The Destroyer Carbine
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
