Tag Archives: gun swiss guard

The rare Swiss SIG MKPO submachine gun

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Here we see a lovely Pal Kiraly-designed MKPO made in Neuhausen, Switzerland, by Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG).

Swiss SIG MKPO submachine gun

The mags fold up into a recess in the forearm

Swiss SIG MKPO submachine gun 2

Only 1228 of these guns were produced between 1933 and 1941. This one is the MKPO, the short barreled variant, serial number 1162. We can assume it was made in 1941. Caliber is the very hard-hitting 9x25mm Mauser and they were capable of firing at 900 rpms. Photos Sourced from James D. Julia Inc.

sig_mkpo with its magazine folded forward

Note, magazine folded up

Interestingly enough, one of the largest users of these innovative machine carbines was the Pontifical Swiss Guard who still keep a very well preserved rack of these in their armory to this day.

SIG MKPO subguns on bottom left and MP43 44s top left ready to go in the Swiss Guards armory note the two-handed swords to the right

SIG MKPO subguns on bottom left with their mags folded up into the forearm and MP43 44s top left ready to go in the Swiss Guards armory. Note the two-handed swords to the right

For more on the arsenal of the Swiss Guard, see my article over at Guns.com

Also of note, Pal Kiraly was a Hungarian who later fled to the Dominican Republic and designed the San Cristobal carbine for bad old Trujillo, who thought himself a bit higher up the food chain than the Pope, at least as far the DR was concerned.

Guns of the Swiss Guard: Happy Holy Week

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Sure, they may look funny in their brightly colored costumes, complete with feathered metal headgear, but these soldiers are the only military force for the smallest country in the world. They are also one of the best equipped.

If you ever watch footage of the Pope, in the background you will often see a ceremonial guard dressed in an odd uniform. Made up of an extremely garish combination of purple and gold and cut in the style of a 15th century jester, these guards add an interesting flair to the Papal office, though their function is far from ceremonial. These men (no women are allowed) are all sworn members of a company of professional soldiers that dates back more than five centuries to 1506 making them the oldest military unit that has seen continuous service in history.
And they have a pretty neat arsenal.

Why yes, those are 1930s SIG MKPO subguns on the bottom left and MP43 44s on the top left ready to go in the Swiss Guards armory, Thanks for asking.

Why yes, those are 1930s SIG MKPO subguns on the bottom left and MP43 44s on the top left ready to go in the Swiss Guards armory, Thanks for asking.

Read the rest in my column at Guns.com