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CETME
HK G3A3, descended from the CETME
Type	Battle rifle
Place of origin	Spain
Service history
In service	1958–1982 (Spain)
Used by	Spain/others
Wars	Carnation Revolution, Iran-Iraq War, Operation Enduring Freedom/ISAF - Afghanistan
Production history
Designer	CETME, Mauser, Heckler & Koch
Designed	1950s
Manufacturer	CETME
Variants	A, B, C, L, LC, LV
Specifications
Weight	4.41 kg (9.7 lbs.) [G3A3] 4.09 kg (9.0 lbs.) [G3A4]
Length	1,026 mm (40.4 in) [G3A3]
Barrel length	450 mm (17.7 in)
Cartridge	7.62 × 51 mm NATO
Caliber	7.62 mm (.308 in)
Action	Roller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	600 round/min
Muzzle velocity	790 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Effective range	500 m (546 yd)
Feed system	20-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Rear: rotary diopter; front: hooded post

The name CETME is an acronym for Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales, a Spanish government design and development establishment. The CETME rifle, which was initially trialed with other calibers, but eventually chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO caliber (aka .308 Winchester), was designed primarily by the German engineer, Ludwig Vorgrimmler, who based his model on a late WWII German prototype assault rifle, the experimental StG45(M). The StG-45 used a roller-delayed blowback mechanism somewhat similar to the roller-locking system patented by the Edward Stecke in the 1930s in Poland and used in the MG42. The MG42 locking system actual locks completely and requires a moving barrel that travels backwards to unlock, compared to the STG45 system that never completely locks and does not require a moving barrel.

Manufactured in Spain from 1957, the CETME served as a blueprint for the German Heckler & Koch G3 series of battle rifles. The CETME features roller-delayed blowback operation, which it shares with many German weapons. The CETME rifle was manufactured in five models, the A, B, C, L , LC and LV models. The primary difference in the three first models is the absence of bipod and less weight C model, with more wood. The L series was the "light", modern 5.56 NATO assault rifles with composite materials, the LC was the short version of it, and the LV was an improved, and last version of CETME L.

CETME also designed the CETME C2 a 9mm advanced Sterling-like sub-machine gun, and the CETME Ameli (AMEtralladora LIgera) a light machine gun in 5.56 NATO.

The CETME, like its descendant, the Heckler & Koch G3 is of modular construction, based around a stamped steel receiver, a pressed in barrel, and a detachable 'trigger group' which encompasses the handgrip, trigger, and fire selector mechanism. Its folding charging handle is mounted on the left side of the weapon, above the barrel and forend of the stock. The CETME does not have a bolt hold-open device; when the final cartridge is fired, the bolt does not remain open, and thus the rifleman cannot tell if he has expended his ammunition. Not using such a device allowed the CETME design to contain fewer moving parts and may make it more reliable. To signal when a magazine is near empty, the final rounds can instead be loaded with tracer rounds.

The magazines are made of steel. In military service the CETME's magazine was typically of twenty-round capacity, though five-round magazines were manufactured for garrison duty and aftermarket five-round magazines are available on the civilian market due to restrictions on magazine size in hunting rifles in the US. The magazine was removed via a "flapper" behind the magazine and forward of the trigger guard. This was pushed forward, dropping the magazine. Magazines from the H&K G3 can also be used in the CETME, though minor modifications may be needed.

Stripping of the weapon is achieved by pushing two small pins from the buttstock, removing the buttstock and recoil spring, pulling the trigger pack down, and pulling back the charging handle to push the bolt out of the rifle.

Century International Arms, Inc. formerly of Fairfax, Vermont, then Georgia, Vermont, and currently of Delray Beach, Florida, imported the majority of CETME rifles into the United States. As their manual says, "The Cetme Rifle is built using genuine Cetme parts and a U.S. manufactured receiver. The CETME conforms to B.A.T.F. requirements. It is semi-automatic only." Specifically, in order to import an automatic firearm into the United States for civilians (Government entities are exempt from nearly all firearms laws), the fully automatic receiver must be destroyed, and a certain number of US manufactured parts must be substituted. Specifically, from a list of twenty parts, no more than ten may be of foreign manufacture (see BATFE's sec.922r). In the case of the Century CETME, the receiver, trigger group, muzzle attachments and plastic furniture are of US manufacture, so the Century CETME complies with regulations. Unfortunately, the Century CETME "clone" is so far removed from the original CETME in quality and operation that it's function can not be assured by the company and their reputation has suffered. In the 1960's the company MARS imported the semi-auto CETME into the US for the sporting market, with original Spanish receiver parts. These early import CETMEs are quite rare, and robust, and fetch a price approaching 5-6 times that of a Century CETME primarily due to the ease of full auto conversion, and the very poor quality and reputation of the Century product rather than actual quality of the MARS guns.

• gunworld.net
• CETME information page
• Buddy Hinton Collection / CETME
• CETME For Dummies webpage
• CETME Firing Demonstration Video
• CETME Model C Manual
• Century Arms CETME Manual
• Code of (US) Federal Regulations, Title 27 (See sections 447, 478, and 479)
• Legal Implications of building a gun from a parts set or kit