source: http://www.world.guns.ru/assault/as12-e.htm

Heckler & Koch G3 rifle (Germany)

Earliest variant of G3 rifle with flip-up rear sight and metallic ventilated handguards


G3A3 with drum type rear sight, plastic ventilated handguards and fixed stock

G3A3 with attached bayonet and plain plastic handguards of more modern appearance

G3A4 - retractable butt version of the G3


G3KA4 - the shortest G3 variant with retractable buttstock and most modern integral pistol grip / trigger unit made entirely of plastic

Click here to see exploded view of the G3 (50 Kb JPEG)
Click here to see cut-out view of the G3 (50 Kb JPEG) 
Click here to see cut-out view of the G3 blowback action (35 Kb JPEG)

Click here to see airsoft copies of this gun
available at the online shop

Caliber: 7.62mm NATO (.308 win)
Action: Roller-delayed blowback
Weight: 4.5kg
Overall length: 1023 mm
Barrel length: 450 mm (315 mm on G3KA4 model)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds

 During the early- to mid-1950s West Germany, like the other NATO countries,  faced the need for rearming its army for the newest common 7.62x51mm NATO caliber small arms. Initially Germans preferred the Belgian FN FAL rifle, and adopted it circa 1956 under the designation of G1. Due to obvious reasons Germany wanted to manufacture its military rifles, and attempted to buy a manufacturing license for FAL, but Belgium rejected the deal. So, Germany turned to the another design, available from Spanish company CETME, and known as the CETME mod. A rifle. Germany bought the manufacturing license for CETME rifle and transferred it to the Heckler und Koch (HK) company, located in Oberndorf. HK slightly modified the CETME design, and in 1959 the Bundeswehr (W.Germany Army) finally adopted the CETME / Heckler - Koch rifle as G3 (Gewehr 3 - Rifle, [model] 3). Since that time and until the 1995 the G3 in various modifications served as a general issue shoulder weapon not only for German Armed forces, but also for many other countries. Those include Greece, Iran, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and many other countries. Total of more than 50 countries during the last 40 years issued the G3 to its forces. The G3 was or still is manufactured in countries like the Greece, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Portugal and others. The key reason of high popularity of the G3 is that it is much simpler and cheaper to manufacture, than its major contemporary rivals - Belgian FN FAL and US M14. To the best of my knowledge, the HK itself continued to produce and offer the G3 until the year 2000 or 2001, when it finally disappeared from HK catalogs and web-sites. However, the HK still manufactures a wide variety of firearms, based on the G3 design but of different purposes and calibers, like 9mm MP-5 submachine guns, 5.56mm HK 33 assault rifles, 5.56mm and 7.62mm HK 23 and HK 21 machine guns, PSG1 sniper rifles etc. In general, the HK G3 rifle can be described as one of the best 7.62mm NATO battle / assault rifles - reliable, versatile, controllable, non-expensive and, finally, very popular. For the civilian markets, HK produced the semi-automatic only versions of the G3, initially known as HK 41 and later - as HK 91.

The G3 rifle is a selective fire, magazine fed rifle, built using delayed blowback action, developed by German engineers at Mauser Werke late in the 2nd World War and refined in Spain, at the CETME company. Initial models of the G3 rifle were quite similar to CETME rifles, and even had "CETME" markings on the receivers (until 1961 or so). The roller-delayed blowback action is described under the CETME Rifles, so I will not repeat it here. The G3 is built using as many stamped parts as possible. The receiver is stamped from sheet steel. The trigger unit housing along with pistol handle frame, also are stamped from steel and hinged to the receiver using the cross-pin in the front of the trigger unit, just behind the magazine housing. Earliest G3 rifles also featured stamped handguards and CETME-type flip-up rear diopter sights. In the mid-1960s the initial design was upgraded to the G3A3 and G3A4 configurations. These rifles had ventilated plastic handguards and a drum-type rear diopter sights, marked from 100 to 400 meters. The G3A3 was a fixed butt version, with buttstock made from plastic, and the G3A4 was a telescope butt version, with retractable metallic buttstock with rubber buttplate. Late German production G3A3 and G3A4 models were built using new trigger units, integral with restyled pistol grip and triggerguard, made from plastic. The shortest version of the G3 was the G3KA4, similar to G3A4 but with shortened barrel. Every G3 rifle can be equipped with detachable bipods, claw-type detachable scope mounts. Long-barreled versions can be fitted with bayonet or used to launch rifle grenades from the barrel. Folding cocking handle is located on the special tube above the barrel, at the left side, and does not reciprocate when gun is fired. The safety / fire selector is located above the triggerguard on the left side of the trigger group housing and usually is marked "S - E - F" (Safe - Single shots - Full auto). Latest models could have selectors marked with colored icons.

source: http://www.world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl06-e.htm

Tokarev SVT-38 SVT-40 (USSR - Russia)

SVT-38 (image by Kristopher Gasior from www.CollectibleFirearms.com)


SVT-38, close-up view on the receiver (image by Kristopher Gasior from www.CollectibleFirearms.com)


SVT-40, right side


SVT-40, left side


SVT-40, close-up view on the receiver


SVT-40, sniper version with see-through scope mount and WW2 period standard issue "PU" scope


SVT-40, drawing of the muzzle attachment with the gas chamber and regulator, front sight assembly and muzzle brake

data for SVT-40
Caliber: 7.62x54 mm R
Action: Gas operated, tilting bolt
Overall length: 1226 mm
Barrel length: 625 mm
Weight: 3.85 kg
Feeding: 10 rounds in detachable box magazine

The SVT-38 (Samozaryadnaya Vintovka Tokareva - Tokarev Self-loading rifle) was originally adopted in the 1938 after more than 20 years of the research and development, done by famous Russian arms designer Fedor Tokarev. It was not a first Soviet semi-automatic rifle - there were the select-fire 'Avtomat' of 1916 by Fedorov and also select-fire AVS-36 of 1936 by Simonov. 'Avtomat' was chambered for Japanese 6.5mm Arisaka round and was declared obsolete, and the AVS-36 showed some design deficiencies, so new rifle was adopted. After initial trials, it was updated and re-adopted in 1940 as a SVT-40. This rifle was made in relatively large numbers (more than 1 million made prior to 1945), and was originally issued as a standard infantry rifle, replacing the obsolete Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 bolt action rifles. Few SVT-40 were also manufactured in the sniper variant, equipped with scope mounts and telescopic sights, but accuracy was not sufficient, so only about 50 000 sniper SVT-40 were manufactured, and these were supplemented by the Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles. The SVT-40 had a somewhat controversial reputation. It was highly regarded by the enemies (Finns and Germans) and it was a very sought-after war trophy, re-issued to both German and Finnish troops. On the other hand, it was often considered unreliable and over-complicated by the Soviet troops (when comparing with old Mosin-Nagant rifles), but it was more to the poor training and maintenance, than to the rifle itself. Some better trained and educated Soviet troops, such as Sea Infantry (Marines, which always were some kind of elite in the Soviet army) used the SVT-40 with great deal of success. After the end of the World War 2, most SVT-40 were quickly withdrawn from service and put into reserve stocks. Some rifles were later sold on domestic civilian market for hunters as a military surplus. Other than basic versions, there also were developed a shorter carbine SKT-40, and a select-fire AVT-40, but both seen very little service. Overall, the SVT-40 was in general no worse than American M1 Garand (and have some advantages over it, especially in the reloading procedures), and obviously better than earlier German Gew.41 semi-automatic rifles. It was the matter of training and education, and quality of the service of in the Soviet troops, that lead to the low popularity (in general) of this basically good rifle.

SVT-40 is a gas operated, magazine fed self-loading rifle. It uses a short piston stroke gas action, located above the barrel. The interesting feature of the SVT is that the gas block, along with front sight base and a muzzle brake, were produced as a single barrel extension unit. This greatly simplified the manufacture of the barrel, but the barrel extension itself unit was quite complicated to make. Gas chamber has 5 positions gas regulator to ajust the system for any conditions. The gas piston has its own return string and moved back for about 36 mm (1.5 inch) when gun was fired. It gave a quick and powerful stroke to the bolt carrier, which carried the bolt under it. Barrel locking was achieved by the rear part of the bolt, that tilted down to lock into the reinforced steel insert in the floor of the receiver. Charging handle was permanently attached to the right side of the bolt carrier. Detachable box magazine was made from sheet steel and hold 10 cartridges. SVT could be reloaded either by replacing the magazine or by using 5-round stripper clips of the Mosin-Nagant. Stripper clip guides were machined into the receiver top cover. Bolt system incorporated a bolt catch, that held the bolt group back when magazine was empty, to facilitate faster reloading, especially when using stripper clips.

Both SVT-38 and SVT-40 were hammer-fired, with safety switch located behind the trigger. When engaged, safety locked the trigger. On the rare AVT-40 select-fire rifles, safety had an additional setting for full-auto fire mode.

The SVT-38 featured a two-piece wooden stock with separate upper handguard with small steel insert at the forward end. SVT-40 had an one-piece wooden stock with shorter forend and separate upper handguard. Front part of the stock was replaced by the sheet steel cover with cooling ports. Cleaning rod, originally stored in the groove at the right side of the stock at the SVT-38, was relocated under the barrel on the SVT-40.

Sights of the SVT consisted of the post type front sight, mounted on the sight base with circular front sight guard, and a tangent type open rear sights, mounted on the rear part of the barrel. Sniper versions were equipped with special detachable, see-through scope mounts at the rear of the receiver, so the scope was offset to the rear, allowing to use a clip-charging facility.

SVT-38 was equipped with detachable, knife-bayonet. SVT-40 was issued with similar bayonet, but with blade shortened to save weight. Unlike the Mosin-Nagant, the bayonets were routinely carried in sheaths, and attached to the rifle only when required.

Arisaka Rifle

sources: http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

Manual to assemble and disassemble an Ariaska Rifle

http://www.surplusrifle.com/arisaka/rifledisassembly/pdf/ari saka.pdf

http://www.gunsworld.com/gun_bar/Arisaka_38th_Year_Rifle.htm

A chrysanthemum with 16 petals (the symbol of the Japanese Emperor) was usually stamped on the receiver of rifles manufactured for the Imperial Japanese Army, indicating that the rifle belonged to the Emperor. The chrysanthemum resembles this:

The chrysanthemum was at least partially ground off on rifles which were surrendered after the war, apparently as a face-saving gesture. Rifles captured in the field, however, normally have the chrysanthemum symbol intact. The Type designation was stamped into the top of the receiver using the character shiki for "type" and Japanese numerals. The shiki character and the characters for the Japanese numerals are shown in the following table.

Japanese Characters Used on Arisaka Rifles

Character	Meaning
	Type
	1
	2
	3
	4
	5
	6
	7
	8
	9
	10

A small number of Type 38 and Type 99 rifles had two concentric circles on the receiver in place of the chrysanthemum. The purpose of these specially-marked rifles is not known, although it is speculated that they were issued to paramilitary forces such as the Kempei Tai (Japanese Secret Police), other military police, and guards at prisons, embassies, and other civil instillations. Some concentric circle rifles were remarked standard issue Type 38 and Type 99 rifles that had the chrysanthemum completely or partially removed and replaced with the concentric circle marking. These rifles were serialized separately from regular production pieces. Other rifles apparently were originally manufactured and marked with concentric circles, which looks something like this:

Arsenal Marks

Each Japanese rifle was marked with the symbol of either the arsenal of manufacture or the arsenal that supervised the manufacturing subcontractor. This mark can be found on the left side of the receiver at the end of the rifle serial number. Rifles manufactured by a commercial subcontractor bear the subcontractor's mark to the right of the supervising arsenal's mark. These marks are shown in the following table.

Japanese Rifle Manufacturers

Symbol	Arsenal/Subcontractor	Period of Operation
	Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo)	1870-1935
	Kokura Arsenal	1935-1945
	Nagoya Arsenal	1923-1945
	Jinsen Arsenal (Korea)	1923-1945
	Mukden Arsenal (Manchuria)	1931-1945
	Toyo Kogyo	1939-1945
	Tokyo Juki Kogyo	1940-1945
	Tokyo Juki Kogyo	1940-1945
	Howa Jyuko	1940-1945
	Izawa Jyuko	1940-1945

At various times, rifles were removed from military service and sold to other countries or transferred to Japanese schools as training weapons. Normally, the chrysanthemum on these rifles was overstamped with the Koishikawa (Tokyo) / Kokura Arsenal symbol or a ring of small circles to indicate that the rifle no longer belonged to the Imperial Japanese Army. Rifles given to schools often have an additional character stamped on the top of the receiver between the chrysanthemum and the type designation characters. Most of these "school-marked" rifles also have two or three zeros preceeding the serial number. The "school" mark looks something like this:

Serial Numbers

All Japanese military rifles had serial numbers except extremely rare prototypes, other pre-production guns, and occasional rifles assembled very late in World War II. The serial number was stamped on the left side of the receiver, followed by the arsenal symbol. Initially, rifles make in Japanese arsenals were numbered consecutively within each Type designation. In 1933 this scheme was replaced by a system in which rifles were numbered in blocks, or series, of 99,999 each [actually 100,000, according to Honeycutt, running from serial numbers 0 through 99,999]. Each series was identified by a small Japanese character (kana) placed within a circle to the left of the serial number. Specific blocks of kana were assigned to each arsenal or manufacturer to use for a specific rifle type. The series markings are illustrated in the following table.

Series Markings

Series Number	Series Mark		Series Number	Series Mark
1			24
2			25
3			26
4			27
5			28
6			29
7			30
8			31
9			32
10			33
11			34
12			35
20			37
21			40
22			45
23

source:http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/m1carbin.htm

M1 and M1A1 .30 Caliber Carbines Different View M2 & M3 Carbines

Operation: M1, M1A1 Semiautomatic; M2, M3 Selective Length: 35.65 in. (905 mm) Weight unloaded: 5 lb 7 oz (2.48 kg) Barrel: 18 in. 4 grooves, right hand twist Magazine: 15 or 30 round detachable box Muzzle: velocity 1990 fps, 967 ft-lbs. Rate of Fire: M2 on full auto, 650-700rpm 300 yds: 1035 fps, 262 ft-lbs Ammunition: 108 gr bullet, 13 gr charge, US Service M1 Effective Range: 300 yds Rear Sites

The M1 Garand was the weapon of choice for infantry. The M1 Carbine, half the weight and with a less powerful cartridge, was the weapon of choice for support troops, and others not primarily involved in infantry combat. It was designed to meet combat needs less demanding than the M1 Rifle, but more than can be met by the M1911A1 pistol. It was more convenient to use than the M1, and less intrusive to their other duties, while still much more effective than hand guns. Originally, the M1 was to be capable of selective fire control, but this was dropped. Because a demand arose for an automatic capability, the M2 was developed, with a selective-fire switch added to the left side of the receiver, operating on the sear mechanism. The US Carbine, Caliber .30in, M3, or T3, was simply an M2 with suitable mountings prepared on the receiver to take various models of infra-red night-sighting devices. No open or conventional sights were provided, and the IR carbine mounted an M3 flash hider, a simpler design than that for the M1C Garand. The M3 carbine, (its development title was T3), was produced in limited numbers as a semi-prototype. Only about 2100 were manufactured compared to 5,510,000 M1 carbines, 150,000 M1A1 carbines and 570,000 M2 carbines. The M1 and M2 Carbines were also much more powerful than the Russian type burp guns used by the North Koreans and, later, the Chinese, having more than twice their muzzle energy. In the infantry, the M2 Carbine was carried by Staff NCOs and officers. With its 30 round magazine, rapid fire and greater stopping power, it was an effective counter to the various submachine guns used by the Communists in the Korean War. In intense cold, however, such as the Chosin battle, light weapons such as the carbine and air-cooled .30 calibre light machine guns malfunctioned much more often than the M1 and the water-cooled heavies, with anti-freeze in their jackets. The Marines used alcohol based hair tonic as anti-freeze lubricants for all light weapons, with good success, but the carbine components were small and fragile, and repeatedly malfunctioned. The Carbine continued to be used in Viet Nam, until replaced by the M16.

The Uzi sub-machine gun continues to sell well, having proved its dependability and effectiveness. This lightweight IMI product now addresses three distinct markets: military, law-enforcement, and sporting. In the latter case, the Uzi is semiautomatic only, has a longer barrel and a fixed stock.

The UZI came about during the 1950�s in Israel�s primitive economy and arms industry.  Ironically, it emerged from this setting as one of the most robust submachine guns ever developed, due to a ruthless design contest and a bit of genius.

1930�s PALESTINE

Israeli arms manufacturing began under disorganized and illegal conditions in secret underground workshops.  These homemade guns varied in quality and ingenuity, and most of their designs were bizarre.  For example, the Dubigun was an intimidating 12-gauge "carbine" having a six-round drum magazine, but it was often more dangerous to its operator than its target.

MID 1940�s

The Israelis were making an unlicensed copy of the 9mm MK II Sten.   They had to build this gun from poor quality materials, and the barrel�taken and rebored from old hunting rifles�was the only component made of steel.  The Sten clone left a lot to be desired in accuracy and reliability.

EARLY 1950�s

Israel and its hostile neighbors were involved in a series of artillery strikes and nighttime border raids.  Although equipped with inferior artillery, the Israeli infantry was better trained at night fighting.  In this close-in and dirty type of warfare, the submachine gun proved to be the ideal weapon with its portability and high rate of fire.  Due to unreliable weapons, however, it soon became paramount that the nighttime Israeli paratroopers had something better to work with.  In short, the Israeli army was tired of submachine guns that blew up and always jammed at the wrong time.  After finding nothing on the market that met their requirements, they decided to build a submachine gun from scratch.  The new weapon had be compact, reliable and robust enough to take a lot of punishment, and accurate enough to dish it out.

A BITTER CONTEST

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) commissioned two local designers to independently develop weapons that would meet their needs, both named after their creators.  The first was a fairly traditional-looking gun designed by Major Chaim Kara, head of the IDF�s Science Corps light weapons division.  The second gun was developed by a local youngster who was moving rapidly up through the ranks and who seemed to possess a genius for weapons design�Uziel Gal.  Both designs were further refined to meet the sophisticated demands of the IDF, especially the Kara.   In 1951, the rival guns were submitted to the army for competitive testing.

Both guns utilized a wrap-around bolt and blowback action, which reduces the overall weapon size to achieve compactness.  This type of bolt is common today, but was innovative in the 1950�s.  The precision 9mm Kara had only eight main parts, making it easy to field strip.  However, since it was built to very fine tolerances, it was expensive to manufacture and could not tolerate Middle Eastern sand and dust without jamming.

Even in its crude initial version, the 9mm UZI was a gun of the next generation.  It was simple, robust and inexpensive to build, due to a large amount of stamped steel in its construction.  It also employed wider tolerances than the Kara, making it more suitable for operation in desert sands.  The UZI focused on functionality and elegance of design, rather than workmanship.  It was a compact weapon, initially equipped with a 30-round magazine, and later with either a 25- or 32-round magazine.

The UZI has become famous for an important ergonomic feature, the location of the magazine housing inside the pistol grip.  This was the result of Uziel Gal�s consideration of tired, fumbling soldiers trying to reload their magazines in the dark.  He reasoned that the quickest and most trouble-free way to insert a magazine would be to simply bring the two hands together, which can be done without much dexterity or focus (the "fist finds fist" principle).  The Kara�s later prototypes copied this feature, but it was insufficient to sway the contest.

The UZI had other advantages as well.  Unlike most submachine guns, it was almost impossible to accidentally misfire if mishandled or dropped, due to a substantial safety release on the back of the pistol grip that must be squeezed as the trigger is pulled in order to fire.  The gun also had a small number of parts, making it easy to strip and reassemble.  The limited recoil and climb even enabled it to be fired one-handed.

After twelve Karas and five UZIs were placed on rigorous trial in 1951, the UZI emerged as the winner because of its ability to tolerate dust and grit without jamming, as well as its ease and low cost of manufacture.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

From 1951 until 1955 some eighty preproduction UZIs were issued to selected units for field testing.  After further refinement, the UZI we know today emerged in 1955 and was put into service.  In the Suez War of 1956 the gun proved its reliability and began a long, successful career.  Further enhancements were added during service, such as a new folding metal stock that replaced the older fixed wooden stock in 1967.  The weapon was also licensed to be produced by FN, the renowned Belgian weapons company.

As time went on, the demand for an even more compact model increased, and in 1980 the Mini-UZI was adopted.  With all the power of the original, the rugged Mini was simply a smaller package (also having a folding metal stock), mainly used by covert special forces.  From there, the UZI continued its shrinking act and soon the UZI pistol (or Micro-UZI) emerged as a miniature lightweight version.  Also, in 1980 the semi-auto UZI was introduced.

The UZI probably reached its height of acceptance in the U.S. during the attempted assassination of President Reagan in 1981.  Secret Service agents used them in this incident to subdue the would-be assassin, John Hinckley Jr.

The UZI and its variants have been in service in at least 26 countries, and have been produced by seven manufacturers around the world.  Although replaced in military front-line service by more powerful assault rifles, the UZI remains in use by the police and soldiers in non-combat roles.  The gun�s merits will ensure its use for a long time to come.  The legendary Uziel Gal also remains on the scene (having also designed the Galil assault rifle) with his latest work reflected in the design of the Ruger MP9 subgun.

Secret Service agent armed with full-auto UZI ready for action seconds after attempted assassination of Pres. Reagan in 1981.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG34

MG34

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

thumb

The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG34, was a German machine gun first issued in 1934, considered by many to be the first modern general-purpose machine gun. It was used as the primary infantry machine gun during the 1930s, and remained as the primary tank and aircraft defensive weapon. It was intended that it would be replaced in infantry service by the related MG42, but there were never enough of the new design to go around, and MG34s soldiered on in all roles until the end of World War II.

The MG34 was designed primarily by Heinrich Vollmer from Mauser Werke, based on the recently introduced Rheinmetall designed Solothurn 1930 (MG30) that was starting to enter service in Switzerland. The principle changes were to move the feed mechanism to a more convenient location on the left of the breech, and the addition of a shroud around the barrel. Changes to the operating mechanism improved the rate of fire to between 800 and 900 RPM.

The MG34 could use both magazine-fed and belt-fed 7.92mm ammunition. Belts were supplied in 50-round single strips or 250-round boxes. The drums held either 50 rounds in the standard version, or 75 in the "double drum" version. Early guns had to be modified to use the drums by replacing a part on the gun, but this modification was later supplied from the factory.

In the light machine gun role it was used with a bipod and weighed only 12.1 kg, considerably less than other machine guns of the era. In the medium machine gun role it could be mounted on one of two tripods, a smaller one weighing 6.75 kg, the larger 23.6 kg. The larger included a number of features making it useful for a number of roles. The legs could be extended to allow it to be used in the anti-aircraft role (and many were), and when lowered it could be placed to allow the gun to be fired "remotely" while it swept an arc in front of the mounting with fire, or aimed through a periscope attached to the tripod.

The new gun was accepted for service almost immediately and was generally liked by the troops. It was used to great effect by German soldiers assisting the fascists in the Spanish Civil War. At the time it was considerably more advanced than guns being used by other forces (with the exception of the MG30), both in terms of rate of fire, and in being easily man portable by a single gunner. However the MG34 was also very expensive, both in terms of construction and the raw materials needed (49 kg of steel) and it was unable to be built in the sorts of numbers required for the ever expanding German army. It also proved to be rather temperamental, jamming easily when dirty.

By the late 1930s an effort had started to simplify the MG34, leading to the MG42. The MG42's square barrel cover made it unsuitable for use in tank cupolas however, and the MG34 remained in production until the end of the war for this role.

The MG34 was also used as the basis of a new aircraft gun, the MG81. For this role the breech was slightly modified to allow feeds from either side, and in one version two guns were bolted together on a single trigger to form a weapon known as the MG81Z (for zwilling, twin in German). Production of the MG34 was never enough to satisfy any of its users, and while the MG81 was a huge improvement over the earlier MG30-based MG15 and MG17, those guns could be still found in use until the end of the war.

[edit]

Statistics

• Caliber: 7.92mm
• Load: continuous belt feed / 75-round beltless saddle drum
• Action: select fire, air cooled
• Rate of Fire: 800-900rpm
• Weight: 26.7 lbs

source: http://rds.yahoo.com/S=2766679/K=French+Mat+submachine+gun/v =2/SID=e/TID=H037_131/l=WS1/R=1/H=0/IPC=us/SHE=0/SIG=1374qg0 30/*-http%3A//www.wwiitechpubs.info/barrack/inf-francaise/in f-fr-smg-mas-1935/inf-fr-smg-mas-1935-br.html

Written by
Justin Riggir

hapes="_x0000_i1036">

[ Top of Page | Feedback ]

Overview

The French submachine gun in service during World War II was the Mitraillette MAS mod�le 38 (MAS Model 38 Submachine Gun).  This weapon was developed as the MAS 38 - by which moniker it would continue to be known - by the Manufacture d'Armes de St. Etienne (MAS), and had evolved from the experimental MAS 35.

The unusual looking weapon has a peculiarly bent look to it because the receiver and butt diverge in alignment from the axis of the barrel by several degrees.  In order to make the weapon compact, MAS designed the bolt to recoil inside a tube contained within the butt.  As the butt had to drop to allow a natural aiming stance, the receiver also had to be realigned.  This meant that the bolt approached the breech at an angle and to let it close evenly on the cartridge, the face of the bolt was cut obliquely.  The safety catch was also unusual; to lock the bolt in either the forward or rear position, the trigger was pushed forward.

The French accepted the MAS 38 in 1938, but production did not begin until 1939.  The first batch was delivered to the Gardes mobiles (National Guard) rather than the army.

The MAS 38 was a sound design machined from solid metal, and had a reputation for accuracy.  It also had a reputation for ineffectiveness.  It chambered the 7.65-mm (0.301-in) longue (long) French Service Auto cartridge (developed for the mle 1935 pistol) which was only marginally capable as a combat round.  With time, the MAS 38 may have been reworked to accept harder-hitting ammunition.

Time, unfortunately, was not on the MAS 38�s side.  The Germans took over the St. Etienne plant just as the gun was entering large-scale production for the French Army.  The Germans continued and supervised production for their own armed forces and supplied some to the Vichy French. In German service the weapon was known as 7.65 mm MP722(f).

French police forces continued to use the MAS 38 after the war until the MAT 49 submachine gun replaced it in the 1950s.

[ Top of Page | Feedback ]

Specifications