SIG Neuhausen KE7

The SIG Neuhausen KE7 is a light machine gun designed and manufactured in Switzerland in the decade before the Second World War. Although exported, it was never used by the Swiss Army.

Description
The SIG KE7 is a recoil operated, air cooled light machine gun. It is fed from a curved box magazine mounted on the underside of the weapon, which holds 25 rounds. A light folding bipod is attached to the perforated barrel jacket, and an additional rear monopod can be fitted.

History
The KE7 light machine gun was designed by Pal de Kiraly and Gotthard End at the SIG small arms factory in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. Production commenced in 1929, with most weapons being exported to the Republic of China chambered for 7.92x57 Mauser ammunition. Some KE-7 machine guns were also made in other calibres for export to Latin America. In 1930 examples were provided for trials being run by the British Army to find a replacement for the Lewis gun, although a modified Czechoslovak weapon was finally adopted as the Bren gun.