Mexican Mondragon semi-auto

[snowhunter]

With facination, I just learned about the earliest known, semi-auto rifle issuet to troops, the 1908 Mexican Mondragon rifle in 7 X 57 Mauser.

Find it on the web under "Mondragon rifle" and www.cruffler.com/historic-february01.html

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

I've actually seen one, believe it or not, in the Lithuanian National War Museum, in Kaunas.

And like every other firearm in that museum, from C96 Mausers to Artillery Lugers and sweet S&W breaktop Russians, it had a half-inch hole drilled in the chamber.

Yet another reason for the Lithuanians to despise the Soviets.

 

[f_soldaten04]

I belive early reconnaisance pilots were issued with the mondragon rifle. cant remember where I read this.

 

[MarkCNP]

It was only useful for pilots because it jammed too easily in the trenches.

 

[snowhunter]

The story about the Mondragon semi-auto's use by the german airforce, which used a 30 round snail drum for the 7x57 Mauser cartridge, was so poor that to overcome malfunctions, an aircraft would carry two Mondragon rifles, and later, the germans scrapped all Mondragon rifles.