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Not Another H&K This is just a brief little look at something rather uncommon that i came into recently:       It is a Spanish made CETME Modelo Sporter, imported by Mars of Chicago back in the mid 1960s.     Most all of you know of the CETME and how it was the originator of the famous HK G3 battle rifle. However, I bet most of you think of Century Arms, when you think of CETME Sporter right? Well, its definitely true that outside of custom builds, the vast majority (read really all) of the semi-auto civilian legal CETMEs in the USA did come from CAI, but back from about 1966 through 1971, around 1,250 actual Spanish made rifles were brought into the USA. This rifle is one of them. A Brief History of the CETME: I can't resist at least tossing in a bit of history here. In 1949, the Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales (Center for Technical Studies of Special Materials) was founded in Oviedo, Spain. The new firm was given the mandate to develop new smallarms for the Spanish military. It employed several former Nazi German engineers, who had fled to Spain after the war, including one Dr. Ludwig Vorgrimmler. Dr. Vorgrimmler had previously worked at Mauser, where he had become familiar with the STG.45(m) prototype assault rifle. The STG.45(m) fired the same 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge as the MP/STG.44 assault rifle. It utilized a unique roller-delayed blowback system, which operated without the use of a gas system. This system was inspired by that used in the MG.42 but was far more advanced for its day. The Spanish military wanted a modern rifle to replace its aging Mauser bolt actions. It was also interested in the 7.92x33mm intermediate cartridge but wanted something with a bit more range and penetration. So a new cartridge was developed; the 7.92x40mm CETME. It was paired with an early prototype of what would become the CETME rifle. The first tests were carried out in 1952. A short time later, another cartridge was also tested with the roller-delayed blowback system: 7.62x40mm CETME. However, by 1956, the platform had undergone several changes and updates, including being reworked to fire the 7.62x51mm CETME cartridge. This cartridge was the same as the 7.62mm NATO round, but had a lighter bullet and reduced powder charge. In 1957, the Spanish Army adopted the CETME Modelo A and its 7.62mm CETME cartridge. A year later, both the Navy and Air Force followed suit. Then the Modelo B was released. The B was an improved version with a fixed folding bipod, with metal handguards, and tangent type rear sights. It had its fire selector located on the right side, but the B's most important upgrade over the A was its chambering. It could fire both the 7.62mm CETME and 7.62mm NATO rounds, by simply having its bolt group swapped out for the desired round. While the A was only in limited production, the B was mass produced. It was also this particular model of the CETME rifle, which became the original basis for the H&K G3 series, which itself spawned an entire family of smallarms. In 1964, the Spanish military, wishing to conform to the rest of NATO, switched from the 7.62x51mm CETME, to the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The CETME Modelo C was subsequently released, chambered exclusively for the NATO round. The C featured a handguard made of wood, with a clip-on metal bipod, which doubled as a wire cutter. The rear sights were changed to a paddle wheel type located further back on the receiver; giving a better sight picture and also making the rifle slightly lighter and better balanced. The Modelo C also introduced a fluted chamber and a tube cleaning kit stored in front of the cocking tube. Finally, the C had its fire selector relocated to the now familiar position on the left side of the trigger housing. It would become the most common and popular of the CETME rifles, with main production lasting until 1976. The CETME Modelo B and C would remain in front line military service in Spain until 1999, when it was officially announced that they would be replaced by the H&K G36 assault rifle. Of course it took years to fully reequip the military, so CETMEs could still be found in use well into the 21st century. After being declared obsolete, many were sold off as surplus, with Century Arms being one of the largest buyers. the Mars Modelo Sporter: Sometime in 1964-1965, the American company of Mars reached an agreement with CETME, to be the exclusive importer of their rifles into the USA. The ATF approved the Sporter a short time later. It was very similar to the military Modelo C, but with a few key differences. It did have a push pin lower, but the pin hole itself was moved rearward about half an inch, so as to not allow the easy installation of a select fire lower housing. The Sporter's lower trigger housing itself was a modified type with a long dimple on the right side that would not allow for a full-auto trigger group to be installed. Another major change was that of the scope mounts. While the military CETME used a claw type scope mount; the Sporter used weaver style ring mounts, which were formed as part of the receiver. The Sporter also was exported without a bayonet lug, though it did have the grenade ring, bipod mount, and tube cleaning kit. It had a threaded barrel and flash hider too. Finally, it had a sporter type rubber recoil pad on the end of an otherwise military stock. The pad had 'CETME' in large raised letters on it and a Mauser type sling attachment slot, as well as the usual holes to fit the takedown pins in. Exact numbers of the Modelo Sporter imported by Mars are unknown. Most say from between 800 and 1,250 though. It is also agreed that the first 200 - 300 had the Modelo B style folding bipod with metal handguards. Later rifles would have Modelo C wooden handguards. It seems that all other features were Modelo C though, including the rear sights, cleaning kit compartment, and fluted chamber. Importation seems to have ended around 1970. The CETME Sporter just wasn't very successful on the American market. At that time, military style semi-autos ingeneral weren't popular though. Also, the rifle was a tad on the expensive side at between $225 and $275 new. Finally, while it was gaining traction in the 1960s, 7.62mm NATO/.308 was still a relatively new cartridge on the civilian sporting market in the 1960s. So by the time that HKs were getting big, Spanish CETME importation had already ended. the Century Arms CETME Sporter: All throughout the 1980s and 1990s, there were no new civilian legal CETMEs to be found on the US market. Then in 1999, several thousands of Spanish military CETME Modelo B and C rifles hit the surplus market, and Century Arms bought them up. Century contracted with Special WEapons Inc. to develop an ATF approved, semi-auto CETME receiver, on which the old Spanish military rifles could be rebuilt. The first Century branded CETME Sporters appeared in late 1999 and were ironically on investment cast receivers rather than stamped and folded sheet steel. These rifles were built from a mix of used surplus CETME and G3 parts, combined with enough new USA made ones to satisfy 922(r) requirements to make them legally American made. In 2002, Century reworked their CETME Sporter to use a more authentic stamped steel receiver, and in late 2004, after the '94 AWB sunset, they began shipping them with flash hiders and bayonet lugs for the first time. Initially Century CETMEs came with original wooden furniture sets, but later they had crappy USA made black plastic furniture instead. They always shipped with high-capacity 20 round magazines; sometimes G3 and sometimes true CETME. They may or may not have come with bayonets and/or cleaning kit. Many came with a German G3 sling, rather than a proper Spanish one. Since 2006 or so, production of the rifle has been on and off. Century has even built a few in 2012; using up old parts and the last of their receivers. Quality was all over the place with the Century CETME. Some were built ok and ran just fine. Some were built sloppily, but still managed to work fine. Others though, just never ran right or required extensive gunsmithing. Most were made before 2005, so that means most were originally made during the AWB. On the otherhand it also means most were made with their original Spanish barrels. Only CETMEs made in the last few years have American made barrels instead. Some of the biggest complaints with these rifles include: ground bolt faces, canted sights, out-of-spec claw mount bases, poor welds, gritt in the action, and my personal favorite: incorrectly installed barrels. Still though, most CETMEs made actually did work fine, even if they don't look as nice as a factory gun built from all new parts. Also, they have always been much cheaper than any other roller-delayed blowback rifle in .308/7.62mm NATO. Pricing has ranged from $800 on the very high end, to $300 when the CETME Sporter was at its most aforedable. the HK G3: ...And just a few words on the G3, as it relates to the CETME. As early as 1956, some in the West German Army had already expressed interest in the new Spanish battle rifle. Of course, the design and many of the designers themselves were German anyway. In 1959, both nations agreed to a joint development project to fully realise the design. Spain adopted the Modelo B rifle as the Modelo-58 and West Germany adopted a very lightly modified variant as the Gewehr.3. This partnership continued for a time, but in 1962, it was realised that each nation's military had somewhat different requirements for their main battle rifle, so the joint project was dissolved. It was after this time that the two models began to diverge in major ways. The CETME Modelo C was released in Spain, and H&K introduced the G3A2 in Germany. So while rifles made from the mid 1960s onward were rather different, those made in the late 1950s were quite similar. In fact, the earliest G3s were little more than rebranded Modelo Bs, with some German manufactured parts and small details. By the time of the G3A3 and Modelo C though, there were many noteworthy differences. For one, the H&K rifle featured synthetic furniture, while the CETME carried wood. The H&K had a rotating drum type rear sight, while the CETME had the paddle wheel type flip unit. Each used a reversed fire mode selector from the other. The H&K and CETME bayonet lugs couldn't be more different either. The H&K used a tapered cocking tube, while the CETME retained the original straight style of tube. Even the magazines were different. H&Ks fed from straight box mags made of either steel or alloy, but CETMEs used only steel mags with a slight curve to them. The list goes on and on. In fact most parts do not interchange, at least not without minor to major modifications. Here are a few shots of my PTR91GI, which is a rather faithful civilian clone of the military H&K G3A3 used in West Germany. Do note that the steel lower was added by me, and is not standard with the model:     Ok, there you have it. Just a quick look at a rather uncommon very preban military style rifle...cheers,
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 09:13 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 17:51 |
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This is a good post and I want to shoot the gently caress out of both those guns. Always had a boner for that kind of gun; FALs and L1A1s too.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 11:49 |
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Admiral Bosch posted:This is a good post and I want to shoot the gently caress out of both those guns. Always had a boner for that kind of gun; FALs and L1A1s too.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 17:38 |
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I just know that I'm going to end up owning a HK rifle or pistol at some point just because of the Oberndorf thing.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 17:44 |
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You could do far worse than a PTR91GI. I like that they did the G3 profile barrel, and with a few minor mods like i did to mine, you can have a very passable G3A3 clone. I like that PTRs are built on original HK contract tooling and all that too.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 19:02 |
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I want that gun solely because it was imported to Chicago.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 19:28 |
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Meh, it's not anything like a priority. I'll just track down an actual HK produced something-or-other when that time comes, as a kind of epilogue to my collection. A lot of it depends on what other niche I need filled at that time. I have yet to get a 50s-60s era 7.62NATO battle rifle, for example, so a HK91 would have some appeal. Then again, maybe at that point I'll want a P7 more. Who knows? Other stupid things I'm going to end up owning because I'm getting a bit obsessive compulsive over here: A Feinwerkbau air gun. NoSmoking will probably be horrified. A mug or post card or some poo poo from Olathe, KS. Oh, and awesome write-up as always Misha.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 19:42 |
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Don't have a 1950s-1960s battle rifle eh? There is an HK marked FN FAL G1 on Gunbroker right now that i am very tempted to buy. Of course the receiver is USA made as no true semi-auto G1s were ever imported, and the barrel is part of the FN parts. However, several of the replacement parts are GErman made, such as the dustcover. If the guy wanted a bit less, i'd probably snap it up. You know me and FALs. I got the CETME to help a friend out, thinking i could easily flip it down the road. Still, it is pretty cool so i will hang onto it for a bit and see how i feel about it in a few months. The PTR91GI though is a solid keeper: $800 new when i got it + $100 in original parts and minus what i was able to sell the leftover lower for. Great shooter, loves steel cased.
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| # ? Jan 29, 2013 20:28 |
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Mishaco How hard was it to get the little receiver "shelf" cut down so the steel lower would fit? I bought a steel lower to do exactly what you did with yours I just am trying to feel out what I'm getting myself into first. 
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| # ? Feb 1, 2013 03:26 |
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TRAP SET!
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charliebravo77 posted:I want that gun solely because it was imported to Chicago. Im totally in agreement.
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| # ? Feb 1, 2013 03:51 |
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Misha, cool gun. I didn't realize that good CETMEs existed, so one of these will have to go on my list of guns to acquire.shalafi4 posted:Mishaco How hard was it to get the little receiver "shelf" cut down so the steel lower would fit? I bought a steel lower to do exactly what you did with yours I just am trying to feel out what I'm getting myself into first. Uh, if this is anything like the HKs, you should not cut up that shelf - it's part of what makes the receiver semi-auto. Cutting it away is one step toward making it a machine gun.
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| # ? Feb 1, 2013 05:10 |
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Man you have found some cool, hard to find rifles lately.
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| # ? Feb 1, 2013 05:33 |
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Alex P Corn posted:Uh, if this is anything like the HKs, you should not cut up that shelf - it's part of what makes the receiver semi-auto. Cutting it away is one step toward making it a machine gun. Yes what you want to do is cut a notch in the trigger group housing to clear the shelf. Thats legal.
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| # ? Feb 1, 2013 06:49 |
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charliebravo77 posted:I want that gun solely because it was imported to Chicago. I want it solely because it was made by Mars... I am a giant GI Joe nerd (Military Armaments Research Syndicate) 
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| # ? Feb 2, 2013 01:12 |
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Neo Mara posted:Yes what you want to do is cut a notch in the trigger group housing to clear the shelf. Thats legal. 
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| # ? Feb 2, 2013 04:04 |
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A quick vid of the MARS CETME Md Sport: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZBqdMG_N7Q Since that time, i've installed a military buttplate.
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| # ? Feb 17, 2013 00:41 |
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The first thing I thought of when my brother bought me this giant-rear end monitor was "Now I can read Mishaco threads without scrolling horizontally." It is as wonderful as I imagined.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 05:56 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 17:51 |
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I've always loved the G3/CETME rifle design. Congrats on that beauty. i would impregnate the next woman I see and in 9 months, give that firstborn child for one of those.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 07:07 |
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