This is a very good late production Model 1908 Mondragon semi-automatic rifle as produced by the SIG factory with rare German markings (01.55) stamped on the lower left side of the stock above the box magazine. This rifle was originally designed by Manuel Mondragon, an officer in the Mexican army. His original design was the Model 1890 and it was the first true semi-automatic rifle to be adopted by any nation. As noted, this is the later refined Model 1908 made in Switzerland by "SIG" at Newhouse as they were one of the few arms makers with the technical capability to manufacture weapons with the tight tolerances required by Mondragon. It is estimated that only 400 of this model were delivered to Mexico before the Mexican revolution broke out with the remaining rifles being retained in Switzerland and eventually all being sold to Germany prior to WWI. These rifles employ some unique features such as: a barrel mounted gas block located approximately 7 inches from the muzzle on underside of the barrel that has two gas settings, a gas driven operating rod that extends from the front of the gas block on the underside of the barrel to the cocking handle (similar system was later used on the FN FAL rifle), a side mounted cocking handle that is attached to a round and rotating bolt. This bolt is very unique in that it has two race-ways machined into the bolt body where the cocking handle fits, which rotates the bolt to lock and unlock the two rows of locking lugs (four at the front and four at the rear of the bolt) during the cycling operation along with an extended box magazine. A very similar bolt and operating system was later adopted on the Schmidt-Rubin and K31 series of rifles. It is fitted with the correct military style tangent rear sight that is graduated from 400-2,000 meters with a inverted "V" front sight with a bayonet lug on the underside of the barrel. The rifle action is unmarked except for the serial number (1294) which is stamped on the left side of the receiver ring, top of the bolt body, top of the cocking handle and the back side of the magazine release lever. The stock and handguard are both correctly made from a light colored European straight grained walnut with a flat steel buttplate.

Fine condition with 75% plus of the original blue finish overall with edge and high spot wear with thinning of the blue on the exposed barrel, barrel bands and box magazine and trigger guard area. The top rear area of the action cover and rear edges of the magazine both showing several areas of moderate pitting mixed with some brown patina. The stock and handguard are both in very good condition with the stock showing signs of being lightly cleaned/sanded on the sides with a 5 inch long repaired crack on the underside, emanating from the corner of the box magazine. Mechanically needs work as the recoil spring is not functioning.