| Caliber | 9x23 Largo |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.4 kg empty |
| Length (stock closed/open) | 794 mm |
| Barrel length | 260 mm |
| Rate of fire | 750 rounds per minute |
| Magazine capacity | 36 rounds |
The Labora submachine gun was briefly produced in Spain during late stages of the Spanish Civil war. It was unusual for a war-time weapon as it was produced to rather high standards of fit and finish, and using expensive manufacturing techniques. This is, however, not so surprising as at the time Spain lacked any modern manufacturing facilities but possessed a large number of ‘old-style’ workshops and small factories which had experience in small arms manufacture (pistols, shotguns). It is believed that only few thousands of Labora submachine guns were made before the Civil war ended and production of this weapon has ceased.
The Labora submachine gun is a simple blowback operated weapon that fires from open bolt. It is capable of semi-automatic and full-automatic fire, thanks to the cross-bolt button type fire mode selector, located above the pistol grip. The safety was made in the form of the L-shaped cut at the rear of the cocking handle slot, which was used to lock the bolt in rearward position. Feed was from box magazines, the magazine housing was extended to form front grip, and fitted with wooden grip panels. Gun was equipped with pistol grip and a wooden buttstock. The sights consisted of the front blade and a tangent-type rear sight with range settings from 100 to 500 meters.
The Condor Legion (German: Legion Condor ) was a unit of military personnel[nb 1] from the air force and army of Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War. The legion developed methods of strategic bombing that were used widely during the Second World War. The bombing of Guernica was the Condor Legion’s most infamous operation. Hugo Sperrle commanded the unit’s aircraft formations, and Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma commanded the ground element.
Why the Spanish war was a big rehearsal for Germany and Italy for the second world war. Many of the weapons used against the allies were first tested in Spain.
The Condor legion would gain experience in combine arms/blitz Kriege and the importance of modern tank design. forming the backbone of many German units that lead to early German victories.
The largo fluted barrel and forward sight with snub receiver make the gun look sexy and sleek. The magazine fitting into the forward grip and not the rear pistol grip feels like a good option to balance the weight of the gun.
