El Mauser Mexicano: A Short History of the Mauser Rifle in Mexico

Beginning in 1897, the 7 × 57 mm Mauser rifle became the reglementary shoulder weapon of the Mexican armed forces, a title it would hold for 70 years. Purchased abroad from various European countries or manufactured domestically, Mexico experimented with different Mauser variants in its quest to field a gun that could be used comfortably and effectively by the average soldier. Reliable and sturdy, these Mausers were prized trophies in the hands of the revolutionary forces, who could not access the European markets; they gladly discarded their rolling block and lever-action carbines in exchange for the captured bolt-action Mauser. In fact, Mauser rifles are still in use in Mexico today, in the hands of the Defensas Rurales operating in the highlands of Mexico. This article draws primarily on Spanish-language sources, including a range of primary and secondary sources held in Mexican collections such as the Casasola Archive, to present a chronology of Mexican Mauser rifles and an explanation of the industrial, strategic, and logistical considerations that shaped the Mexican military’s modern arms industry more generally. The exploration of the Mexican military archives also allows the author to delve into the decisions and factors influencing the choice and evolution of firearms within the Mexican armed forces. As a result, the article presents information on Mexican arms production and acquisition hitherto not covered in the English-language literature.