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Mondragón Rifle
The Mexican Mondragón Rifle was a series of self-loading rifles developed by Mexican officer Manuel Mondragón. Mondragón started experimenting with self-loading rifle designs in 1891. In 1893, Mondragón developed the M1893, a straight-pull bolt action design chambered for the 6.5x48mm cartridge also developed by Mondragón. As Mexico had no manufacturers able to produce the rifle up to the necessary standards, production was entrusted to SIG in Switzerland. SIG received two orders for 50 and 200 rifles in 1893 and 1894. The rifles from the second order were chambered in 5.2x68mm Swiss, and were referred to as M1894.
Mondragón further improved his design. By 1908, Mondragón developed a gas-operated rifle with a rotating bolt. The design was adopted by the Mexican Army, and production was once again contracted to SIG, for 4,000 rifles chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. However, due to the Mexican Revolution, only 400 were delivered by 1911. When 1,000 rifles were delivered to Mexico, the remaining order was canceled due to the high costs of the rifle and poor ammo conditions which the rifle couldn't work with.
During WWI, the German Empire bought the remaining stock of the M1908 produced by SIG but not sent to Mexico. These rifles were tested for infantry use, but were found to be too unreliable in the trench conditions and unsuitable for infantry. As air combat doesn't have such conditions, the Imperial German Flying Corps (Luftstreitkräfte) adopted the rifle in 1915 as the Flieger-Selbstlade-Karabiner Modell 15 (Aviator's Selfloading Carbine, Model 1915), abbreviated "Fl.-S.-K. 15". These rifles were issued with 30-round drum magazines. They would by phased out when aircraft machine guns with synchronization gear were developed and equipped.
The M1908 could switch into a straight-pull bolt action rifle via a switch located on the charging handle, which would disengage the bolt from the gas system.
Specifications
(1893–1894) M1893
(1908-1910) M1908
- Type: Semi-automatic rifle / Straight-pull bolt-action rifle
- Caliber: 7x57mm Mauser, 5.2x68mm Swiss, 6.5x48mm
- Weight: 9 lb 3oz (4.18 kg)
- Length: 43.5 in (110.5 cm)
- Barrel length: 22.7 in (57.7 cm)
- Capacity: 8-round fixed box magazine (M1893); 10-round fixed box magazine (M1908); 10, 20-round detachable box magazine (experimental M1908 models), 30-round detachable drum magazine (Fl.-S.-K. 15)
- Fire Modes: Straight-pull Bolt Action, Semi-Auto
The Mondragón Rifle and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Anime
| Title | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water | Neo-Atlantean footsoldiers | 1990 - 1991 | |
| Saga of Tanya the Evil | Tanya von Degurechaff | 2017 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Empires : 1914-1918 | "Mondragon" | With 20-round box magazine | 2014 | |
| Battlefield 1 | "Mondragon" | 2016 |