Machine guns introduction
Austria
 Schwarzlose M07 M07/12
 Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
 Steyr AUG /Hbar
Belgium
 FN Model D
 FN Minimi
 FN MAG
 FN BRG-15
China, People's Republic
 Type 67 GPMG
 Type 88 GPMG
 Type 95 LMG
 Type 77 HMG
 Type 85 HMG
 W-85 HMG
 Type 89 HMG
 Type 02 / QJG 02 HMG
Czech Republic
 ZB 26
 ZB 53 / Vz.37
 ZB 60 new
 Vz.52, Vz.52/57 upd
 UK Vz.59 upd
Denmark
 Madsen LMG
 Madsen-Saetter
Finland
 L/S-26
 Valmet KvKK 62
France
 Chauchat CSRG M1915
 Hotchkiss Portative
 Hotchkiss M1914
 Hotchkiss M1922 LMG
 Hotchkiss M1930 HMG
 MAC M1924/29
 AAT Mod.52
Germany
 MG 08, MG 08/15, MG 08/18
 MG 13
 MG 34
 MG 35/36 Knorr-Bremse
 MG 42 and MG 3
 HK 21 and 23
 HK MG 4
Great Britain
 Vickers Mk.I
 Hotchkiss Portable Mk.I
 Lewis
 Vickers-Berthier
 Bren
 L86A1 SA-80 LSW
Israel
 Dror
 Negev
Italy
 Fiat-Revelli M1914 M1935
 Breda M1930
 Breda M1937
Japan
 Type 03 & Type 92
 Type 11
 Type 96 & Type 99
 Type 62
Mexico
 Mendoza
Russia / USSR
 Maxim M1910/30
 Degtyarov DP DPM RP-46
 Degtyarov DS-39
 Degtyarov RPD
 Kalashnikov RPK
 Kalashnikov RPK-74
 Gorjunov SG-43 SGM
 Kalashnikov PK / PKM
 Pecheneg
 DShK DShKM 12.7
 NSV 12.7 'Utes'
 Kord 12.7
 KPV 14.5
Singapore
 STK Ultimax 100
 CIS .50 MG
South Africa
 Vector SS-77 / Mini-SS
South Korea
 Daewoo K3
Spain
 CETME Ameli
Sweden
 Knorr-Bremse m/40
Switzerland
 W+F Lmg 25
 SIG KE-7
 Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
 SIG MG 50
 W+F MG 51
 SIG MG 710
USA
 Benet-Mercie M1909
 Lewis
 Browning M1917 M1919
 Browning M1918 BAR
 Johnson M1941 M1944
 M60
 M16 LSW / LMG
 M134 Minigun
 XM214 Microgun
 Stoner 63
 M249 SAW
 M240
 Mk.48 mod.0
 Browning M2HB .50 cal
 XM312 .50 cal
 LW50MG

 Gatling, Minigun, Vulcan

all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

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SIG Neuhausen KE-7 light machine gun (Switzerland)

Caliber	7.92x57 Mauer and others
Weight	8.2 kg
Length	1190 mm
Barrel length	600 mm
Feed	box magazine, 25 rounds
Rate of fire	550 rounds per minute

The KE-7 light machine gun was the 7th model of the light automatic weapons, developed by designers Pal de Kiraly and Gotthard End (hence the designation, Kiraly-End, 7th model) at famous SIG small arms factory in Neuhausen, Switzerland. Production of the KE-7 light machine gun at Neuhausen commenced circa 1929, with most production guns being delivered to China, in 7.92x57 Mauser caliber. Few KE-7 machine guns were also manufactured in other calibers, mostly for export to Latin America. Production of the KE-7 apparently has ceased before the start of WW2, and it was never used by Swiss armed forces, being a pure commercial / export product of the era.

The SIG KE-7 is a short-recoil operated, air cooled, selective-fire light machine gun. It fires from an open bolt, and the action is locked using a tipping bolt. Barrels are quick-detachable, and the wooden forend is used as a handle to withdraw the hot barrel. A separate (non-reciprocating) charging handle is located at the left side of the receiver; a manual safety is located on the right side of receiver, above the pistol grip. The trigger unit provides single shots and automatic fire, but there is no separate fire mode selector. A short pull on the trigger results in single shots; a longer pull switches the gun to the automatic mode of fire. Feed is from curved box magazines, which hold 25 rounds in two rows. Ejection is to the right, the ejection window being covered by a spring-loaded dust cover which opens automatically when the gun is cocked. Standard accessories include a wooden buttstock and pistol grip, plus a separate forend attached to the barrel. A light folding bipod is attached to the perforated barrel jacket, and an additional rear monopod can be installed under the butt for better stability.

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