FBP m/948 submachine gun

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FBP m/948 submachine gun, with optional bayonet lug on the barrel




FBP m/948 submachine gun

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	3.75 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	635 / 813 mm
Barrel length	249 mm
Rate of fire	500 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 rounds

FBP m/948 submachine gun was developed at Portuguese arms-making factory Fabrica de Braco de Prata, and adopted by Portuguese military in 1948. The FBP m/948 submachine gun was broadly based on two wartime designs - German MP40 (bolt and return spring setup, safety) and US M3 (receiver design, trigger and shoulder stock). FBP m/948 submachine gun was extensively used by Portuguese military and by some former Portuguese colonies.

FBP m/948 submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon that fires from open bolt, in full automatic mode only. The bolt and especially return spring and its external telescoping guide are patterned after the German MP40 submachine gun, although the bolt design is somewhat simplified. The safety, which uses an L-shaped cut in the cocking handle slot in receiver to lock the bolt in the open position is also based on MP40. The overall layout and design of the stamped steel receiver and pistol grip / trigger unit is patterned after American M3 submachine gun. Sliding, telescoping buttstock, made of steel wire, is also copied from US M3 weapon. The FBP m/948 submachine gun was sometimes fitted with optional bayonet lug on the barrel.

Minebea M-9 submachine gun

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Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.8 kg / 6.2 lbs
Length	399 mm / 15.7"
Barrel length	120 mm / 4.7"
Rate of fire	1100 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	25 rounds
Effective range	50-100 meters

Minebea M9 submachine gun was developed by Japanese Minebea company to replace obsolete US-made M3 submachine guns in service with Japan Self-defense Forces (JSDF). JSDF adopted this weapon during early 1990s to arm secondary military personnel like tank, vehicle and artillery crews (M9 is issued as a personal defense weapon instead of the traditional pistol). Minebea M9 is based on Mini-Uzi submachine gun. It was produced under license from IMI (now IWI Ltd), and it seems that it is no longer made. Some sources in Japan suggest that JSDF is looking to replace this submachine gun (which has some dubious features) with German-made HK MP5 submachine guns.

In its basic design, Minebea M9 submachine gun closely resembles the Mini-Uzi. It has the same simple blowback action with bolt that telescopes around the rear part of the barrel. Firing is from open bolt (presumably), in full and semi-automatic modes. Unlike its prototype, Japanese submachine gun is fitted with additional front grip and a flash hider on the barrel. On the other hand, there's no shoulder stock, and this greatly limits the accuracy of fire, especially when firing in full automatic mode with such high rate of fire.

PM-84 PM-84P Glauberyt submachine gun

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PM-84P submachine gun, with shoulder stock retracted and forward grip unfolded

	PM-84	PM-84P
Caliber	9x18 PM	9x19 Luger / Parabellum
Weight	1.84 kg empty	2.17 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	354 / 560 mm	375 / 575 mm
Barrel length	165 mm	185 mm
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute	640 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	15 or 25 rounds	15 or 25 rounds

PM-84 Glauberyt submachine gun has been developed in Poland during early 1980s, as a possible replacement for overly expensive PM-63 submachine gun of roughly same size and properties. However, PM-84 has been designed for less expensive manufacturing (using steel stampings instead of machining), and also in two calibers instead of one; the 9x18 version was destined for Polish use, while 9x19 version was obviously intended for export. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and dissolution of the Warsaw pact, Polish military and police switched over to 9x19 Luger caliber. To-day, onlye the 9mm Luger version is manufactured in Poland by ZM Lucznik factory, as PM-84P Glauberyt.

PM-84 is a blowback operated weapon that fires from closed bolt and has a separate hammer unit. The rectangular receiver is made of steel stampings, with the bolt reciprocating inside. Cocking handles are made in the form of two "ears" projecting from slots at either side of the receiver. It has a safety / fire selector switch located above the grip, on the left side. Double-stack magazines are inserted into the pistol grip, and have capacity of 15 or 25 rounds. Magazine release is located at the base of the pistol grip, just behind the magazine well opening. The Glauberyt submachine gun also features a bolt hold-open device, with bolt release lever located on the left side, in front of the manual safety / fire selector lever. Both front and rear sights were protected by wings; rear sight is of flip-up type with two range settings, for 75 and 150 meters. PM-84 submachine gun is fitted with folding front grip under front part of the receiver, and with retractable steel buttstock.

PM-63 Submachine gun

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PM-63 submachine gun with front grip and buttstock folded; 25-round magazine is removed from grip


PM-63 submachine gun with front grip and buttstock opened for better control during fire; slide is cocked and gun is ready to fire

Caliber: 9x18 Makarov PM
Weight: 1.6 kg empty; 2.0 kg with loaded 25-round magazine
Length (stock closed/open): 333 / 583 mm
Barrel length: 152 mm
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 15 or 25 rounds
Effective range: 100-150 meters

PM-63 submachine gun is quite interesting weapon, which is better described by its native name Pistolet Maszynowy wz.63 (machine pistol model of 1963). Indeed, it has layout of a large pistol, and can be fired single-handedly like any other pistol. On the other hand, PM-63 had folding buttstock and frontal grip (also folding), and had selective-fire capability. Furthermore, while it has a pistol-like slide which is integral with breechblock, it fires from open bolt, much like most submachine guns.


PM-63 has been designed by famous Polish gun designer Peter Wilniewczyc by 1963. First issued to Polish special forces in 1965, it also gained a name of RAK (Reczny Automat Komandosow - Commando handheld automatic [weapon]). Other than special elements of Polish army, PM-63 also was used by East German police.

PM-63 is a blowback operated weapon that fires from open bolt (slide). Return spring is located below the stationary but easily removable barrel. Front part of the slide is shaped like long spoon and acts as a muzzle rise compensator during automatic fire. It also can be used to cock weapon single-handedly, by pushing the compensator against the hard surface until slide is locked back by the sear. For more usual two-hand cocking slide is equipped with typical side serration at the rear. Fire mode (single shots or bursts) is selected by the trigger pull - short pull until first stop produces single shots, further pull on the trigger results in full automatic fire. PM-63 is fitted with inertia-type fire rate reducer, which is located inside the rear of the slide. After each shot in full-auto mode, reducer holds the slide in the open position for a fraction of a second, while inertia pellet cycles inside its channel under recoil. On its way forward, this pellet releases the slide to go forward and fire next round. Manual safety is located on the frame, just behind the grip, on the left side of weapon. Box magazines are inserted into pistol grip and could have capacity of 15 or 25 rounds. For better control during burst fire, or for more accurate single shots, PM-63 is fitted with folding shoulder stock made of stamped steel, and with folding front grip. However, mild recoil of 9x18 cartridge combined with sufficient weight of the weapon, allows it to be fired single-handedly at shorter ranges, even in full-auto mode. Sights are of open type, with blade front and flip-up "L"-shaped rear, which is graduated to 75 and 150 meters. PM-63 could be carried in special holster or using a loop belt, which attaches to a single swivel at the rear of the frame.

FNA-B 43 submachine gun

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FNA-B 43 submachine gun (with 20-round magazine)

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	3,7 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	526 / 790 mm
Barrel length	200 mm
Rate of fire	400 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	10, 20, 32 or 40 rounds

The FNA-B 43 submachine gun was designed and manufactured at the Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armie (National Arms Factory) in Brescia, with several thousands of guns made in 1943 and 1944. Despite its rather modern and compact appearance, it was built to pre-war standards of manufacturing and design. It had a delayed blowback action and a complicated trigger mechanism, as the gun fired from the closed bolt. Most of its parts were machined from solid steel, making it quite expensive to manufacture. Not surprisingly, its production was very limited in comparison to other contemporary submachine guns.

The FNA-B 43 submachine gun is delayed (retarded) blowback operated, selectively-fired weapon which fires from closed bolt. The delayed blowback action is achieved by using a Kiraly-type two-piece bolt with retarding lever, similar to that used in Hungarian 39M submachine gun. Since this weapon fires from the closed bolt, its firing pin has a separate spring, located inside the bolt, and a necessary linkage which releases the firing pin when bolt is fully in battery and the trigger is pulled. Fire mode selector is located on the left side of the gun, above the pistol grip. A separate safety lever is also located on the left side of the gun, above the trigger. Feed is from double stack, double feed magazines of the Beretta M38 pattern. The magazine housing is pivotally attached to the receiver and can be pivoted forward, so magazine would rest below the barrel and parallel to it – an useful feature when carrying a weapon with long 40-round magazine. The barrel of the gun is protected by a full length perforated jacket, made of steel, with integral muzzle brake – compensator at the front. The metallic shoulder stock folds down and forward, and rests on the right side of the gun when not required. The iron sights are fixed, with rear V-notsh sight factory zeroed for 100 meters range.

Beretta M1918 submachine gun

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Caliber	9x19 Glisenti
Weight	3.3 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	851 mm
Barrel length	318 mm
Rate of fire	900 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	25 rounds

The Beretta M1918 submachine gun (also known as Moschetto Automatico Beretta m1918) can be considered to be the first "conventional" submachine gun to be ever issued to the troops, as, according to some sources, its issue predates that of the more famous Bergmann / Schmeisser MP.18 submachine gun by several weeks. It was desinged on request from Italian army, which sought to improve on the cumbersome Villar-Perosa M1915 weapon. Beretta's designer Tulio Marengone took the half (one gun of the twin weapon) of the Villar-Perosa M1915 as a base, put it into the carbine-type wooden stock, and added rifle-type trigger unit. The barrel was lenghtened and fitted with integral underfolding bayonet, making this gun a formidable "trench warfare" tool. It was reported as durable and reliable weapon, and more than few Beretta M1918 submachine guns survived to see the action during early stages of WW2, mostly in northern Africa.

The Beretta M1918 submachine gun uses delayed blowback action, in which the delay of the initial opening of the bolt is achieved by rotation of the bolt, through the bolt handle that slides against the inclined part of the cocking handle slot. Firing is from open bolt, in full automatic mode only. Feed is from top-mounted box magazine, ejection is to the bottom. An ejection chute is added to the bottom of the stock to protect firer's left handle from hot spent cases, which are ejected from the gun with considerable force. The sights are offset to the left to clear the overhead magazine. The muzzle is fitted with integral folding bayonet.

SOCIMI Model 821 submachine gun

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SOCIMI Model 821 submachine gun

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.45 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	400 / 600 mm
Barrel length	200 mm
Rate of fire	550 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 rounds

SOCIMI Model 821 submachine gun was developed in around 1982 as a joint effort between two Italian companies, the Societa Costruzioni Industriali Milano S.p.A. (SOCIMI) and Luigi Franchi S.p.A. This weapon was offered to all interested buyers until early 1990s, when the SOCIMI company finally folded. Some sales were reported in international literature, although exact details and buyers are generally unknown.

In its design the SOCIMI Model 821 submachine gun was heavily based on Israeli Uzi submachine gun, although it significantly differed in manufacturing techniques used to produce receiver and trigger housing - instead of stamped steel Italian engineers used aluminum alloy forgings. One interesting aspect of this weapon is that a special variant of the SOCIMI Model 821 submachine gun was designed especially to fire 9mm AUPO "caseless" ammunition, usually associated with experimental Benelli CB-M2 submachine gun. Appropriate version of this weapon was covered in US patent 4,895,064, issued to SOCIMI company in 1990.

SOCIMI Model 821 submachine gun is a blowback operated, selective fire weapon that fires from open bolt. Combined safety - fire selector switch is located on the left side of the gun, above the pistol grip. An automated grip safety is located at the rear of the pistol grip. Cocking handle is located above the receiver. Box magazine is inserted into the pistol grip. Gun is fitted with side-folding metallic buttstock, that folds horizontally to the right when not in use. The rear sight is of L-shaped flip-up type, with settings for 100 and 200 meters.