Mauser-Vergueiro
Encyclopedia
Mauser-Vergueiro was a bolt action rifle
, designed in 1904 by José A. Vergueiro, an infantry officer of the Portuguese Army
. It was developed from the Mauser 98 rifle with the introduction of a new bolt system. Outside Portugal
, the weapon was also known as the Portuguese Mauser. It used the 6.5x58mm Vergueiro, a cartridge developed specially for it.
The weapon replaced the Kropatschek m/1886
as the standard infantry rifle of the Portuguese Army in 1904, remaining in service until it was replaced by the Mauser 98k in 1939. In Portuguese service the weapon was officially designated Espingarda 6,5 mm m/1904 ("Rifle 6.5mm m/1904"). A lighter and shorter version of the weapon was classified as a carbine
and designated Carabina 6,5 mm m/1904. The Mauser-Vergueiro was also in the service of Brazil
and South Africa
, chambered in 7x57mm Mauser.
In Portuguese
and South African service it was used in combat in the First World War and in several colonial campaigns. The German colonial troops in East Africa
also used Mauser-Vergueiro rifles, captured from the allied forces in combat, preferring them to its proper Mauser rifles of German origin.
The Portuguese troops serving with the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps
on the Western Front did not use the rifle but the Lee-Enfield
(m/917) instead; to avoid logistical issues.
In 1939, after the Portuguese Army had adopted the 7.92x57mm Mauser 98k as the m/937, many of the remaining Mauser-Vergueiro rifles were modified to chamber the new standard cartridge. The modified rifles were called Espingarda 8 mm m/1904/39.
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
, designed in 1904 by José A. Vergueiro, an infantry officer of the Portuguese Army
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
. It was developed from the Mauser 98 rifle with the introduction of a new bolt system. Outside Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, the weapon was also known as the Portuguese Mauser. It used the 6.5x58mm Vergueiro, a cartridge developed specially for it.
The weapon replaced the Kropatschek m/1886
Kropatschek
A Kropatschek is any variant of a rifle designed by Alfred von Kropatschek. Kropatschek's rifles used an tubular magazine of his design, of the same type used in the German Mauser Gewehr 1871/84 and the Japanese Type 22 Murata.-Variants:Austria-Hungary:...
as the standard infantry rifle of the Portuguese Army in 1904, remaining in service until it was replaced by the Mauser 98k in 1939. In Portuguese service the weapon was officially designated Espingarda 6,5 mm m/1904 ("Rifle 6.5mm m/1904"). A lighter and shorter version of the weapon was classified as a carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
and designated Carabina 6,5 mm m/1904. The Mauser-Vergueiro was also in the service of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, chambered in 7x57mm Mauser.
In Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and South African service it was used in combat in the First World War and in several colonial campaigns. The German colonial troops in East Africa
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
also used Mauser-Vergueiro rifles, captured from the allied forces in combat, preferring them to its proper Mauser rifles of German origin.
The Portuguese troops serving with the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps
Portuguese Expeditionary Corps
The Portuguese Expeditionary Corps was the main military force from Portugal that participated in the First World War. Portuguese neutrality ended in 1916 after the seizure of German merchant ships resulted in Germany declaring war...
on the Western Front did not use the rifle but the Lee-Enfield
Lee-Enfield
The Lee-Enfield bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century...
(m/917) instead; to avoid logistical issues.
In 1939, after the Portuguese Army had adopted the 7.92x57mm Mauser 98k as the m/937, many of the remaining Mauser-Vergueiro rifles were modified to chamber the new standard cartridge. The modified rifles were called Espingarda 8 mm m/1904/39.