The Argentine Mauser Model 1909 were Gewehr 98 pattern bolt-action battle rifles designed for the Argentine Army. They were produced both in Germany and in Argentina.
| Mauser Modelo Argentino 1909 | |
|---|---|
 Modern shooting with a Mauser 1909 | |
| Type | Bolt-action rifle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1905-1960s |
| Used by | Argentina Paraguay Dominican Republic[1] |
| Wars | United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1916–1924) Chaco War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1909 |
| Manufacturer | DWM Fabrica Militar de Armas Portatiles |
| Produced | 1909-1959 |
| No. built | ~285,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.17 kg (9.2 lb) 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) |
| Length | 1,240 mm (49 in) 1,056 mm (41.6 in) |
| Barrel length | 740 mm (29 in) 556 mm (21.9 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.65×53mm Mauser |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| Muzzle velocity | 839.6 metres per second (2,755 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights adjustable to 2,000 metres (2,200 yd) |
Design
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The Mauser 1909 was a slightly modified copy of the Gewehr 98. Among other modifications, the Lange Visier sight was replaced by a tangent leaf sight. The M1909 was also able to use the bayonet of the Mauser 1891 it replaced.[2] The main producer in Germany was Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken that delivered 200,000 rifles[3] while around 85,000 rifles[2] were manufactured by the Fabrica Militar de Armas Portatiles, governmental plants in Rosario and Santa Fe. The Model 1909s were replaced by FN FALs[4] without having seen combat.[5]
Some Argentine Mauser 1909 rifles and carbines without crests were sold to Paraguay during the Chaco War.[2]
Variants
edit- Mauser 1909 sniper rifle: version with a German-made scope and a bent-down bolt handle.[5]
- Mauser 1909 cavalry carbine: shortened variant, with a straight grip stock and a forecap that covers all the barrel.[6] The bayonet can be attached under this forecap.[7]
- Mauser 1909 Mountain Carbine or Engineers Carbine:[7]
Peruvian Mauser 1909
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Peru received between 1910 and 1914 thousands of Mauser Model 1909 rifles, chambered in 7.65 Mauser. They were closer copies of the Gewehr 98, including the Lange Visier sight.[8] Aside from the caliber, the only differences were the larger receiver ring, the 5 mm (0.20 in) shorter breech, the slightly modified strip guide to use older Model 1891 strips, the longer hammer, the aspheric shape of the bolt handle and the Peruvian markings.[9] While these rifles were able to fire the old bullets with round nose, they were later adapted to spitzer bullets.[10] These weapons were used during the Leticia Incident and the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War.[11] After 1945, the Mauser 1909s were replaced by American weapons and were sold in the civilian market in the 1960s, a few being kept as ceremonial rifles.[12]
References
edit- ^ Hernandez, Edwin "ARMAS DE FUEGO USADAS EN LAS LUCHAS CIVILES Y POR LOS CUERPOS ARMADOS DOMINICANOS (SIGLOS XIX Y XX)"
- ^ a b c Ball 2011, p. 12.
- ^ Webster 2003, p. [page needed].
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 9.
- ^ a b Ball 2011, p. 14.
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 15.
- ^ a b Ball 2011, p. 18.
- ^ Ball 2011, pp. 289–290.
- ^ Guillou 2006, pp. 23–24.
- ^ Guillou 2006, pp. 24–25.
- ^ Jowett, Philip (28 Jun 2018). Latin American Wars 1900–1941: "Banana Wars," Border Wars & Revolutions. Men-at-Arms 519. Osprey Publishing. pp. 29, 46. ISBN 9781472826282.
- ^ Guillou 2006, p. 25.
- Ball, Robert W. D. (2011). Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Iola: Gun Digest Books. ISBN 9781440228926.
- Guillou, Luc (December 2006). Le fusil Mauser peruvien modèle 1909 (in French). pp. 22–25.
{{cite book}}:|magazine=ignored (help) - Webster, Colin (2003). Argentine Mauser Rifles 1871-1959. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-7643-1868-3.