Original leather sling "Arsenal do Exército" for the Mauser Vergueiro

Detail on the back section
- with one leather loop holder and brass buckle.
Note the "A.E." engraving on the leather

Back in September, 2011, with the help of Brian from Bryburn Trading Co Pty Ltd, an Australian (St. Peters, New South Wales) vintage "militaria collectable" dealer,  I managed to get hold of one original Portuguese Mauser Vergueiro leather sling (originated from the units that Portugal sold to Brazil) - complete with all the original brass elements (buckle and button/stud) and the leather loop holder.

Now, from the same dealer, I managed to get an even more accurate original - also complete with leather loop and the brass elements but with a special "extra": the "A.E". engraving on the back leather section. The acronymous stands for "Arsenal do Exército [Português]", that translates to "[Portuguese] Army Arsenal". Considering it is an original vintage piece, it is in great condition and in perfect working order condition.

The sling at the maximum extension - approx. 1 meter (3,2 feet)

I used it on the October 2011 Portuguese Shooting Federation Vintage Military Weapons Match - and reached the second place on the rifle match, with 179 / 200 points (an average of 9 / 10 score for each of the 20 match shoots). The use of a sling on this match, shooting prone at a 100 meter distant target, "locks" the rifle around the supporting left arm -  critical to ensure accuracy .

Overall view - Mauser Vergueiro (8x57 IS), m/1904/39, with leather sling

Sling dimensions:

• Overall maximum usable lenght: approx. 98 centimetres
• Thickness: 3 millimetres
• Width: 2,5 centimetres
• Round front brass stud diameter: 9,3 millimetres
• Back brass buckle long: 2,5 centimetres
• Leather loop width: 1,25 centimetres

Detail on the external side of the back section brass buckle
and leather loop holder

Detail on the front section with the brass stud

Original leather sling on my Vergueiro - Portuguese Mauser

With the help of Brian from Bryburn Trading Co Pty Ltd, an Australian (St. Peters, New South Wales) vintage "militaria collectable" dealer,  I managed to get hold of one original Portuguese Mauser Vergueiro leather sling (originated from the units that Portugal sold to Brazil) - complete with all the original brass elements (buckle and button) and the leather loop holder. Now my +100 years old piece of working history is complete - and all original.

Left side

Right side

Detail on the back section - with leather loop holder and brass buckle

Detail on the front loop brass button

The Portuguese Mauser Vergueiro - training prone at 100 meters

Very happy with today's, September 11th, 2011, training with my +100 years old DWM 1904 "Vergueiro" rifle (also known as the "Portuguese Mauser") at the Carregueira 100 meters shooting range.

With FNM 8x57mm IS 198 grains full metal jackets, shooting prone, simulating the 20 shot at 100 meters for the "Prova Combinada de Armas de Ordenança" ("Combined Match for Standard Issue Military Weapons") promoted by the Portuguese Shooting Federation, I managed to score an average of 7,85 shooting at the official ISSF 50 meter precision rifle target.

The DWM 1904 - Vergueiro "Portuguese Mauser" in 8x57mm IS
along a Leupold "Gold Ring" 30x spotting scope on a Jobby Gorillapod flexible tripod.
A rubber Pachmayr Decelator slip-on pad is fitted - and allowed by the match rules

The training match series (scores list in chronological order) were:

9, 8, 8, 10, 5 , sub total of 40 / 50 points

7, 9, 9, 8, 7, sub total of 40 / 50 points

5, 6, 7, 7, 9, sub total of  34 / 50 points

8, 7, 9, 9, 10, sub total of  43 / 50 points

An overall 157 / 200 points, average of 7,85 / 10 points - very interesting evolution versus, last July, the first training score of  140 / 200 points, average of 7 / 10 points.

A HD video of the last shots on today's training session:

Open sights at 300 meter with "Vergueiro" 8x57 rifle

Last Sunday, September 4th, 2011, at the Carregueira military shooting range, I made my first trial shoots for the Portuguese Shooting Federation rifle discipline of  "Ordenança", where only "vintage" (pre-1960) military rifles, with open sights / iron sights, that were used as standard issue by the Portuguese Armed Forces, are allowed to compete.

The target used is the standard precision rifle ISSF 300 meter target (the 10 points circle is 10 centimeters / approx. 4 inches width, and all folllowing score rings add the same distance - up to the final 1 point ring score). Current match rules are set for 40 shoots prone at 300 meter distance (approx. 328 yards).

ISSF Rifle Precision Target for 300 meters

My rifle is a true portuguese "vintage" classic - a DWM - Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken - "Vergueiro" 1904 model, with the official royal signs of King D. Carlos I, originally chambered for 6 x 58 and  military re-chambered for the 8 x 57 around World War II. This particular rifle is more then 100 years old and all original (stock included). Ammo used was 8 x 57 198 grains FMJ by FNM / INDEP, by the now extinct "Fábrica Nacional de Munições" (National Ammunition Factory, Portugal). Manufacturer’s declared velocity (at 15 meters) is 735 mps (approximately 2411 fps).

FNM 8x57mm IS , 7,92 Mauser, 198 Grains, FMJ,  - Made In Portugal
"Fábrica Nacional de Munições" (INDEP)

FNM 8x57mm IS cases - please note the "TARGET" marking 

The Vergueiro m/1904 in 8x57 - right side view

The Vergueiro m/1904 in 8x57 - left side view

Detail on the distinctive "straight" bold handle of the Vergueiro"
and, on the chamber top, the King D. Carlos I royal sign

Detail on the adjustable "ruler" for elevation
- with FNM 198 grains 8x57, position 4 for 300 meters

On 5 consecutive shoots I scored an average of 6,4 / 10 ... with a 4 point "flyer" to be blamed on a trigger "jerk" by the shooter. The series were: 9, 7, 6, 6 and 4 (total of 32 / 50). Not bad for a first trial - specially if compared with the last National, held 2008, were scores averaged around 6 to 7 points.

5 consecutive impacts - 300 meter  target, average 6,4 / 10

Scores from the 2008 Nationals
 - individual series of 10 shoots, average around 6 to 7 points