FR8

Santa Barbara FR 8
Type	Service Carbine
Place of origin	Spain
Service history
In service	1950s–1970s
Production history
Manufacturer	bolt system: Mauser, barrel: CETME or H&K, refitting: Fabrica De Armas La Coruña
Variants	FR 7, FR 8
Specifications
Mass	ca. 3,700 grams (8.2 lb)
Length	960 millimetres (38 in)
Barrel length	470 millimetres (19 in)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO (FR7),[1][2] 7.62×51mm NATO (FR8), k bullet
Caliber	.308 (7.62 mm)[3]
Action	Bolt action
Feed system	5-round internal magazine
Sights	3 diopters or notch (selectable) and front sight

The FR 7 and FR 8 are bolt-action rifles adopted by Spain in the 1950s. The "FR" stands for Fusil Reformado in Spanish ("Converted Rifle" in English).[4] The FR 7 is a variant of the "Spanish M93 Mauser" bolt action while the FR 8 is based on the "Mauser System 98" bolt action. Due to their light weight, short barrel and the calibre used, their recoil and muzzle blast are relatively heavy.

History

The FR7 and FR8 were introduced in the 1950s when the Spanish military was already implementing the CETME automatic rifle, but did not yet have sufficient inventory to equip and train all troops. The rifles were made from existing stockpiles of Mauser bolt-action rifles. The FR-7 was a modification of the Model 1916 short rifle, which in turn was based on the Mauser Model 1893. These three rifles are often referred to as being "small ring" Mausers, as the receiver ring is smaller in diameter than the latter Model 1898 by .110-inch (1.410 inches vs. 1.300 inches).[5] The FR-8 was rebuilt from the Model 1943 short rifle, which was based on the "large ring" Model 1898 Carbine Mauser action(98K). Both rifles were modified to fire 7.62×51mm NATO but the FR-7 uses a low powered variation due to the small rings weaker design.[6][7][8] The FR 8 was used well into the 1970s by mounted Guardia Civil units in the Sierra Nevada.

Features

The flash hider was designed to also function as a rifle grenade launcher, compatible with NATO-standard 22 mm rifle grenades. It also has notches in it so that wire could be cut with it by firing a round. The under-barrel tube, which resembles the gas cylinder found on automatic weapons, actually serves as the bayonet mount and as storage for cleaning gear. The rear sight is an elevation-adjustable rotary type with apertures for 200 m (220 yd), 300 m (330 yd) and 400 m (440 yd), as well as an open "V" notch for 100 metres (110 yd). The front sight is elevation-adjustable via a special tool. Operation is identical to the standard Mauser design.

Images

• Mauser K98 - Spanish FR 8
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  FR 8 - La Coruña
• 
  Bayonet FR 8 - La Coruña

See also

• Karabiner 98k
• Mosquefal

References

1. Olson, Ludwig (2002). Mauser Bolt Rifles. Brownell & Son. p. 197.
2. Ezell, Edward (1983). Small Arms of The World. Stackpole Books. p. 655. ISBN 0-8117-1687-2.
3. "RIA – Spanish FR-8: The "Cetmeton"". 14 June 2016.
4. Olson, Ludwig (2002). Mauser Bolt Rifles. Brownell & Son. p. 197.
5. Kuhnhausen, Jerry (1991). The Mauser Bolt Actions- M91 Through M98. Heritage Gun Books. p. 214.
6. "Unmarked1916". Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
7. "Rifle FR-7 и FR-8 (Spain)". 28 October 2010.
8. "Gammo". Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2014-07-30.

Sources

"Guns Magazine", May 2006, Holt Bodinson; text transcript under www.findarticles.com

• Olson, Ludwig Elmer (2002) [1950]. Mauser Bolt Rifles (3rd ed.). Montezuma, Iowa: F. Brownell & Son. ISBN 978-0-9767409-4-0.

External links

• Modern Firearms - FR-7, FR-8
• Surplusrifle.com - What the Hell is That? The Spanish FR-8 Report at the Wayback Machine (archived January 13, 2010)
• Spanish FR-8: the "Cetmeton" at Forgotten Weapons