SIMALL ARMS PROFILEGlossary of terms Bororta Model 1938 NY 5 Pi ‘Automatic The common name for sal-onsing oF se \-automatic Distt Thiehas been Usad thoughout the Protue feree ta deste the os (4) Th tthe Far Bh fats the ve 2) Tho tube down which the butte gad, {Bent (13) Noich in harnm Breach Ras! e710" at bs [Chamber Pat of the gun the yeceives the ehevge or Extraen Firima Pin (19) Th Follower 1b) Prt Frame (6) Soe Receiver Mammen (3) A Svcs to daca he pining ef the case x feetonates the eartiae erin, imagennethatguices te carscget upwarcs, Magazine (10) cominer for cartridges used 0 lead a gun iterate Magazine Catch (8) The cetch zn holds the mapasine in place Ia Jr (8) The main novsng forthe major componente jorina (5) The apring that controls the movemaet of ‘ang components won ig pring Guide (3) guide tha prevents the reco sexing rom fF (9) A seviento preventthe gun being fire. ‘Seer (14) A lower that rananite movament (tom the wigger 26 the Slide (1) The fhe tng us ‘Stocks (Grips) (7) Wooden or paste ne ‘Trigger (15) Alever which i used forsee the have: mechanism, ‘Trigwer Bar (17) Aever connecting th tiggerto the cour ng tho onroetor and“Troops oquippod with a SIG WS:7 crosting barbod wire rricads The SIG Service by A. J. R. Cormack ‘The development of the military riflein the 19th century was continually under the shadow of Prussia's success with the all-conquering Dreyse Nescile Fire Rifle. The result was the almost panic strickon attornpts to find an efficient altornative to it, On 17 January 1853 the firm of ‘Swiss Railway Carriage Factory’ near Schaithausen was termed by three Dusinessmen—Friedrich Peyer im Hot, Heinrich Moser and Colonel Conrad Neher. The factory ‘employed 150 poople and wassituated on the edge of the Rhine Falls so that electrical power could be generated from the Falls, Even today the Falls supply the complete electric needs of tne factory—same 4600 kilowvats and aiso provides the factory with one of the most picturesque settings imaginable. As its name suggests, the factory initially produced railway carriages which even today are one of the major products of the factory. Prolaz Burnard In 1860 Colone! Burnare became the first Director ‘of Arms atthe factory er, in conjunction with gunsmith, started the Swiss Rail way Carriage Factory ‘nits way in weapon production. Prolaz. an (sia) Rifle experienced gunsmith, brought with him tha dota for rifling gun barrels and with help of Colonel ‘Burnard started the production of arifled weapon named after them. In 1863 the factory was renamed the Schweizerische Industrie Geselischatt, or the Swiss Industrial Company. This name has been shortened tothe initials SIG for everyday usage and it is under these thet they are best known today Vettoreli 1869-1881 |n 1864 Friedrich Vettereli became the Director of the SIG Small Arms Factory, a position that he was to retain until 1 882. During this time he was the technical dasignor of a repeating rifle which was produced in prototype form in 1867. The weapon went into production in 1868 after some initial teething troubles, and was adopted by the Swiss Army in) 869 as their ordnance or standard weapon, The Swiss Government weapon factory, Waffenfabrik of Bem, also manufactured the Vettereli as well as developing a number of different versions of it. The Votteral rifle was aturn bolt weapon with the 181locking lugs atthe tear and with a tube magazine. The use of the tube magazine is explained by the use of similar tyoa on the American Winchester and Henry. Vertical Box Magazinos w Until 1886 and even the first Mauser had a tube. The feed mechanism owed a lot to the Model 1 868 Winchester, utilising a lifting cage to-carry the Cartridge from the magazine to the breech. The tube magazine carried twelve cartridges snd was loaded through a side gate ina similar manner to the Winchester, although on the Vettereli tie gate was covered by a swinging cover. The copper-cased cartridge was rimfire known variously asthe 10-2 Vettarel, the -41 Swiss, or the 10:4 by 38, which used 313 grain bullot and had a muzzle velocity of 1427ips, The SIG factory continued to diversify and in 1908 entered the field of packing machinery. At first this might seman odd choice, but it must be remembered that SIG are, above al things, expert engineers. When the Swiss decided to adopt the Service Rifle designed by Colonel Schmidt and Lieutenant Colonei Rubin at the State Ordnance Factory at Bern where Schmidt was the Director, SIG were asked to produce some of tha pants. The Model 1 889 ‘Schmidt-Rubins was adopted as the Ordnance Weapon of the Swiss Army in 1889 and SIG ranulactured receivers, barrels, butt stocks and hand guards. SIG cid not (at any time) manufacture the completa weapons only the above components. A modification of the Model 1889 was howover developed by then ThotirerArms Dioctor ofthe SIG Factory—Friechieh Vette SIG) Onn ofthe Prolaz Burard Ries. percussion fred Across section of the Vettetrifle showing the tubs mayazine, cartridge Bttandbolt” (SIG) Tho Vettori rie, Notice the side loading gste.s:milartothatet the Winchester (S/G)“The SIG Factory neon the Fallsof the Rhine withjust behind the buildings of the SIG factory. the midelo Nouhausen ans inttw background Schatthausen (SiG) Mondragon Atthe turn of tho: cantury SiG were still looking for a design for a service rifle that wauld be an advanc ‘on the bolt.action Schmidt: Rubin and thus were attracted to the design of the Mexican General Manuel Mondragon. In1908 SIG started to develop. the weapon and in 1911 10 produce it. During the First World War the Germans decided that they ‘would use the weapon and thus it became the first gas operated weapon to see active service, ‘The Germans found out, however, that the weapon was nota combat onein thet itbecame unreliable when used in muddy and rigorous trench warfare. They did, however, use itn limited numbers from their aircraft, Hance they called it the Aircraft Self Leading Carbine Model 1915. ‘The operstion of the Mondragon utilised a gas port at tho muzzle of the weapon that bled off 9a: ‘operate a piston that in turn unlocked the breech. The weapon had aten-round box magazine and although inwasnot a combat success t was manufactured to the usual high stendard thattypities SIG weapons. ‘The failure of the vveapansied the Swiss Army to utilise the Schmidt-Rubins until the end of the Second World War albeit ina number of different models and with improvements in the ammunition. However, the success of the German First World War Automatic Rifles had not escaped them and at the end of the war the $1G concern and the Government Weapon Factory began extensive development work into the design of new weapon forthe Swiss Army, KESerics. During the periad berwoun 1924 and 1929 » number of self loading carbines ware designed, These were all recoil operated and the final one in theseries was the KEG. These weapons were not adopted by the Army and'so development continued. One of the KE series to achieve production was tho KE7 Light Machine Gun whieh was alicht-weight selective fire weapon that fired from an open bolt, This was sald -to China in small quantities The shape of the weapon and its ight weight of only 1 ibs makes similarin appearance to the earlier automatic rifles At the same time the Factory continued to carry out contract work forthe Federal Weapons Factory and made the main component parts for the Furrer Light Machine Gun, (eventually replaced by the SIG STqw 57). The Moxicandesigned Mondagon ile. (SIG)KEG and N Series The KEG series of weapons named Models A, B, C and D were all gas operated and the initials stand for the designers Kiraly, End and Gaetzi. All the weapons were made only in protatype selt-loading carine form between 1930 and 1932. Tho Sorios N42 to N46 were developed in 1942-46 and utilised a gas port connected by a long tubeto the combined {as piston and breech, Once mare the N series weapons ware only produced in prototype form. Unfortunately $1G have very little information on the KE, KEG and N Series weapons, The K3t—ane atthe sores of SIG development weapons (SIG) Another SIG Gevolcpment \woapon intheir ories of automatic rifles (S16) ‘The biow forward AKE3 prototype shown with he 184 sKa6 Under the direction of Rudolf Ameer, $1G continued 10 develop prototype weapons which, with those developed by the Federal Weapons Factory, competed for the replacement of the Schmidt-Rubins. The trst SIG prototype developed in 1946 was the Sk48 which was similar in outward appearance to the standard Rubins bolt action weapon, but featured shor gas-operating system. The gas, which was bled off vary close to the chamber, operateda piston which was atthe side of theThe AKES with the bare! blown vee thatthe cocking lewer also Yororard and the Lotta of further ovolopme nt ofthe AKS Notice the ribbed barrel jacket (Pattern aon Enter) | é ; ce receiver. This maved thetilting locking bolt out af a groove in tho top of the receivar, allawing the action tomove back ejecting the spent case and on its spring assisted forward movement chamber alive round AK53—Automat Karabine The next development was in 1963.and was called the Automat Karabine 53 or AK53 of which some fifty were made tor Governmentttrial. This weapon wos truly remarkable ast featured a system that saw little or no use and had no success, This is the low-forward system, in this particular application 95‘An AKSS tied with «front mounted bipod. The weapon is 1000mmiong witha berrallengtn ot @0Ommand weighs Kg (1G) The KE7 Light Machine Gun, Notice the silaty in concept between thiswaapon end the BAR (SIG) Tho modified Sormidt-Rubans carbine designated the KS3.r 1611 | rey canwith a breech lock. In this system, asthe name indicates, the barrel is blawn forward by the firing of the cartridge. The gas piston drives the barrel forward, assisted by a spring leaving the empty case to be ejected by an ejector attached to the barrel. The barrel isretumed by a second spring stripping a fresh round fram the box magazine and chambering it. This systom allowed a very low rate of fire, some 300 1pm and therefore no need fora single shot capability, as with a little practice the vigger could be used to fire single rounds. This weapon is chambered forthe Swiss 7 Smm Model 11 cartridge as was the SK46. AMs5 The last seties of weapons was finalised in 1955) and utilised lessons learned from the previous series, and from the German STG45 assault fle. This weapon, chambered for the 7:Smm Swiss Model I! ‘Tho seit loading S46 rifle developed by S16. The weapon hore lefties with « toleveapicsight ($76) The SkA6 (Sbsslade Kerabine!). This SiG ovoloped sat oasing rite Ie-designadto fre single thot only ie "125mm ang. he barre!tongt is 500mm and weighs # 5kq (sig) cartridge was adopted by the arrny in 1967 10 replace the venerable Schmidt-Rubin, The Swiss Army designation for the weapon is the StGw57. The standard rifle can be fired either semi- or fully- automatically and with a bipod fitted it can fulfil some of theroles of a light machine gun, With no extra fittings or accessories both anti-tank and, anti-personnel grenades can be tired at both high and low trajectories. special device allowing the firing of a standard blank cartridge is available anda bayonet can be fitted. Tho weapon is lightin weight and considering the use of a full- power cartridge the Jf | The AMEB thown with bipod folded and the ‘optional bayonet. Also shown i¢2 nflegrenace that can botreatrom a standard weapen (SiG) 497SIG AMBS solfioadins rite shown fitod with obipod Thisisa proterypeweapen (S/G) Tho AMS5|oft sido showing the solector leva, canying handle and bipod (S/G The Swiss Ordnance Weapon StGwS7—a development ofthe AMES. (SIG)t6w57 shown withthe bipod toldud Notice the selector leverand carrying Tho Swiss Ordnance ‘the bipod ft in its ponshown with arposition (SIG) locking system similar to that of the Spanish CETME and the Heckier & Koch give the weapon an extremely light recoil (0% less than the equivalent boltaction fic), Apart trom the weapon's outstanding reliability ithas been found that during troop training the average recruit has been able t shoot more accurately with this weapon than with the one itreplaces, This inherent accuracy and ease Of firing has led to the Swiss adopting the weepon as sniper rifle, Thisin itself isa tremendous compliment as many counties are forced to employ arate bolt-action weapon for sniping use. SG 510 Tha SG 510series of weapons is similarto the AME55 and is in fact a development af that weapon, The 510/1 isa standard assault rifle very similar to the StGw57 but chambered for the NATO 7:62mm cartridge. The 510/2.is alightweight version of the 510/1 ands used primarily for paratrooper use. Tho 510/3 is.a lighter weight weapon designed to fire the 762mm short cartridge, This cartridge was developed from the standard Russian 762mm, Its smaller size and reduction in recoil contributes to the abave reduction in weight. The weapon can be fired either serni- or fully-automa tically and is fed froma 30-round bax magazine, It has a cyclic rate of ‘450-600 rounds per minute andhas a muzzle velocity of 2300fps with arecoil atthe shoulder of TheSiG'SG510-1 standard automatenitiosnown here fired withthe biped (S46) 4Rop17 suone2ygng anos G prTsuoNeayge 3YOsg Q Puepueys oy) 40) paraquieyo $1 Lodeam SiuL 91S Aemeind p-O16 91S preyuz wooy waned Puno! O.LYN wuz9-Z OWY b-O1S SIS OULPIT suoREIyANd eJO1q OD prayuz wooy wiEneg UoRDe PLeMiojrAo}q e SeAMvO5 UOdEOM SIyL EGWY 40 £5 ouIquiey 1ewoIny oy,Tho $1G.610-4 shown fred with Infra-red eniper equloment eommendeble thatthe cc: standard weapon mekes it suitable r this purpose (S¢G) The'$6510-4 shown fined with biped and. twlascopie eight (1G) The rightside atthe BiQ-dshown here vith biped and Bayonet fitted (S16) only 2ft/Ibs. As with the StGw57 a variety of accessories can be fitted, One very important advantage from the spare parts problem is that no fitting is needed as ll are 100% interchangeable, Needless to say this can only be achieved by the exceedingly high standard of manufacture thatis typical of SIG. The main dimensions are Longth 887mm (36 inches) Barral Length 420mm (183 inches) Weight (with bipod) 40009 16 13028) and without bipod 3750g (BIbs 4ozs) The SG510/4 is chambered for the standard NATO. calibre 7:62 andis the present standard weapon of the Chilean Army, Airforce and Police, and the Bolivian Army, The weaponitselfis similar tothe 510/3 and.as with all 510 weapons utilises the roller Jock system, The main dimensions are:— Length 101 5mm (40 inches) Barrel Length 505mm (19. 9inches) Weight (without bipod) 42509 (Bibs 602s) and with biped 44509 (9lbs 1 30z8) ‘The cyclic rate of fire of 500-850 rpmis achieved and the muzele velocity is 2600fps. One interesting fact ssthat the shoulder recoil is bit/Ibs as compared to, only 2ft/ bs of the SG510/3. The muzzle brake tegral with the barrel reduces the recoil trom 193idoaotthe standard SIG 610-4, the Jefthand sige shown with bisodtolded (SIG) 7 3ft/Ibs. Ones again all theaccessoriesin the range an be fitted to this weapon. A commorcial varia the 510/4iis called the SIG AMT. This wespcn is adapted so that only single shots may be fired. 530/1 The 530/' isa lightasseuttrifle developed to handle such cartridges as the -223 Armalite or the 7 62mm 39mm Russian. As tho firm of Borotta had been engaged in manufacturing parts of the $G510/4 in 7-62mm from 1961 to 1964 it was natural that the SiG Company should develap the $G530/1 in conjunction with them. This arrangement came to an end when there was a disagreementover whether the wespon was to fra from an open or closed bolt and the type of locking The rorseting stock version of the SIG 510-4 shown Wt etock retracted. Notice he folded bipod (sic) 194The SIG seri-nutomatic parting version ofthe 510-4 (S7G)system to be employed. SiG wanted to employ the roller lock system used on the 610 but Bor wanted 10 use a gas system, The early prototypes were ef the roller lock type but alter the disscreement, SIG decided on a campromise arrangement. This ‘was t0 use the roller lock but control the rollers by a gas piston assombly. ‘The main reasons for the adoption of the gas system were firstly that the cook- off limit (the point where: the cartricige will detonate by reason of the residue heat inthe chamber) which wasnormally set at 750-160 rounds was found to be not more than 90-100 rounds with the 223 cartridge : this was. obviously unacceptable, The other and most important problem with a delayed blowback :oller type system is thatthe cases tend to sutter from a hoadseparation problem, Adelayed blowback system 6.g, the rollar system, has the disadvantage that with 2 high power cartridge the delay is vary small and the initial extraction takes place at high speed when the residual pressure is still high. The pressure tends to hold the case against the chamber walls, with the rosult that the extractor tears the case head off. The use of 3 fluted chamber wo float the casa off the chamber walls by bleeding gas down the sides of the case, is one cure and is used by SIG on the 510. The se of a gas system allows the initial extraction to be slowed and thus the danger of case separation is avoided. The §1G 530 combines tho rollor dolay blowback system with the gas system. The gas piston, assembly controls the rollers and apart from the advantage already mentioned it allows a gas system to be used withouta regulator by virtue of the otic the eifarersce in tbanel and cocking lever Inti version ofthe $0530-1) (SIG) tolerance af the roller system to different types of ammunition ‘Theaction of the weapon is held iocked by the ‘ollors until gas bled off from the barrel drives the gas piston rearward, Itin tur hitsthe bars controlling the locking rollers taking them out of engagement, ‘thus allowing the bolt assembly to move rearward, “The dimansions of the 830/1 are Overall length 373 inches Barrs! length 16.4 inches Overall weight 7ibs 8ozs. It hasa cyclic rate of 600rpm on fully automatic fre and the bullothasa muzzle velocity of 2850tps, Once again a number of ‘accessories can be fitted. afolding-stnck version is available and rifle grenades canbe fired from the standard weapon, have also experimented with a cartridaw I Tho lstost development 816 $6840. Letr laa (Si6) 198TheSG540showntully stippad (816) developed by Mauser- IWK which, because of its heavier weight of bullet (a stoo| core is used) and the designed desire to make itaccurate at greater ranges than the Remingtan round, needs a faster rifling than standard, Thisis caused by the need to: stabilige tho bullot, which unfortunately reduces its wounding capability. The increased stability is obtained by changing from the standare one turn in 20Smm rifling to-one turn in 200mm. This syster aes not seem to have any overall advantage when the reduced lethal effect is considered, and algo the 1 that other nations use the standard rifling, All SIG weapons exhibit superb quality, but whether the price would make them economically the best purchase by other countries is debatable. The fact remains that the SIG rifle is the best finished military weapon avaiable and as officiantasany. and with continued development of new ideas will remain so This waapon is not yetin production but will probebly succood tho B30/1. Tha oleing stock version lthe S840 (SIG) 199