SIG Bergmann submachine gun

Maschinenpistole SIG Bergmann

Standard model SIG Bergmann Model 1920 submachine gun in 7.65mm Parabellum, with 50-round magazine.
(Author's photo via Royal Armouries Collection)

In 1918 the German Army introduced into service the Bergmann M.P.18,I, one of the very first weapons of the submachine gun class. The M.P.18,I was designed by Hugo Schmeisser and produced at the Suhl factory of Theodor Bergmann, a well-known industrialist. Several thousand M.P.18,Is were produced and issued to German troops over the course of the year, but when the Great War came to an end in November, the M.P.18,I no longer had a secure place in military service. It is often said that the weapon was specifically banned from production following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1920, however there is no clause in the treaty that mentions submachine guns or machine-pistols. According to Paul Cornish, Waffenfabrik Bergmann does not actually appear on the list of factories which were banned from producing "war materials", and I myself have been unable to find anything in writing that suggests that Bergmann could not have continued production of the M.P.18,I after 1920 - in fact, he may well have done, as the facts surrounding the weapon's manufacture are still not entirely known.

Regardless of Bergmann's situation in Germany, it is known that in 1920, Theodor Bergmann granted a production license for the M.P.18,I to Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) in Switzerland. Bergmann's motivation for doing this was probably to open up an export market for the gun, as the Versailles terms did heavily restrict arms exports coming out of Germany and therefore some German armaments companies exploited a loophole in the treaty by outsourcing manufacture of their products to third-party firms outside of the country's borders. By manufacturing the M.P.18,I in Switzerland, it was not subject to any sales restrictions and Bergmann could profit from commercial sales of the weapon.

The resultant weapon that came out of this arrangement is usually referred to as the SIG Bergmann Model 1920, although it was marketed as the "Bergmann Machine Pistol" in its day. Despite being based on the M.P.18,I, it was not - as is often claimed - a straight copy of that gun. The SIG Bergmann in fact exhibited several deviations from the German design which made it unique. The most notable was the complete change of magazine feed. While the German M.P.18,I employed a 45° canted feed system which took TM08 "Trommelmagazins" (drum magazines), the SIG Bergmann had a 90° magazine housing which took straight box magazines. Later model M.P.18,Is also featured a box magazine feed, although these again differed from that of the SIG Bergmann. The Schmeisser-designed feed seen on the M.P.18,I was distinctive in that it had a large diagonal section on top of which the magazine release button was located. On the SIG Bergmann feed, this section was absent and the magazine release catch was situated on the underside of the magazine housing.


The magazine feeds of the M.P.18,I (left), M.P.18,I modified (center), and SIG Bergmann (right).
Also note the difference in sights and cocking handles.
(Thomas Nelson)

Along with the new feed system on the SIG Bergmann, the magazines themselves were also different. As noted, the standard M.P.18,I fed from canted drum magazines. The later improved M.P.18,I fed from Schmeisser's patent box magazines of 20 or 32 rounds, which were double-stacked but single-feed, with a rectangular steel collar at the feed lips. The interior of the magazine well on the M.P.18,I had rectangular cut-ins to accommodate for the magazine collar. The SIG Bergmann magazines were entirely different. They were double-stacked and double-feed, with a 50-round capacity only. There was no collar at the lips and therefore the magazine well of the SIG Bergmann was a straight rectangular shape with no cut-ins. The SIG Bergmann box magazines and the Schmeisser box magazines were not at all compatible or interchangeable. Magazines for the SIG Bergmann were, in fact, stamped with serial numbers corresponding to specific guns, and according to Thomas Nelson, the magazines were individually hand-fitted to these corresponding guns.

The magazines were not only different in design, but built to house entirely different cartridges from Schmeisser's magazines. The SIG Bergmann was mainly produced in 7.65x21mm Parabellum (.30 Luger) and 7.63x25mm Mauser (.30 Mauser); only a very small number were made in 9x19mm Parabellum. The M.P.18,I, on the other hand, was never made in 7.65mm or 7.63mm, and was only made in 9mm. Some Schmeisser magazines were made for 7.65mm and 7.63mm, but only after the introduction of the M.P.28,II in the late 1920s.

 
50-round SIG Bergmann magazine for 7.65mm Parabellum (left), compared to 32-round Schmeisser
magazine for 9mm Parabellum (right). Note the clear difference in feed lips.
(left: Liberty Tree Collectors)
(right: Genuine-Militaria)

Beyond the major deviation in the type of feed system, the other features that made the SIG Bergmann distinctive from the M.P.18,I were mostly detail changes. The flip-up rear notch sight of the M.P.18,I was replaced with an adjustable tangent sight graduating to 1,000 meters. The barrel jacket had only seven perforated holes per row instead of eight, and there was a larger gap between the muzzle and the barrel perforations - this was probably to make room for a muzzle ring that was fitted to some models of the SIG Bergmann. The bolt design was effectively the same, but differed in some minor ways; there was an extension in the rear of the bolt, and a straight cocking handle with a round knob instead of the M.P.18,I's curved hook-type cocking handle. The interior chamber of the SIG Bergmann was built with two bolt lugs which were not seen in the M.P.18,I.


The M.P.18,I's bolt (left), compared to the SIG Bergmann's bolt (right). Note that the SIG Bergmann
bolt is longer at the rear and has a straight cocking handle with a rounded end.
(left: Hermann Historica)
(right: "Wagner")

There are two additional features that are, for whatever reason, only seen on certain examples of the SIG Bergmann, but were never universal. These are a large muzzle ring at the end of the barrel jacket, and a pressure-sensitive trigger giving automatic fire when fully depressed and single shots when half-pulled. The muzzle ring appears to be present on only the Japanese and Thai contract models (as noted later in this article), and may have been added to accommodate for the Japanese-made bayonet mount that was developed for the gun. The pressure trigger is somewhat harder to account for. It was the subject of Swiss patent Nr. 108099, applied for by SIG, but appears to have only been fitted infrequently, and seemingly at random. Some Brazilian, Finnish, Chinese, and Japanese contract guns have this trigger, but most simply have a standard Bergmann-pattern trigger. There is no consistency in the serial number sequence of the guns that have these triggers, as it is seen on both early models and late models.


A proprietary pressure-sensitive trigger developed by SIG for the Bergmann submachine gun. This seems to
have been fitted to SIG Bergmanns almost at random, appearing on only some specimens.

The SIG Bergmann entered production and went on sale in 1920. As noted, it was offered in predominantly in 7.65mm Parabellum and 7.63mm Mauser, with only a small number being made for 9mm Parabellum. This is because 9mm Parabellum was not yet widely used outside of Germany and 7mm pistol cartridges were in greater circulation due to the popularity of the Luger and Mauser pistols. Domestic interest in the SIG Bergmann was limited. The Swiss Army bought only 25 units for trials and never adopted it, but the gun was adopted by the Zürich police. Swiss military sales were in 7.65mm and police sales were for 9mm guns. Some police-issue SIG Bergmanns were fitted with wooden foregrips. However the primary market for the SIG Bergmann was international export sales, and SIG succeeded in securing major contracts with several countries in Europe, Asia, and South America.

The SIG Bergmann in the Baltics

The SIG Bergmann made it across the Baltic Sea to Estonia, who also produced a derivative of the gun. The Estonian Bergmann was produced at Tallinn Arsenal and was based largely on the SIG gun, although it used entirely different components. It was unusually chambered in 9x20mm Browning Long - a rare cartridge for submachine guns - and fed from 40-round box magazines. The stock was of a different design to the Bergmann and did not have a Pommel grip. The barrel jacket was also distinctive, as it had rectangular perforations instead of circular holes. About 570 Tallinn Arsenal submachine guns were produced from 1927 - 1930, and were issued for a short time to the Estonian Army; however after their adoption of the Suomi KP/31 in the 1930s they decided to sell off their Tallinn SMGs, with the majority being illegally trafficked to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. In Spain they were used by Republican fighters, but some were captured by the Italian Corpo Truppe Volontarie (CTV) who took them back to Italy.

The rare Tallinn Arsenal submachine gun in 9x20mm, an Estonian derivative of the SIG Bergmann.

The SIG Bergmann in the South America

A Paraguayan soldier wielding a SIG Bergmann, captured from the Bolivian Army.
(Memorias de la Guerra del Chacho)

The SIG Bergmann in the Far East

The SIG Bergmann submachine gun found particular success in East Asia, where it was adopted by at least three countries. The Republic of China made significant orders for the SIG Bergmann beginning in the early 1920s. Chinese-contract SIG Bergmanns were produced predominantly in 7.63mm Mauser - a popular cartridge in China due to the widespread use of Mauser pistols there - but guns in 7.65mm were also reportedly present. In addition to the purchase of these guns from Switzerland, the Chinese produced many copies of the SIG Bergmann at various factories, including the arsenals at Tsing Tao, Dagu, and Hanyang. Since production of these guns was decentralized, each factory's version exhibited differences from one another; for example, the guns produced at Tsing Tao and Dagu were distinctive in that they used vertical-facing magazine feeds. The Tsing Tao submachine gun, of which many were made, was used in great quantity by Chinese Republican troops from the mid-1920s to the 1940s, and proved to be a popular weapon. SIG Bergmanns were also employed in quantity by Chinese Communist troops, likely captured from Republican armouries.
Due to a lack of records, it is not known how many SIG Bergmanns were imported to China from Switzerland, although the weapon was present in the country before 1925. The number of Chinese-made clones is also unknown, but was likely in the thousands. Probably more guns were made in local factories than were actually purchased from SIG.


Left: Chinese sailors wielding "Tsing Tao 16th Year" submachine guns; these were copies of the SIG Bergmann with
vertical magazine feeds. Right: Chinese Communist troops with SIG Bergmanns, probably domestic copies.

The Imperial Japanese Navy placed two separate orders for the SIG Bergmann, the first in 1922 for 125 guns, and the second in 1929 for an additional 320 guns; there may have been other orders, although they are not recorded. In Japanese Naval service, the SIG Bergmann was known as the "Type Be" (for "Beruguman"). The Type Be submachine gun was issued with a special bayonet mount that was wrapped around the barrel jacket, taking a Type 30 sword bayonet. The bayonet mounts were made not by SIG but domestically at Japanese arsenals. Several hundred Type Be were in service when Japan annexed Manchuria in 1932, and were used by Naval Marines in policing duties. SIG Bergmanns were also issued to collaborationist troops of the Manchukuo Imperial Army during this period. Captured Chinese-service SIG Bergmanns in 7.63mm only served to increase the Japanese pool of magazines and ammunition for the Type Be. When Japan invaded China in 1937, SIG Bergmanns were used by both sides in substantial numbers. Contrary to popular belief, the Japanese never issued any M.P.18,I or M.P.28,II submachine guns from Germany; the Chinese may have imported some M.P.28,IIs, although the vast majority of "M.P.28,IIs" seen in contemporary photos from China invariably turn out to be misidentified SIG Bergmanns. As far as is known, the SIG Bergmann was not issued to Japanese troops fighting on the Pacific Front. The later 8mm Type 100 submachine gun, manufactured in Japan and adopted by the Imperial Army and Navy, was largely based on the SIG Bergmann and succeeded it in service.


The Japanese contract "Type Be" (ベルグマン) submachine gun in 7.63mm Mauser. Note the
pronounced muzzle and proprietary bayonet mount around the barrel jacket.
(Thomas Nelson)

Siam (now Thailand) also placed an order for SIG Bergmann submachine guns in 7.65mm, probably in the late 1920s. Siamese-contract SIG Bergmanns were unique in that they had Thai abugida numeral markings (i.e. ๒, ๓, ๔, etc.) whereas all other versions of the SIG Bergmann were simply marked with Arabic numerals (i.e. 2, 3, 4 etc.). The marking "BREVET BERGMANN" on the magazine well was also stamped in a different font to the standard SIG Bergmann, and the overall finish of the metalwork is rougher than all other versions of the gun. Some of these traits also appear on late examples of Finnish contract guns (serials c.4900 - 5200) - this may be an indicator that late-production Thai and Finnish SIG Bergmanns were not actually assembled at SIG, but subcontracted to a different company after 1927. In Siam the SIG Bergmann was used by the police and was unusually employed as an executioner's gun at Bang Kwang Central Prison near Bangkok. Rather than execution by firing squad, prisoners condemned to death were tied to a cross-beam, and then shot in the back with an automatic burst of fire from the executioner's SIG Bergmann. The Bergmann MP 35/I was also used in this role, and these guns continued to be used for executions up until the 1980s, when they were both superseded by the H&K MP5SD. This method of execution is no longer carried out in Thailand.


Comparison of the markings on the standard SIG Bergmann (left) and the Siamese contract model (center); note the different fonts in "Brevet
Bergmann". On the right is a comparison of the Siamese sight (top) and the standard tangent sight (bottom). Other than the different numerals,
it can also be observed that the entire sight design is different. The reason for these changes is not known.
(left and lower right: Author's photo via Royal Armouries Collection)
(center and upper right: James D. Julia Inc.)

The American Bergmann - the "Daniels Rapid-Fire Carbine"

The SIG Bergmann even reached the United States, where it became implicated in one of the most notorious episodes of the "roaring twenties". A Chicago gun dealer, Vincent Daniels, imported 7.65mm SIG Bergmann submachine guns which he modified in-house by fitting two-position fire-selector switches (giving automatic and single-fire) behind the end cap of the receiver. This fire selector arrangement was somewhat similar to the later Lanchester submachine gun developed in Britain. The magazine housings of these guns were etched with "DANIELS RAPID-FIRE CARBINE" and marketed under that name. These so-called Daniels carbines were sold, along with Thompson guns, to gunmen of Al Capone's Chicago Outfit and "Bugs" Moran's North Side Gang, during the bitter street war between these two rival gangs in the 1920s, which culminated with the infamous St. Valentin's Day Massacre in February 1929. Daniels-modified SIG Bergmanns were not used in the massacre, but they were among the guns that were confiscated in the ensuing and highly-publicized police round-ups. It is not known how many Daniels-modified SIG Bergmanns were sold in the US, but likely very few.


The fire selector switch of the "Daniels Rapid-Fire Carbine" (left) along with the magazine well, with no serial number markings (center).
Right: American lawmakers observe submachine guns confiscated from Al Capone's triggermen, including a Daniels carbine.
(left and center: Forgotten Weapons)

The end of the SIG Bergmann submachine gun

Production of the SIG Bergmann ceased in 1927, although sales continued until the end of the decade. The known serial number range suggests that just over 5,000 units were made in total, although this does not account for the thousands of unlicensed copies that were also produced in China. In 1928, Hugo Schmeisser introduced his own updated version of the M.P.18,I which he named the M.P.28,II. The M.P.28,II was produced at C.G. Haenel in Germany and Pieper in Belgium. The cessation of the SIG Bergmann from production just before the M.P.28,II was introduced to the market may not be coincidental; it seems possible that Schmeisser could have had SIG's production license revoked to avoid competition between the SIG Bergmann and the M.P.28,II, although there is currently no documentary evidence to determine an answer. Nevertheless a new variant of the SIG Bergmann did briefly appear in 1930. This gun featured a large detachable foregrip and, unusually, a right-facing magazine feed. The latter feature was probably intended to increase user comfort when the weapon was carried over the right shoulder, so as to avoid the long 50-round magazine jutting into the user's back. The Model 1930 SIG Bergmann was, however, only made in limited numbers, likely a few hundred at most. It was reputedly intended for export, although it seems plausible that it may have been commissioned for the Swiss police. In any case it was quickly discontinued.

The end of the SIG Bergmann gave way not only to Schmeisser's M.P.28,II but also another German-designed submachine gun that was produced in Switzerland, the Steyr-Solothurn S1-100. Some former customers of the SIG Bergmann decided to purchase these guns in the 1930s, in place of ordering new shipments of SIG guns. Meanwhile SIG themselves moved away from the Bergmann submachine gun and shifted their focus towards their own designs, particularly those developed by the design trio of Gotthard End, Jakob Gaetzi, and Pál Király.

Gallery

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