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CETME Modelo 58



Overview

CETME Modelo C

Left side view of a CETME Modelo C battle rifle.
Source: Unknown author - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Spain
Type
Battle rifle
Entered service
1961 for Modelo B
1965 for Modelo C
Status
Obsolete
Development
1948 - 1950
Developer
Spain - CETME
Ludwig Vorgrimler (lead designer)
Production
1950 - Early 1960's (prototypes, Modelo A)
1961 - 1983 (Modelo B and later)
Producer
Spain - CETME
Designations
Fusil de Asalto CETME Modelo 1958 de 7,62mm (Spanish service)
Notable users
Spain

Description

Introduction

The Modelo 58 is an early Cold War era battle rifle of Spanish origin. The design is based on a mixture of World War 2 era Nazi German and French designs. The design is best known as leading to the German Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle, which was produced in far greater numbers and more of an export success than the Modelo 58. The name Modelo 58 refers to the Spanish military designation for the year of formal adoption. The manufacturer CETME refers to these rifles by alphabet.

Design

The Modelo 58 is a battle rifle using the roller delayed blowback design that was also prototyped in the Nazi German StG 45(M) and designs by former Mauser engineers at the French AME arsenal in Mulhouse. Early designs were for several types of more intermediate cartridge than the 7.62x51mm full power cartridge adopted by NATO.

Firepower

The Modelo 58 fires the 7.62x51mm NATO round from a 20 round magazine. It is a select fire rifle with a cyclic rate of fire of about 600 rpm. Effective range is quoted as 600 meters, although the sights go up to a more practical 400 meters. As with all battle rifles in 7.62mm NATO the practicality of automatic fire is debatable. For less than a decade in Spanish service the Modelo B was chambered in 7.62x51mm CETME, dimensionaly similar to the NATO round but firing a lighter bullet with less propellant. A similar approach as Japan with their Type 64 rifle, this had a limited benefit less recoil.

Users

The Modelo 58 was formally adopted by Spain in 1958 and in practice since 1961. Various types of CETME rifles were looked at by over 10 European nations, although all of them adopted the FAL or G3. The Modelo 58 was exported to various nations. In Spanish service it was supplemented and replaced by the CETME Modelo L.

Variants

Series production

Modelo B
The Modelo B was the first series production model with some design influence from the German trials and H&K. Developed in 1958 and in series production from 1961. It was adopted by Spain in the softer shooting 7.62x51mm CETME. Modelo B had a wooden stock and perforated steel handguard. Using internal components of the Modelo C these were converted to 7.62x51mm NATO and were known as in Spanish service as Modelo 58-64-C. Exported Modelo B all seem to have been in 7.62x51mm NATO.
Modelo C
The Modelo C was produced since 1964 and in Spanish service by 1965. Chambered by default in 7.62x51mm NATO and using a fluted chamber. This had a slimline wooden forearm and wooden stock. It also had a NATO standard flash hider for firing rifle grenades.

Prototypes and trials batches

Modelo A
The Modelo A constitutes a wide range of prototypes and limited production runs. Notable trials batches were the A1 in 7.92x41mm CETME and A2 in 7.62x51mm CETME and NATO. Trials guns presented to Finland were chambered in 7.62x39mm and another prototype used the 7.62x41mm CETME.
Modelo D
The Modelo D possibly was a prototype updating the Modelo C to be more akin to the G3A3 by using for instance the H&K-style rear drum sight.
Modelo E
The Modelo E is an updated production model using polymer stock and handguard. Some steel components were changed to aluminum to reduce weight. Both the polymer and aluminum parts had durability issues, curtailing planned production numbers.

Details

Facts Modelo C Modelo B (in 7.62mm CETME)
General
Origin
Spain
Type
Battle rifle
Caliber
Caliber
7.62x51mm NATO
Feed system
20 round detachable box magazine
Barrel length
450 mm
Muzzle velocity
780 m/s
Operation
Action
Gas operated, roller delayed blowback
Locking
None
Fire selector
0 - 1 - F
Rate of fire
600 rpm
Dimensions
Stock type
Fixed
Length
1.016 mm
Weight
4.20 kg empty
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, hooded post fromt, flip up sight rear
Range adjustment
100, 200, 300, 400 m
Optics
Optional using a claw mount system
Accessories
Rifle grenades
Yes, muzzle allows for NATO standard rifle grenades
Bipod
Optional
Bayonet
Yes, optional, mounted above barrel

Media

Related articles

Heckler & Koch G3

The Modelo 58 design was further developed into the German G3 that was adopted for German military service and exported in far greater numbers than the Modelo 58 series of battle rifles.

Read more about Heckler & Koch G3

CETME Modelo L

In Spanish service the Modelo 58 series of rifles was replaced by the locally developed Modelo L. This a is an assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm using the same roller delayed blowback operating mechanism.

Read more about CETME Modelo L

Howa Type 64

Japan employed a similar approach as Spain by introducing a cartridge dimensionally similar to the 7.62x51mm NATO round, but being a softer shooting variant. This was used in their domestic Type 64 battle rifle.

Read more about Howa Type 64