La Coruna 1943 Spanish Mauser Short Rifle

The Fabrica Nacional de Armas in Oviedo, Spain has been manufacturing Model 1893 since 1896 and Model 1916 from 1915 to 1943. In 1943 production of old Model 1916 stopped and in 1943 Fabrica De Armas La Coruna started to manufacture 98-type Mauser, the Fusil Espanol Modelo 1943 chambered for the 7.92x57mm (8mm Mauser) cartridge. It was adopted the same year by Spanish Army. Like all such rifles the M43 has the large ring 98-type action and is considered extremely durable. Supplies of German weapons during the war had led to the decision to adopt the 7.92 calibre round to replace the 7mm used since the 1890s. The rifle itself is based on the Standard Short Modell rifles that had been obtained from Germany in the early 1930s in the old 7mm. An unusual feature is the auxilliary bayonet lug mounted on top of the standard 'H' lug to allow use of the older pattern bayonets as well as the 84/98 clone German type bayos for the M43.