Cristobal Model 3
| Cristobal Model 3 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Battle rifle |
| Place of origin |
 Dominican Republic |
| Service history | |
| In service | Mid-1950's to late-1960's |
| Used by | Many Central and South American countries |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Pál Király |
| Manufacturer | Armeria San Cristóbal |
| Produced | 1961-62 |
| Number built | less than 1000 for trials |
| Variants |
Fixed Stock Swivel Stock |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Caliber | 7.62mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Feed system | 20 round detachable FN FAL magazines and 30 round Dominican made box magazines |
| Sights | Iron sights with no tactical rail |
The Cristobal Model 3 (Pistola Ametralladora Cristóbal Modelo 3) was a battle rifle designed by Pál Király and manufactured in the Dominican Republic by the Armeria San Cristóbal. The weapon was chambered in the 7.62×51mm NATO round and fed from FN FAL magazines. Model 3 in 1961 as a competitor with the Belgian FN FAL, an assault rifle using the more powerful 7.62×51mm NATO caliber. By 1961 service showed that the Modelo 2 overheated in automatic fire. The improved Modelo 3 (or 'Mk 3') discarded the original wooden hand guard for a perforated sheetmetal fore-end and the gun could accept an FN export-pattern knife bayonet. A number of guns were also made with a tubular folding butt. This rifle had the M14 type gas tube and regulator underneath the barrel. The ammunition box was vertical, not inclined like the carbine. After Trujillo's death (assassination), the new Dominican government was not interested in Dominican weapon manufacturing and the M3 was not adopted by the Dominican Armed Forces.[1]