Mauser-Vergueiro

Mauser-Vergueiro Rifle
Mauser-Vergueiro
Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	Portugal
Service history
In service	1904–1939
Used by	Portugal, Brazil, South Africa, German East Africa
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designer	José A. Vergueiro
Designed	1904
Produced	1904–1945
Variants	Rifle m/1904, Carbine m/1904 and Rifle m/1904/39
Specifications
Weight	3.9 kg (Rifles m/1904 and m/1904/39) 3.6 kg (Carbine m/1904)
Length	1,110 mm (Rifles m/1904 and m/1904/39) 1100 mm (Carbine m/1904)
Barrel length	600 mm (23.6 in)
Cartridge	6.5×58mm Vergueiro (Rifle and Carbine m/1904) 7×57mm Mauser (Rifle m/1904, export model) 7.92×57mm Mauser (Rifle m/1904/39)
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	715 m/s (2,346 ft/s)
Feed system	5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
Sights	Iron sights adjustable out to 2000 meters

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.

Overall view - right side

Overall view - left side

Top view - bolt, action, sight elevation ruler

Action

The finger adjustable elevation sight ruler

Side markings: "Espingarda Portugueza 6,5 mod. 1904". "Deutsche Waffen - und Munitionsfabriken . BERLIN".

D. Carlos I royal sign top marking

Front sight with side protection guards

Bolt

Trigger