Madsen M-50

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.

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

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

A U.S. Army soldier (right) holds a captured Vietcong M-50 in 1965

•  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.^{[citation needed]}
• Yakuza-Large quantities of Madsen M-50s sold to various Japanese Yakuza clans through the black market.^{[citation needed]}