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SIG Bergmann
The SIG Bergmann (unofficially referred to as the "SIG M1920") is a Swiss submachine gun that was produced by SIG from about 1920 to 1927. It was a derivative of the Bergmann MP18/I, made under license from Theodor Bergmann; the production rights were granted to SIG after Bergmann's own factory, which manufactured the MP18/I during World War I, closed down in 1919. Unlike the original MP18/I, the SIG Bergmann did not feed from the TM 08 trommelmagazin, but instead fed from straight box magazines of a 50-round capacity.
The SIG Bergmann submachine gun was offered for international export during the interwar period, with sales to Brazil, Bolivia, China, Finland, Japan, and Thailand. The Japanese contract model was adopted as the Type Be (for "Beruguman") and was issued to Imperial Navy Marines. The vast majority of export sales of the SIG Bergmann were made in 7.63x25mm Mauser and 7.65x21mm Parabellum, though 9x19mm Parabellum guns were made in small numbers for the Swiss Army. The SIG Bergmann was widely copied by Chinese manufacturers during the 1920s and 1930s. Some Chinese copies were made with vertical magazine feeds, including the Tsing Tao 16th Year submachine gun.
Some examples of the SIG Bergmann were built with selective-fire pressure triggers, which gave single shots when half-pressed and fully-automatic fire when fully depressed.
Due to their similar appearance, SIG Bergmann is often confused with the Bergmann MP18/I and the later Haenel MP28/II. The SIG Bergmann can be distinguished from these guns by its round cocking handle and its proprietary magazine feed, which has the release catch mounted on the underside of the feed housing rather than the top. Other key distinguishers include the lack of a fire selector button above the trigger group (a feature present on the MP28/II), and an adjustable tangent rear sight (as opposed to the flip-up notch sight of the MP18/I). The only factory markings present on the SIG Bergmann are Brevet Bergmann ("Bergmann patent") and a serial number stamped on the magazine housing.
In the later 1920s, an updated variant of the SIG Bergmann was introduced (sometimes unofficially called the "SIG M1930"), which had a selective-fire trigger by standard, a large wooden foregrip, and a rearranged magazine feed which took magazines from the right, similar to the Bergmann MP35/I, and ejected from the left. The magazines were also modified with rectangular windows cut into the surface to act as an ammunition indicator. This model was offered for export sale in both 7.65x21mm and 7.63x25mm, but achieved no known sales and was soon discontinued.
Specifications
(1920 - 1927)
- Type: Submachine Gun
- Caliber: 7.63x25mm Mauser, 9x25mm Mauser, 7.65x21mm Parabellum, 9x19mm Parabellum
- Weight: 9 lbs (4.1 kg)
- Length: 31.9 in (81 cm)
- Barrel length: 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Capacity: 50 rounds
- Fire Modes: Automatic, semi-automatic (pressure trigger variant)
The SIG Bergmann and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rat Patrol | Eric Braeden | Capt. Hans Dietrich | The Moment of Truce Raid | 1966-1968 |
| Albert Paulsen | Col. von Helbing | The Life or Death Raid |
Video Games
| Game Title | Mods | Notations | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield: 1942 | 2002 | ||
| Forgotten Hope | 2003 | ||
| Men of War | SIG M1920 | 2009 | |
| Far East War | "MP-18 submachine gun" | SIG M1920 | 2013 |
| Enlisted | SIG M1920 | 2021 | |
| SIG M1920 / Type Be | |||
| SIG M1930 |