14554592_3.jpg?v=8CF99F84CB579B0</ref> Although some sources claim that the Mexican Army had used the rifle since 1911,<ref>Hatcher, Julian S. (1957). ''Hatcher's Notebook, 2nd Edition''. Harrisburg: Telegraph Press. p. 157.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Westwood|first=David|title=Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact|year=2005|url=https://archive.org/details/riflesillustrate00west|url-access=limited|publisher=ABC-CLIO|pages=[https://archive.org/details/riflesillustrate00west/page/n135 117]}}</ref> two pictures from ''Crónica Ilustrada Revolución Mexicana, Volume 1'' on pages 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/planvalla/02.jpg |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230238/http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/planvalla/02.jpg |archivedate=2014-02-01 }}</ref> and 159 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/prilevanrevo/17.jpg |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201231946/http://www.inehrm.gob.mx/imagenes/prilevanrevo/17.jpg |archivedate=2014-02-01 }}</ref> and an article from Guns magazine<ref>{{cite journal|last=Edwards|first=William B.|title=Guns for a Nation of Riflemen|journal=Guns|year=1958|issue=7|pages=45, 47}}</ref> suggest that the rifle was in service as early as 1910.
The [[Imperial German Flying Corps]] (Luftstreitkräfte) decided to adopt the rifle, where operating conditions lessened the chances of the action being fouled by mud, and issued two rifles to each aircraft's crew. The M1903 proved to be a significant improvement over the bolt-action [[Gewehr 98]] rifles and [[Luger pistol|Parabellum-Pistole]] pistols usually issued to crews. The M1908 rifle was re-designated as the '''Fl.-S.-K. 15''' (''Flieger-Selbstladekarabiner, Modell 1915'' - Aviator's Selfloading [[Carbine]], Model 1915) and was issued with 30-round drum magazines.<ref name=illuency /> The drum magazine issued with the Fl.-S.-K. 15 was that designed and patented by [[Friedrich Blum]],<ref>Walter, John (2003). ''Military Rifles of Two World Wars''. London: Greenhill Books. p. 69.</ref><ref name=tb&lap>{{cite book|last=Görtz|first=Joachim|title=The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, Volume 2 |date=2010 |publisher=Brad Simpson Publishing|location=Galesburg|pages=966–967, 1007–1008}}</ref> with a later 32-round version of the drum magazine (''Trommelmagazin 08'') that had been designed for the 1913 [[Parabellum-Pistole]] (LP 08). The corps used the Mondragón rifle until a sufficient number of machine guns equipped with a [[synchronization gear]] became available, after which the M1908 was phased out of service and given to the navy. Very few of the Mondragón rifles survived the war,<ref name=illuency>{{cite book|last=Fitzsimons|first=Bernard|title=Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 18|year=1978|publisher=Phoebus Publishing Company|location=London|pages=1933–1934}}</ref> although almost all of the rifles were still in use by the [[Imperial German Navy]] when the First World War ended. The usage of the Mondragón in the German Imperial Navy would involve destroyer crews and Seabattlions Pioneers being entirely issued Mondragón and pistol carbines<ref>Walter, John (2006). ''The Rifle Story: An Illustrated History from 1756 to the Present Day''. London: Greenhill Books. p. 192.</ref> In Switzerland, the Mondragón self-loading rifle was modified to use the [[7.5×55mm Swiss]] cartridge, came equipped with a 12-round magazine and a ''Hülsenfangkorb'' (a device to collect the ejected cartridges).

The Mondragón rifle was also briefly installed in the World War I era two-seater aircraft, the ''Häfeli DH'' and the ''Blériot'', however it was soon replaced by fully automatic weapons.


== Rifle scheme and operating procedure ==
== Mondragón M1908 scheme and operating procedure ==
Mondragon patent from 1907:
Mondragón United States patent from 1907 for the design of a semi-automatic rifle:
<gallery mode="packed">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:001 mondragon patent rifle.jpg|
File:001 mondragon patent rifle.jpg|
Line 88: Line 96:
*[[Farquhar-Hill rifle]]
*[[Farquhar-Hill rifle]]
*[[Mauser#Mauser M1916|Mauser self-loading carbine]]
*[[Mauser#Mauser M1916|Mauser self-loading carbine]]
*[[Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917]]


==References==
==References==
<references /> The Mondragon Rifle. Design evolution from concept to deployment
<references />


==External links==
==External links==
Line 99: Line 108:
*[http://www.cruffler.com/historic-february01.html article from Cruffler]
*[http://www.cruffler.com/historic-february01.html article from Cruffler]
*[http://imgur.com/a/LicKs gallery of Mondragon rifle and drum magazine]
*[http://imgur.com/a/LicKs gallery of Mondragon rifle and drum magazine]
{{Commons category|Mondragón rifles}}{{WWIGermanInfWeaponsNav}}

{{WWIGermanInfWeaponsNav}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mondragon rifle}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mondragon rifle}}

Latest revision as of 11:44, 6 December 2024

Mondragón rifles
Mondragón M1894 straight-pull rifle (top) and M1908 semi-auto rifle (bottom)
TypeSemi-automatic rifle / straight-pull bolt-action rifle
Place of originMexico
Service history
In service1911 (Mexico)
1914–1918 (Germany)
Used by
    • German Empire German Imperial Army (trials only), Flying Corps
    • Mexico Mexican Army
WarsMexican Revolution
World War I
Production history
DesignerManuel Mondragón
Designed1884 (straight-pull bolt-action rifle), patent of 1904 (semi-automatic rifle)
ManufacturerSchweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
Produced1887 (straight-pull bolt-action rifle)
Specifications
Mass4.18 kilograms (9.2 lb)[1]
Length1,105 millimetres (43.5 in)[1]
Barrel length577 millimetres (22.7 in)[1]

Cartridge7×57mm Mauser[1]

7.92x57mm Mauser

7.5x55mm Swiss
Actiongas operation, rotating bolt
Muzzle velocity760 metres per second (2,500 ft/s)[1]
Effective firing range800 metres (870 yd)
Maximum firing range2,000 metres (2,200 yd)
Feed systemThe 1908 model utilized 5 round stripper clips into 10 round magazine. The 30-round drum was only used by the German flying corps.
Sightsrear: ladder, graduated 400–2000 m

The Mondragón rifle refers to one of two rifle designs developed by Mexican artillery officer General Manuel Mondragón. These designs include the straight-pull bolt-action M1893 and M1894 rifles, and Mexico's first self-loading rifle, the M1908 - the first of the designs to see combat use.

Straight-pull bolt-action rifles

[edit]

Mondragón began working on his initial rifle design in 1891. During his stay in Belgium, he filed a patent application for which he had received a grant on March 23, 1892 (No. 98,947). Mondragón was granted a further Patent on April 20, 1892 from the French Patent Office (No. 221,035). He also filed for a Patent for his design with the United States Patent Office on February 8, 1893, which was granted on March 24, 1896 (No. 557,079).[2]

The rifle, referred to as model M1893, was of a straight-pull, bolt-action design, chambered in the 6.5×48mm cartridge (also developed by Mondragón) or the 5.2x68mm cartridge (developed by Colonel Rubin), with a fixed magazine which held an 8-round en-bloc clip.[3] The bolt was locked by two pairs of six small radially-arranged lugs (reminiscent of, e. g., AR-15) locking in helical grooves in the receiver.[4] The rifle operated with three settings:[5] "A" (safe), "L" (normal operation), and "R" (rapid). The "automatic" fire setting allowed the rifle to fire a cartridge each time the bolt was manually cycled to closed position,[2] in similar fashion to Winchester M1897 pump-action shotgun. The rifle could be equipped with a knife bayonet, measuring 41 centimetres (16 in) and 575 grams (1.268 lb), or a blade-type bayonet of 28 centimetres (11 in) length.[6]

At the time of the rifle's design, Mexico did not have any manufacturers capable of producing them to the required tolerances. Mondragón, with the backing of Diaz, subsequently entrusted the Swiss Industrial Company (Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft) of Neuhausen, Switzerland with the production of the rifles. SIG received the first order for 50 rifles in 1893, and a second order for 200 rifles followed in 1894. The rifles from the second order were chambered in the 5.2 × 68mm round developed by Swiss colonel Eduard Rubin, and were referred to as the model M1894 (to differentiate them from the versions chambered in the 6.5mm cartridge).[7]

Self-loading rifle

[edit]

Mondragón continued his work, and on August 8, 1904 he filed a patent application (No. 219,989) for his new design for a self-loading rifle. The Patent (No. 853,715) was granted on May 14, 1907.[8]

The design was adopted by the Mexican Army in 1908 as the Fusil Porfirio Díaz Sistema Mondragón Modelo 1908. The same year, the Mexican government contracted with SIG for the production of 4,000 M1908 rifles, chambered in the 7×57mm Mauser Mexican service cartridge. A few number of samples arrived to Mexico in a number no greater than forty units. The rifle's inability to cope with the poor quality of ammunition available at the time, along with the high unit cost of SFr160 per rifle, led to the cancellation of the order by the Mexican government.

The Mondragón Modelo 1908 was a gas-operated rifle with a rotating bolt using a cylinder and piston arrangement, a design considered unusual at the time. The bolt and the locking lugs was very similar to the bolt-action rifle. A switch, located on the charging handle, would disengage the bolt from the gas system, allowing the firearm to effectively operate as a straight-pull bolt-action rifle. The Mondragón Modelo 1908 rifles were fitted with a bipod. In addition to the knife bayonet introduced with the previous rifles, Mondragón designed a spade bayonet for use with the Modelo 1908,[9] for which he filed a patent application (No. 631,283) on June 6, 1911.[10]

Use during the Mexican Revolution

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A Mondragón M1908 in the National Museum of History of Mexico

A few of the Mondragón rifles may have been used by Mexican soldiers during an ambush on Pancho Villa.[11] Although some sources claim that the Mexican Army had used the rifle since 1911,[12][13] two pictures from Crónica Ilustrada Revolución Mexicana, Volume 1 on pages 100[14] and 159 [15] and an article from Guns magazine[16] suggest that the rifle was in service as early as 1910.

World War I German service

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Variety of WWI German rifles and pistols. The Mondragón is the center most rifle

In 1915, the German Empire bought the remainder of the M1908 model rifles produced by SIG[1] (as many as 4000 units, depending on the total SIG production for their Mexican contract). The Germans tried to modify the rifles to chamber the 7.9×57mm S-Patrone, the service cartridge of Germany until the end of World War II, but their attempts were unsuccessful.[17] The rifles were tested by the German Army, but they proved highly susceptible to fouling caused by mud and dirt in the trenches, a common problem even with less complex designs such as the Canadian Ross Mk III straight-pull bolt-action rifle.[18]

The Imperial German Flying Corps (Luftstreitkräfte) decided to adopt the rifle, where operating conditions lessened the chances of the action being fouled by mud, and issued two rifles to each aircraft's crew. The M1903 proved to be a significant improvement over the bolt-action Gewehr 98 rifles and Parabellum-Pistole pistols usually issued to crews. The M1908 rifle was re-designated as the Fl.-S.-K. 15 (Flieger-Selbstladekarabiner, Modell 1915 - Aviator's Selfloading Carbine, Model 1915) and was issued with 30-round drum magazines.[1] The drum magazine issued with the Fl.-S.-K. 15 was that designed and patented by Friedrich Blum,[19][20] with a later 32-round version of the drum magazine (Trommelmagazin 08) that had been designed for the 1913 Parabellum-Pistole (LP 08). The corps used the Mondragón rifle until a sufficient number of machine guns equipped with a synchronization gear became available, after which the M1908 was phased out of service and given to the navy. Very few of the Mondragón rifles survived the war,[1] although almost all of the rifles were still in use by the Imperial German Navy when the First World War ended. The usage of the Mondragón in the German Imperial Navy would involve destroyer crews and Seabattlions Pioneers being entirely issued Mondragón and pistol carbines[21] In Switzerland, the Mondragón self-loading rifle was modified to use the 7.5×55mm Swiss cartridge, came equipped with a 12-round magazine and a Hülsenfangkorb (a device to collect the ejected cartridges).

The Mondragón rifle was also briefly installed in the World War I era two-seater aircraft, the Häfeli DH and the Blériot, however it was soon replaced by fully automatic weapons.

Mondragón M1908 scheme and operating procedure

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Mondragón United States patent from 1907 for the design of a semi-automatic rifle:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Fitzsimons, Bernard (1978). Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 18. London: Phoebus Publishing Company. pp. 1933–1934.
  2. ^ a b Mondragón, Manuel. "Breech Loading Bolt Gun". Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. ^ Hughes, James B. (1968). Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866-1967. Houston: Deep River Armory. pp. 19.
  4. ^ "Mondragon Model 1894". 4 January 2013.
  5. ^ Mondragón, Manuel (1893). International Congress of Engineers. Chicago. p. 851.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Mondragón, Manuel (1893). International Congress of Engineers. Chicago. p. 852.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ Ford, Roger (1998). The World's Great Rifles. London: Brown Books. pp. 101–102. ISBN 9781897884331.
  8. ^ Mondragón, Manuel. "Firearm". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  9. ^ Hughes, James B. (1968) Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866–1967. Houston: Deep River Armory. p. 52
  10. ^ Mondragón, Manuel. "Combined Weapon and Tool". Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ^ http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/14389/14554592_3.jpg?v=8CF99F84CB579B0 Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL image file]
  12. ^ Hatcher, Julian S. (1957). Hatcher's Notebook, 2nd Edition. Harrisburg: Telegraph Press. p. 157.
  13. ^ Westwood, David (2005). Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. pp. 117.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ Edwards, William B. (1958). "Guns for a Nation of Riflemen". Guns (7): 45, 47.
  17. ^ Erenfeicht, Leszek (1995). Ilustrowana Encyklopedia - Broń Strzelecka XX Wieku. Warszawa: Espadon. p. 18.
  18. ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard (1978). Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 20. London: Phoebus Publishing Company. p. 2223.
  19. ^ Walter, John (2003). Military Rifles of Two World Wars. London: Greenhill Books. p. 69.
  20. ^ Görtz, Joachim (2010). The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, Volume 2. Galesburg: Brad Simpson Publishing. pp. 966–967, 1007–1008.
  21. ^ Walter, John (2006). The Rifle Story: An Illustrated History from 1756 to the Present Day. London: Greenhill Books. p. 192.

The Mondragon Rifle. Design evolution from concept to deployment

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