Today pistol caliber carbines such as the popular Beretta CX4 Storm and the Keltec SUB 2000 are on the cutting edge of both technology and popularity. However, these modern long arms owe their basic premise to an older, funkier design — the Spanish Destroyer carbine.
Here in the U.S., we are used to each town, county and state having its own law enforcement agency. In many countries, such as Spain, there is instead a large national police force organized and equipped along lines that are more military. In Spain in the 1920s, this force was known as the Guardia Civil. This force was armed with locally produced versions of the Winchester 1873 and 1892 lever action rifles in .44-40 that needed replacement.
At the time the preferred sidearm of the Guardia Civil, which was part of the Army, was the M1908 Bergmann and other pistols chambered in 9x23mm Largo. Likewise, the Spanish Army’s standard rifle was the 1893 Mauser. Therefore, the government put two and two together and in the arsenal town of Eibar, the Destroyer carbine was born….
read the rest in my column at GUNS.com
Like this:
Like Loading...
About laststandonzombieisland
Let me introduce myself. I am a bit of a conflict junkie. I am fascinated by war and warfare, assassination, personal protection and weaponry ranging from spud guns and flame throwers to thermonuclear bombs and soviet-trained Ebola monkeys. In short, if it’s violent or a tool to create violence it is kind of my thing.
I have written a few hundred articles on the dry encyclopedia side for such websites as History Times, Firearms Talk.com, GUNS.com, Suite 101 (where I am the contracted Feature Writer for Military History) and Combat Forums; as well as for print publications like England Expects, and Strike First Strike Fast. Several magazines such as Sea Classics, Military Historian and Collector, Mississippi Sportsman and Warship International have carried my pieces. Additionally I am on staff as a naval consultant and writer for Eye Spy Intelligence Magazine.
Currently I am working on several book projects, including a section in the upcoming Mississippi Encyclopedia (to be published by Ole Miss this summer), an alternative history novel about the US-German War of 1916, and a biography of Bennett Doty. My first novel, about the coming zombie apocalypse was released this Spring by Necro Publications and can be found at Amazon.com.
In my day job I am a contractor for the US federal government in what could best be described as the ‘Force Protection’ field. In this I am a certified Firearms, and less-than-lethal combat instructor.
