Zaragoza Corla

Zaragoza Corla
Type	Pistol Machine pistol
Place of origin	Mexico
Service history
Used by	Mexico
Production history
Designer	Brothers Zaragoza
Manufacturer	Fabrica de Armas Zaragoza
Number built	1050(long version)
Variants	Long version,short version
Specifications
Length	long model 155 mm,short model 102 mm
Barrel length	long model 59 mm,short model 41 mm
Cartridge	.22 Long Rifle
Action	Closed bolt
Muzzle velocity	350 m/s (1,148 ft/s)
Effective firing range	150 m
Sights	Rear:

In 1956 brothers Joseph (José) and Andrew (Andrés), Zaragoza founded the Zaragoza Arms Factory in Mexico City, near Mexico City International Airport.^[1] The first weapon made by this outfit was a single-shot rifle .22 caliber.

Later, they started manufacturing the .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol Corla model, which was named in honor of two dealers who had the surnames Larios and Cordova. As for the brand logo, the letters H and Z correspond to "Hermanos Zaragoza".^[2][3]

Variants

Short model

The total length of this was 4 inches and featured engraving representing The Temple of the Sun at Teotihuacan and the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. At the beginning of its production its planned name was "Azteca" in honor of the Aztecs, but the name was changed to "Corla" for the reasons explained above.

Long model

The Long Model was designed due to recoil in the short model. It was decided to remove the engraving of the volcanoes and the pyramid. Total numbers manufactured were approximately 1150 units.

End of production

Like most weapons factories in Mexico, this also disappeared after the student strike in 1967, as then-President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz made a decree to regulate firearms.

References