MAT-49: A Look at the French Cold War Submachine Gun

The Armory Life profiles the MAT-49, a French 9mm submachine gun adopted in 1949 that saw wide use but little attention in the United States.

Key points

• Origins: Development began at the state-run Tulle arsenal around 1947. The French Army adopted it in 1949 and production began in 1950.
• Design: Mostly stamped sheet metal, firing from an open bolt in 9x19mm. It has a 9.1-inch barrel, a telescoping stock and a 32-round magazine.
• Magazine housing: It pivots forward, giving a length of 18 inches with the stock retracted. The gun weighs nearly 9.5 pounds loaded.
• Service: About 700,000 were built through 1979, and it left French service in 1998. Captured examples were converted to 7.62x25mm.
• Film: It appears in more than 100 films, including Patton, in a scene set before the gun existed.

Quick take

The article suggests its generic shape may explain why it never became as recognized as the Thompson, Uzi or AK-47, even after serving in many conflicts.

Read the full story at The Armory Life.