1701

Unique Mondragon Model 1908 Semi-Automatic Rifle with Ultra Rare Drum Magazine

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:14,000.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 55,000.00 USD
Unique Mondragon Model 1908 Semi-Automatic Rifle with Ultra Rare Drum Magazine
Manuel Mondragon was an officer and later general in the Mexican army who designed several weapons that were some of the most technically advanced for the early 1900s. The Model 1890 rifle was one of his designs and the first semi-automatic rifle to be adopted by any nation. It's successor, the Model 1908 was an improved design, made in Switzerland at the SIG at Newhouse factory as they were one of the few arms makers, at this time, capable of producing weapons to such close tolerances, as required by General Mondragon. It is estimated that only 400 of this model were ever delivered to Mexico before the Mexican revolution broke out with the remaining rifles all being sold to Germany prior to WWI. The rifles themselves are extremely rare with very few even surviving today in any condition, and the drum magazines are virtually unheard of! Consequently a rifle in this exceptional top condition combined with an original drum magazine, it has to be the only one in the US or anywhere for that matter. The Mondragon employed several unique features such as; an early gas-operated system that has an operating rod that extends from the gas port under the front of the barrel to the front of the bolt to cycle the rifle. The bolt itself takes it's direct lineage from the Schmidt-Rubin rifle which employs four locking lugs at the front of the bolt and four more at the rear that rotate to lock and unlock the action. It is fitted with the correct military style tangent rear sight that is graduated from 400-2500 meters with an inverted "V" front sight with a bayonet lug on the underside of the barrel. The rifle action is unmarked except for the serial number (2578) which is engraved on the left side of the action, top of the bolt, and cocking handling. The stock and handguard are both correctly made from a light colored European straight grained walnut with a flat steel buttplate and the stock is numbered (81.5) on the lower left side. The RARE drum magazine itself is very heavy and robust assembly that has a small serial number plate on top of the flat that is marked "6 over 2272". The back plate of the drum has a single winding lever in the middle and is numbered 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 to indicate the actual number of load rounds. The markings and operation are both very similar to the German drum magazine configuration used on artillery lugers.
BBL: 25 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 7 mm
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 2578
Condition: Excellent with 98% original blue finish overall. The stock and handguard are also excellent, both with a nice matching light blond European walnut that shows some minor handling marks on the lower buttstock and along the sides of the butt. There is a small arsenal repair directly behind the barrel band on the left side, none of which really detracts from this super rare rifle. The drum magazine retains 75% of the original blue/black finish overall with the balance having flaked off and turned a nice pleasing brown patina that blends in very nicely with the original finish. The visible serial numbers of the rifle all match. This is just a super condition rifle with a one of a kind, unheard of drum magazine. Certainly the only one this describer has seen in 30 + years of collecting. This maybe your only chance to acquire this Mondragon Rig!