Madsen M-50
Madsen Model 1950 | |
---|---|
![]() Madsen M-50 | |
Type | Submachine gun |
Place of origin | Denmark |
Service history | |
In service | 1950–1980s |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | First Indochina War Indonesian National Revolution Korean War Malayan Emergency Vietnam War Salvadoran Civil War The Troubles Colombian Civil War Araguaia Guerrilla War |
Production history | |
Designer | Dansk Industri Syndikat |
Designed | 1950 |
Manufacturer | Dansk Industri Syndikat |
Variants | M/46, M/53 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.15 kilograms (6.9 lb) |
Length | 795 millimetres (31.3 in) with stock open |
Caliber | 9×19mm Parabellum |
Action | Blowback |
Rate of fire | 550 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 380 m/s (1,200 ft/s) |
Feed system | Magazine 32 rounds |
Sights | Single aperature set for 100 m (110 yd) |
References |
The Madsen M-50 or M/50 is a submachine gun introduced in 1950. It was produced by the Danish company Dansk Industri Syndikat of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Overview
This firearm was a modified variation of the M/46. The only major improvement was the simplified retracting handle. Introduction of the M/50 occurred at Mosede Fort, from 7 November 1950, until 1953.[1]
The M/50 is made of stamped sheet metal. It is an open bolt design which means it fires when the bolt is in the locked back open position with a fixed firing pin. The M/46 and M/50 share a unique design: the firearm is stamped from two pieces of sheet metal which are shaped with an integral rear pistol grip and magazine housing. The two pieces fit together like a clam shell with the hinge at the rear of the pistol grip. The firearm is held together with a barrel locking nut which is threaded onto the fore section of the two receiver halves. The pistol grip is hollow, providing storage space for a magazine loading tool.[1]
The folding stock is made of tubular steel covered with leather and folds onto the right side of the firearm. The M/50 fires in full-auto only. It also features a safety lever (also known as grip safety), unusually placed in front of the forward magazine housing. To fire the M/50 the operator must grip the magazine housing and hold down the safety lever.[2]
Users
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Australian_and_U.S._soldiers_examine_captured_Vietcong_weapons.jpg/220px-Australian_and_U.S._soldiers_examine_captured_Vietcong_weapons.jpg)
Argentina[3]
Bolivia[4]
Brazil (produced under license as the INA Model 953 in .45 ACP)
Chile[5]
Colombia[6]
Denmark[1][4]
El Salvador[3][4]
Guatemala[3]
Indonesia[7]
North Vietnam[8]
Nicaragua[6]
Paraguay[6][4]
South Vietnam[9]
Thailand[5]
Taiwan[10]
United Kingdom: the M-50 underwent intensive trials in 1951–1952 against the BSA model 1949 and the Sterling submachine gun. The latter was eventually selected.[11]
United States In use with Green Berets serving alongside Montagnards in MIKE Force units [12]
Venezuela[5][4]
- Non State Users
- Malayan Communist Party
- Brazilian Communist Party[13][14]
- Ação Libertadora Nacional[15]
- Ulster Defence Association
- Red Hand Commando[16]
- Loyalist Volunteer Force
- Vanguarda Armada Revolucionaria Palmares[17]
- Italian Mafia-Large quantities of Madsen M-50s sold to various Italian Mafia crime families through the black market.
- Yakuza-Large quantities of Madsen M-50s sold to various Japanese Yakuza clans through the black market.
References
- ^ a b c Peterson, Phillip (18 October 2013). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. Krause Publications. pp. 76–. ISBN 978-1-4402-3692-1.
- ^ Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S. (2010). Jane's Infantry Weapons. pp. 81–82, 87.
- ^ a b c Schwing, Ned (5 November 2005). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 74–75. ISBN 0-87349-902-6.
- ^ a b c d e "Dánský samopal Madsen M 1950" [Danish submachine gun Madsen M 1950]. vhu.cz (in Czech). Vojenský historický ústav Praha [cs]. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020.
- ^ a b c Hogg, Ian V. (2001). Submachine Guns. Greenhill Books. pp. 49–50. ISBN 978-1-85367-448-8.
- ^ a b c Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995/1996. Jane's Information Group; 21 edition (May 1995). ISBN 978-0-7106-1241-0.
- ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard (1978). The Illustrated encyclopedia of 20th century weapons and warfare. New York: Columbia House. p. 1817.
- ^ "WWII German weapons during the Vietnam War". 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023.
A fairly remarkable spread of guns, illustrating the weapons used by, and captured by, US Navy special warfare operators in 1964. The red arrow points to a Mauser C96 which – unusually for Vietnam – still has the boxy wood stock. Next is a LAW shoulder-fired rocket, then a WWII-German MP-40. then two Cold War-era submachine guns; the Madsen M50 and Carl Gustav, then two unknown revolvers. At top is a M16 and some mortar rounds. Finally, the assault rifle far right is a Colt Model 605B, an assault rifle issued in tiny quantities only to specops units. It's issue was so small that it never even received a M__ number.
- ^ McNab, Chris (19 March 2013). America's Elite: US Special Forces from the American Revolution to the Present Day. Osprey Publishing. pp. 276–277. ISBN 978-1-78200-316-8.
- ^ "This Is Quemoy". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ Moss, Matthew (29 Nov 2018). The Sterling Submachine Gun. Weapon 65. Osprey Publishing. pp. 15–18. ISBN 9781472828088.
- ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (25 Jul 2002). Green Beret in Vietnam 1957–73. Warrior 28. Osprey Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 9781855325685.
- ^ "Relatório Sobre a Luta no Araguaia". www.marxists.org. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ "Glênio Fernandes de Sá Mililtante Político PCdoB Partido Comunista do Brasil RN Rio Grande do Norte Potiguar Natal Caraúbas Araguaia Guerrilha Guerrilheiro Livro Textos Vídeos Osvaldão DVD Multimídia DHnet - Direitos Humanos na Internet". www.dhnet.org.br. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ "Por trás de uma pistola 45: Gênero e guerrilha no Brasil. 1968-1973" (PDF).
- ^ "Red Hand Commando - Ulster's elite".
- ^ "1970: Oban afirma ter desbaratado a VAR-Palmares". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- Nelson, Thomas B. The World's Submachine Guns. International small arms publishers: Cologne, Germany, 1963.
External links
- Madsen M1946 / M1950 / M1953 at Modern Firearms