SCK-65 submachine gun

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SCK-65 submachine gun. in ready to fire position



SCK-65 submachine gun; butt folded, magazine removed

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	4 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	501 / 762 mm
Barrel length	?
Rate of fire	550 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds

The SCK-65 submachine gun was developed during early 1960s by Japanese company Shin Chuo Kogyo (SCK), and subsequently adopted by Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Due to strict Japanese laws, this submachine gun was never exported out of Japan, and thus is rarely known. The SCK-66 submachine gun, which appeared a bit later, was externally similar to Model 65 but had lower rate of fire.

The SCK-65 submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon which fires from open bolt, in full automatic mode only. The gun is somewhat unusual as it has ejection port on the left side of the gun. The ejection port is fitted with dust cover, which must be manually opened before the gun can be loaded or fired, as it has a small projection on its underside which locks the bolt when cover is closed. This manual safety feature is complemented with automated grip safety in the form of a lever, located at the rear of the extended magazine housing. Tho disengage this automated safety, operator must grip the lever with his left hand and push it firmly forward, against the magazine housing. The cocking handle is located on the right side of the gun and does not move when gun is fired. The barrel is enclosed into the tubular jacket, which, surprisingly, has no cooling ports or slots. The side-folding shoulder stock is made from thin steel tubes.

INDEP Lusa submachine gun

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INDEP Lusa A2 submachine gun



INDEP Lusa A2 submachine gun

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.8 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	451 / 584 mm
Barrel length	159 mm
Rate of fire	900 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	28 rounds

The Lusa submachine gun was developed during early 1980s by Portuguese arms manufacturing company INDEP, which at that time manufactured under license the HK G3 automatic rifles of German origin. To save on manufacturing costs, Portuguese designers utilized same manufacturing techniques (steel stamping) and some parts of the G3  rifles. Compared to another submachine gun which is also based on G3 rifle, the famous HK MP5, the Lusa is significantly simpler and thus cheaper to manufacture, mostly because it uses simple blowback action. For some time Lusa A2 submachine guns were manufactured in portugal and used by Portuguese armed forces and police, but in 2004 INDEP sold all manufacturing documentation and dies to a group of American inestors, which established an American company to produce improved versions of this submachine gun, as well as a civilian-legal semi-automatic version of the same design. The company, known as LUSA USA, offered the Lusa submachine guns and carbines for several years, but recently the production in USA was ceased pending the sale of the company.

The Lusa submachine gun uses simple blowback action, firing from closed bolt in single shots and full automatic. It utilizes hammer-firing trigger unit with 3-position safety / fire mode selector switch, similar in design to those of G3 rifle. Receiver is stamped and formed from sheet steel and then welded. The magazine housing is extended below to form a grip for non-firing hand. Charging handle is amde in the form of dual sliders, located above the barrel. To charge the gun, user must grip those sliders with fingers and pull them rearwards, and then release. The Lusa submachine gun is fitted with short polymer forend, and with retractable metallic buttstock. Sights are adjustable only for zeroing, rear sight is of diopter type.

Type 100 submachine gun

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Type 100 submachine gun, early "paratrooper" version with side-folding butt, bayonet adapter under the barrel and adjustable sight



Type 100 submachine gun, late war version (made in 1944-45), with fixed rear sight and simplified bayonet lug



Type 100 submachine gun, late war version (made in 1944-45). Top view showing curved box magazine in place

Caliber	8x22 Nambu
Weight	3.8 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	889 mm
Barrel length	228 mm
Rate of fire	450 rounds per minute (~800 for 1944 model)
Magazine capacity	30 rounds

The Type 100 submachine gun was developed by famous Japanese small arms designer, gen. Kijiro Nambu. First prototypes of this submachine gun were submitted for Japanese Army trials in 1939, and the new weapon was formally adopted in 1940 (2600th year in contemporary Japanese calendar). This submachine gun was initially produced in two forms, as a standard infantry gun with solid stock and as a paratrooper weapon, with side-folding butt. In 1944, following the decline in Japanese industry, the basic Type 100 submachine gun was simplified, and put in production in this form. Overall, several tens of thousands of Type 100 submachine guns were manufactured in Japan by Nambu company and Nagoya and Kakuro arsenals between 1940 and 1945. The gun was of more or less conventional design, but towards the end of the war it was severely plagued by poor quality of materials and workmanship, as well as by marginally powerful ammunition, also of dubious quality (especially during the latter part of the war). After the war it became obsolete in Japan, but some were encountered during latter local conflicts in the SE Asia region.

The Type 100 submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon, firing from open bolt and in full automatic only. The curved box magazine was inserted horizontally from the left, with ejection to the right. Barrel was enclosed into the tubular jacket, perforated for better cooling, and fitted with muzzle brake - compensator. The Type 100 submachine gun was equipped with carbine-style wooden stock. Paratrooper version of this weapon had a side-folding stock, with hinge located on the right side of the stock, just behind the trigger guard. Early Type 100 submachine guns were fitted with adjustable rear sights, 1944-model weapons had fixed rear sights.

Mendoza HM-3 submachine gun

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Mendoza HM-3 submachine gun, original 1970-80's era model, butt folded, magazine removed



Mendoza HM-3 submachine gun, original 1970-80's era model, ready to be fired



Mendoza HM-3S semiautomatic police carbine, current production model

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.7 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	400 / 635 mm
Barrel length	225 mm
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 rounds

The Mendoza HM-3 submachine gun was designed by Hector Mendoza, son of the famous Mexican small arms designer Rafael Mendoza. This compact and modern weapon was subsequently adopted by Mexican military. Because of strict Mexican laws, it was never officially exported outside the country. In late 1990s Mendoza company began manufacture of an improved weapon, with modern polimer furniture and different cocking arrangements. This weapon still is known as HM-3 and is available in two basic versions - selective fire HM-3 for military use and semi-automatic only HM-3S for police and security use.

Mendoza HM-3 submachine gun operates on simple blowback principle, from open bolt. It can shoot semi-automatic or in bursts, with combined safety / fire selector switch being located on the right side of the gun, above the trigger.  Mendoza HM-3 submachine gun features "wrap-around" bolt which is exposed for the most part of its length, with cocking serrations machined on either side of the bolt in front of ejection port. Feed is from detachable box magazines, which are inserted into the pistol grip. Buttstock folds horizontally to the left side of the gun, and forms a forward grip when folded.

The Mendoza HM-3S semiautomatic carbine is different that it fires from closed bolt, has a polymer furniture and an U-shaped cocking handle (instead of the serrations) above the still exposed bolt.

FBP m/976 submachine gun

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Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	3.12 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	657 / 850mm
Barrel length	250 mm
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 or 36 rounds

The FBP m/976 submachine gun was developed in Portugal by arms-making factory Fabrica de Braco de Prata, and adopted by Portuguese military in 1976. This weapon can be considered as an evolution of the earlier FBP m/948 submachine gun, which it replaced in service.

FBP m/976 submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon that fires from open bolt, in single shots of full automatic mode, thanks to the combined safety / fire mode selector lever, located on the left side of the trigger unit, above the trigger. The bolt is of simple design, with large diameter return spring that requires no additional guides. Gun is equipped with grip safety which locks bolt in forward or rearward position. Barrel can be fitted with optional screw-on barrel jacket. L-shaped flip-up  backsight has settings for 50 or 100 meters. Gun is equipped with sliding, telescoping buttstock made of steel wire, which is patterned after US M3 submachine gun.

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.