SIG KE7

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	Weapon: SIG KE7 Type: Light Machine Gun Country of Origin: Switzerland Year Adopted: 1939 Caliber: 7.92x57mm Action: Fully Automatic - Recoil Overall Length (mm): 1000.0 Weight (kg): 11.00 Effective Range (m): 1200

The SIG KE7 Light Machine Gun was a Swiss-designed automatic weapon developed in the late 1920s by Gotthard End and Emil Keller at the Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG). It was chambered in a variety of calibers, most commonly the 7.92x57mm Mauser, and featured a gas-operated action with a tilting bolt mechanism. The KE7 was designed with simplicity and reliability in mind, incorporating a fixed barrel and a box magazine holding 25 rounds. Its construction made use of high-quality Swiss manufacturing techniques, resulting in an exceptionally durable and precise firearm.

Despite its robust design, the KE7 was not adopted by the Swiss Army, which preferred other machine gun models for standard service. Instead, the weapon was marketed internationally, finding modest success with export sales to nations including China, which used it in various conflicts during the 1930s and 1940s. The exact production figures for the KE7 are unclear but are estimated to be relatively low compared to contemporaries like the Bren or ZB series, as it competed in a crowded market for light machine guns during an era of rapid innovation.

The KE7 gained a reputation for its reliability and ease of use, making it popular among those who could afford its high production cost. It was notably used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and by various factions during the Chinese Civil War, where its precision and ruggedness were appreciated in harsh combat conditions. While not widely distributed or produced in large numbers, the KE7 is recognized as a testament to Swiss engineering and serves as a reminder of the global competition in light machine gun development during the interwar period.