Videos tagged with Spanish Military

This review details the fascinating journey of a German Gewehr 98, originally manufactured in 1917 by Amberg. It was later modified in Spain, including a caliber conversion to 7mm Mauser and sight upgrades, before being sent to support Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. Imported to the US in the 1950s by Sam Cummings, this rifle represents a unique piece of international military firearm history.

The Star Model S is a compact .380 ACP pistol originally developed in 1935 for military use, serving the Spanish Air Force. Despite its WWII-era origins, it features a locked-breech, tilting barrel design similar to the 1911. Early models included a unique magazine-loaded indicator, and variations like the SS and SI offered different calibers or magazine safeties.

The Spanish M43 Mauser sniper rifle exists in two distinct patterns: an early, well-made version from the mid-1950s with a Zeiss scope and a proprietary mount, and a later, significantly lower-quality version from the 1960s. The late pattern features crude welding, a cheap Japanese commercial scope, and hastily modified parts, reflecting extreme cost-cutting despite its continued service life.

This American Rifleman TV segment of "I Have This Old Gun" explores the semi-automatic Astra A300 handgun. The video delves into its features and historical context, highlighting its lineage as an export version of the Astra Model 400 service pistol, which was utilized by the Spanish military from the 1920s to the 1940s. The description also directs viewers to American Rifleman's website for more firearms content and provides numerous links to various NRA publications and resources.

The Star Z-70B is an improved Spanish submachine gun, notably featuring a standard trigger and selector switch compared to the earlier Z-62's progressive trigger. Chambered in 9mm Parabellum for better export, it offers compact design and a durable finish. While soft-shooting, its canted stock causes significant muzzle climb, requiring firm control during automatic fire.

The Astra 300 is a Spanish pocket pistol, a scaled-down version of the Astra 400, produced from 1923. It was offered in .380 ACP and .32 ACP, featuring a simple blowback action and safeties including a grip safety and manual thumb safety. Notably, Germany was a major customer during WWII, purchasing over 85,000 units marked with the Waffenamt WaA251.

The Spanish AMELI LMG, a 5.56mm roller-locked weapon, shares lineage with the MG45 and CETME LMG. Despite an aggressive design featuring a quick-change barrel and bipods, its reputation was severely damaged by poor quality control stemming from Spanish government cost-cutting. Spanish Marines found it unreliable, preferring the heavier MG3 due to frequent malfunctions and parts breakage.

The Star Model BM is a 9mm Spanish surplus pistol offering excellent value at around $230, resembling the 1911 but with key differences like a pivot trigger and frame-mounted safety. Despite its age and basic sights, it demonstrates impressive accuracy and reliability, handling recoil well due to its all-steel construction. The reviewer recommends purchasing extra magazines due to their affordability and potential future scarcity.

The Spanish Destroyer Carbine, chambered in the rare 9x23 Largo caliber, is a unique bolt-action rifle based on a miniaturized Mauser action. Primarily used by Spanish police and prison guards from the 1930s to 1960s, it offers mild recoil and positive extraction. Finding ammunition can be challenging, with reloading being a viable option for frequent shooters.

The CETME-L, Spain's 5.56mm rifle from the 1980s, was developed from the 7.62mm CETME Model C. While sharing some design cues with HK roller-delayed systems, it features a square cocking tube and proprietary STANAG magazine compatibility issues. Disassembly involves removing buttstock pins and the bolt carrier group, with the trigger group requiring specific selector positioning. Range testing revealed reliability concerns and a unique 'cyclic cascading' full-auto feel.

The Campo-Giro M1913 was Spain's first domestically produced self-loading service pistol, designed by Venancio Lopez de Ceballos y Aguirre and adopted in 1912. Despite its historical significance, it was complex to operate and maintain, featuring a unique half-cock safety and a difficult disassembly process. Production was limited, and it was soon replaced by the Astra 400, making the early 1913 pattern a rare find.