Campo Giro

The Campo-Giro was a semi-automatic pistol, chambered for the 9mm Largo cartridge, which saw service in the Spanish military. It is named for its designer, Colonel Don Venancio López de Ceballos y Aguirre, Count of Campo-Giro.

Background

Venancio López de Ceballos y Aguirre was born in 1856 in Peñacastillo, Santander. He attended the Academia Militar de Caballería (Military Cavalry Academy) from 1876 to 1879, and graduated as a second lieutenant and first in his class. In 1881 he enrolled in the Academia de Estado Mayor (General Staff Academy), becoming staff lieutenant in 1885. He held a number of positions until 1893 when he was posted to Melilla. In 1894 he was promoted to Major and the following year posted to Cuba as Chief of Staff for the Matanzas brigade. He was based there when the US Navy bombarded Matanzas during the Spanish American War. He was appointed Chief of Staff for the 3rd Division, 1st Corps and decorated for his Cuban service. On his return to Spain he was elected to the Spanish parliament and in 1905, one year after his first patent, placed on the retired list. In 1909 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1911 returned to active duty. He ended his career in 1912 as Aide-de-camp to General Fernando Primo de Rivera, uncle of the future Spanish dictator.

Development

Campo-Giro obtained his first patent in 1904 for Una pistola automática de calibre 9mm. de nuevo sistema ("An automatic pistol of 9mm calibre of a...
Read More