O. Henry has a rather amusing, or rather a very amusing book under an unusual title - "Kings and Cabbage". The case there takes place in the fictional Latin American country of Akchuria, but it could, in principle, be Guatemala, and Puerto Rico, and Cuba - whatever. Everywhere there is a relaxing body and soul heat, bananas grow all year round, all around the sea, which gives fish and shellfish, all the polls drink rum and smoke strong cigars and live for themselves … as if with God in his bosom. Yes, from time to time the top carries out the next pronunciamento and changes one president to another, yes, the people also periodically take up arms - shoot a little and rob, but that is all. The hybridization of blacks, whites and redskins played a nasty joke on the local population. They learned to turn their hips well - this is from the blacks, they learned to digest rum well - this is from the whites, from the Indians they got courage and vindictiveness, but that's, in fact, everything that was the result of this mixing of races.
Well, the educated people immediately realized one thing: the rich resources and convenient location in Central America allows them to weave the most wonderful intrigues both within their countries and abroad. The descendants of slaves and pirates very quickly adopted all the worst and … the best from the practice of the peoples of other countries. And this was reflected, of course, in their need for weapons, both in peacetime and during war.
Pancho Villa (fifth from left) with his commanders. All with Mausers.
However, with the exception of a few minor exceptions, the countries of the Central American region have not developed a domestic arms industry. Instead, they chose to import weapons, either through purchase or as foreign aid. Therefore, as in South America, the choice of rifles for the army in these countries was often determined by the preferences of the colonial power with which they were associated, regardless of whether they had a colonial-type relationship with each other or no longer. Moreover, it is interesting that, having at hand such a powerful neighbor and trading partner as the United States, these countries, which literally depend on it in everything, nevertheless, they pursued an independent policy in matters of arms procurement. Although it would seem - why? Even in terms of ammunition supply, it would be easier to use American cartridges in the event of a war with the United States! But no - we sell cigars in the USA, we sell bananas in the USA, we sell rum in the USA, sugar, jute, coffee, pineapples … but we buy rifles in Europe. So! The proverb across the sea "a heifer is half, but a ruble ferry" is not for us!
And so it turned out that because of this, most of the bolt-action rifles already described in the materials of this cycle, in Central America and the Caribbean, were produced in the countries whose weapons were already discussed here. The colonies of Britain were armed with rifles "Lee-Enfield" SMLE, the ex-Spanish colonies traditionally used Mauser to imitate the Spanish example, etc.
However, we will now talk about "our" rifles, which have at least some "national features." Let's start with the Dominican Republic, where Russian citizens today can travel for 30 days without a visa. You only need a passport valid at the time of entry, a return ticket to your home, or to some third country and that's it!
Supporters of Felix Diaz at the Mexico City arsenal.
It is believed that this is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but, nevertheless, the beauties of nature are not butter or caviar, so they cannot be smeared on bread. Therefore, many of its national acquisitions were made with extremely limited budgets. So, the Dominican Republic found money for its own rifle only in 1953. It was a Model 1953 Mauser, and the entire batch was made from surplus rifles from the Brazilian army. It was, however, a sturdy and effective weapon with a thick layer of black bluing, designed to protect against the humid and salty air of the island. There are two points of view as to where these rifles were rebuilt to working order. This was done either in Brazil or in Dominican factories run by Hungarian specialists during the dictatorship of General Rafael Trujillo, whose government collapsed in 1961 and his head was sent to Spain in a box. This was followed by years of instability, including two interventions by the United States, so these rifles may have had a chance to shoot in combat, although many seem to have never been used for their intended purpose.
Nicaraguan rebels 1944-1954
Then comes Guatemala, about the war in which a multi-part film was once filmed (one of the first series that the citizens of the USSR had a chance to see) - "The Green Monster". That was the name of the American company United Fruit Company, which exported coffee and bananas from this country. So for Guatemala at the Brno plant, 4000 copies of the so-called "Guatemalan Mauser" VZ.24 were produced. Today it is one of the most sought-after Mauser among collectors, so if anyone comes across it, take it. It is reported that 1,000 were imported into the country by Interarms in the 1960s, with additional rifles brought in later. All VZ.24s use 7x57 instead of 7, 92x57, although Czech rifles use the German caliber. These rifles are easy to identify due to the excellent Guatemalan coat of arms on the chamber ring.
All Guatemalan Mausers are identical. The closures on them, unlike the Dominican ones, are nickel plated.
The Guatemalan VZ.24 Mausers has a Guatemalan coat of arms that depicts crossed rifles, the Quetzal bird and the date of the country's liberation from Spanish rule. On the right side of the chamber there is a round mark with the image of a rising lion. This tiny mark is a confirmation of the Czech origin of these rifles.
Here they are - Guatemalan bananas!
The rifles were so good that the VZ.24 Mauser from Brno in Czechoslovakia from Guatemala was bought by the Republic of Nicaragua. On top of the chamber, they have a stamp in the shape of a circle, the meaning of which is unknown. Apart from this, these rifles are the standard VZ.24 in every respect. There were 1000 pieces of such rifles produced (or relabeled), so they are also highly valued among collectors.
Model 1910 Mauser rifles were manufactured for Costa Rica in Germany at Oberndorf. In 1910/11, 5,200 copies were produced. Like most Central American military rifles, both of these models are considered quite rare.
A comprehensive description of those guns that were in circulation in Mexico at different times will require a separate and not at all small book in terms of volume. The fact is that there was at least some kind of industry in the country. Therefore, there are many different models of locally made rifles, including many undocumented types. In general, we can only conclusively say that until the 1930s, all rifles used by the Mexican troops were imported. For example, the Mexican Model 1895 was the German Model 1893 Mauser, and the Mexican Model 1902 (also the Mauser) was copied from the German Model 1898. The remaining batches of rifles and carbines under the name "Model 1912" were produced by "Steyr" before the First World War and then delivered to Mexico. There was only one thing that distinguished them from the German rifles - the 7x57 caliber. The war interrupted the supply of weapons from the Steyr, and most of them were transferred to the Austro-Hungarian troops.
Emiliano Zapata is a hero of the Mexican people!
As for the "Mexican model of 1910", it was manufactured by the "National Arms Factory" (FNA) in Mexico between 1930-1935. In fact, it was the same German Mauser of 1898, but with a Mexican-type bayonet mod. 1895 A total of about 40,000 were produced. A distinctive feature of these rifles is the "white metal" of their coating and the image of the coat of arms of Mexico on the chamber with the inscription in a circle "National arms factory", located in the capital of the country, Mexico City.
Mexican carbines: 1895 - Ludwig Loewe and FN 1924, both in 7x57 caliber.
In 1936, a shortened M1936 rifle appeared, featuring a muzzle similar to the American springfield rifle. In 1954, the caliber of these rifles was changed. Finally, the Mexicans adopted both the caliber and the cartridges of American rifles. The old rifles were re-barreled, and the new ones, called the "Mexican Short Rifle of 1954", already had the designation "CAL. 7.62 mm "and" MOD. 54 ".
