#modelo 58

[historicalfirearms]

CETME Modelo C

Developed from the Modelo 58/Modelo B, the Spanish Army adopted the Modelo C, developed at Centro des Estudios Tecnicos y Materiales Especiales (CETME), in 1965. The Modelo C marked Spain’s transition from the lighter loaded 7.62x51mm CETME/CSP003 cartridge to the full-power NATO standard 7.62x51mm round. 

Based on Ludwig Vorgrimmler’s roller delayed blowback action the Modelo C dispensed with the Modelo 58′s bipod foregrip and instead has all wooden furniture. Although a bipod variant was also offered. The Modelo C had a polymer pistol grip and a left-side three position safety/fire selector. The Modelo C fed from a 20-round box magazine and fired from a closed bolt. Empty the Modelo C weighed 4.2kg (9.3 lbs). The Modelo C’s receiver was reinforced in several places and a new flash hider was introduced.

A Spanish Marine readies his Model C for a boarding party, in the background another marine has a Star Z-62 submachine gun (source) 

In 1959, the West German military also adopted the Modelo58/Modelo B, as the G3, improved and chambered to fire the 7.62 NATO round rather than the lighter Spanish ammunition. The Modelo B could be converted to fire the NATO round with a bolt and recoil spring kit. This conversion was designated the Modelo 1958-64-C. The Modelo C was introduced in 1965 and remained in Spanish service into the early 1990s when it was replaced by the shortlived CETME Modelo L. 

Sources:

Images: 1 2

The World’s Assault Rifles, G.P.Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016)

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[historicalfirearms]

CETME Modelo A Prototype

One of three rifle prototype developed at Centro des Estudios Tecnicos y Materiales Especiales (CETME), the Modelo A would later evolve into the Heckler & Koch G3. 

During World War Two, while working for Mauser, Ludwig Vorgrimler had worked on various designs using the roller-delayed and roller-locked actions. After the war Vorgrimler continued to develop these ideas in France at the Centre d'Etudes et d'Armament de Mulhouse (CEAM). Following the cancellation of France’s rifle program he left CEAM in September 1950 and moved to Spain to work at CETME. 

Vorgrimler brought the ideas he had developed at CEAM to CETME and joined a team developing new rifles for Spain’s military. Vogrimler was responsible for the Modelo 2, chambered in 7.92x40mm a round with a long, lightweight spitzer projectile, which later evolved into the Fusil d'Asalto CETME modelo A. The Modelo 2 was first tested in December 1950 and was well received. A rival design, the Modelo 1, by another German engineer called Manneking, which used a roller-locked action was also extensively tested but was abandoned in 1952 and efforts were focused on Vorgrimler’s design. 

The Modelo 2 drew heavily on the Gerät 06H/StG-45(M)’s roller-delayed blowback action. The original Spanish 7.92x40mm round was later dropped in favour of the new NATO 7.62x51mm round and the Modelo 2′s bolt was redesigned. The first production prototypes were designated the Modelo A.The rifle fired from an open bolt in fully-automatic mode and from a closed bolt in semi-automatic.

Modelo 2 chambered in 7.92x40mm CETME, note the differing magazine well shape to the 7.62mm Modelo A (source)

The profile of the Modelo A looks very similar to the later Heckler & Koch rifles, however, it’s handguard is made up of a pair of folded bipod legs and its rear sight is a more traditional tangent rather than drum sight. Vorgrimler’s rifle made extensive use of cost-effective stamped metal manufacturing techniques and weighed around 11.8lbs (5.4kg). CETME attempted to adapt the Modelo A to fire the powerful new NATO round but this led to cracked receivers and instead a less powerful round with identical dimensions to the NATO round, the 7.62×51mm CETME cartridge, was developed.  

The West German Bundesgrenzschutz first tested a CETME rifle in 1954, with further testing following. The West German’s were extremely interested in the Spanish rifle and when the Bundeswehr was formed in late 1955, the interest in the Modelo 2 continued during the eventual West German Army rifle trials. During the Bundeswehr trials the CETME, designated the G3, faced off against the FN FAL (G1), SIG 510 (G2) and the Armalite AR-10 (G4). 

In 1958, an improved version of Vorgrimler’s rifle, the Modelo B, with an additional steel hand guard was adopted by the Spanish Army as the Modelo 58, chambered in 7.62x51mm CETME. The following year the Bundeswehr selected the CETME G3 and production was assigned to Rheinmetall and Heckler & Koch. H&K had long standing links with CETME and worked to chamber the new rifle in the more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO. The Modelo B and the refined design by H&K differed from the Modelo A in that they were lighter and fired solely from a closed bolt. The Spanish Army finally switched to the standard NATO round in 1965, and adopted the strengthened Modelo C. 

Sources:

Images: Many thanks to Peter Hokana for kindly allowing the use of his photographs.

The World's Assault Rifles, G.P.Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016)

Rifles of the World, J. Walter (1993)

If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon!