Madsen
Overview
Madsen M/50
Right side view of Madsen M/50 sub machine gun with stock in folded position.
Source: www.modernfirearms.net -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Brazil - Indústria Nacional de Armas (INA)
Description
Introduction
The Madsen is an early Cold War sub machine gun of Danish origin. It was designed just after World War 2 as a low production cost firearm.
Design
The Madsen is a blowback operated sub machine gun that fires from an open bolt. The stamped metal receiver is made of two halves that include the pistol grip and magazine well. These halves are hinged at the rear and the barrel nut keeps them together. A tubular steel folding stock is located at the rear.
Firepower
The Madsen fires the 9x19mm Parabellum round from a 32 round magazine. The only fire mode is fully automatic. Rate of fire is a modest 550 rpm. Effective range is about 100 meters. In Brazil a local variant was made in .45 ACP.
Users
The Madsen did not sell well in Europe. In various competitions it lost out to other designs. However, a significant number was sold to South America and Asia. It was used in various conflicts in South America and examples were used during the Vietnam war.
Variants
Madsen M/46
Original production model of the Madsen sub machine gun. Features a wide bracket shaped charging handle.
Madsen M/50
Improved model with more conventional round charging handle. Introduced in 1950 and most common production model.
Madsen M/53
Updated model that uses curved magazines and can be fitted with a barrel shroud with bayonet mount.
Madsen M/53 Mark 2
Variant of the M/53 that introduced a fire mode selector, allowing semi-automatic fire in addition to the fully automatic fire.
INA M953
Brazilian production variant of the M/50 chambered in .45 ACP. Produced by Indústria Nacional de Armas (INA) in São Paulo.
Details
Media
Madsen M/50
Right side view of Madsen M/50 sub machine gun.
Source: www.modernfirearms.net
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Madsen M/50
Madsen M/50 sub machine gun shown partially disassembled to illustrate the unique receiver design.
Source: Frank
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner