CETME C2
The C2, or CB-64 in Spanish service, was produced by CETME the Spanish state arsenal. The simpler C2 replaced the Star Z-series of submachine guns in service in the 1980s. Developed in the early 1960s, the C2 has a number of differences and similarities to the British Sterling.
While the C2’s bolt is helically grooved like the Sterling’s it also has a special safety feature. The firing pin is activated by a lever inside the bolt and can only protrude once the bolt is properly in battery. It also had a different trigger mechanism and a uniquely profiled pistol grip with finger grooves. The C2 used a straight 30-round magazine but retained the Sterling’s angled magazine housing to aid feeding.
The C2 had a tube receiver similar to the Sterling’s with a perforated barrel jacket and end cap design. It had a slightly different folding stock which locked in place using the Sterling’s locking method. CETME’s design had a folding cocking handle with a sliding dust cover. Unlike the Sterling the C2’s sights were set at 50 and 100 metres. Like the Star Z-62, it also used the commercial Sterling’s crackle paint finish and was chambered in both 9x19mm for export and 9x23mm Largo for domestic use.
Some of the Star and CETME submachine guns remain in limited second-line Spanish service today, although they have largely been superseded by the Star Z-84 and Heckler & Koch MP5.
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Submachine Gun, M. Popenker & A.Williams, (2012)
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