MAT-49 Submachine Gun

The MAT-49 was a submachine gun developed by French arms factory Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) for use by the French Army.

The MAT-49 had a short, retractable wire stock, which when extended gave the weapon a length of 720 mm, and the magazine well and magazine could be folded forward parallel to the barrel for parachute jump or with a 45° angle hence allowing a safe carry until the magazine well is brought back to vertical position before opening fire. Barrel length is 230 mm, with some police-issue weapons manufactured with extended barrels and non-retractable wooden stocks. As issued, the MAT-49 fires a 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, using a single-column 20-round magazine for desert use or 32-round similar to the Sten magazine.

The MAT-49 is blowback-operated and box magazine-fed, with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute on full auto. The MAT 49/54, a modified MAT-49s manufactured for police forces, had two triggers, allowing use of full-auto fire or single shots, but most were manufactured as full-auto only. Minus magazine, the MAT-49 weighs about 3.5 kilograms, which makes it somewhat heavy for a submachine gun. The weapon incorporates a grip safety which is located on the backside of the pistol grip. The rear sights are flip-up and "L"-shaped, and marked for a range of 50 and 100 meters. Production ceased after the introduction of the FAMAS in 1979.

Pistolet-Mitrailleur de 9 mm modèle 1949 (MAT-49)
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1949-1979
Wars	First Indochina War Suez Crisis Algerian War Vietnam War 2011 Libyan Civil War
Production history
Designed	1949
Produced	1949-1979
Variants	MAT-49/54 (Police Variant) 7.62x25mm Tokarev (NVA Converted) Silenced Variant
Specifications
Weight	3.5 kg (without magazine) 4.17 kg (with 32 round magazine)
Length	460 mm / 720 mm
Barrel length	230 mm
Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum 7.62x25mm Tokarev (NVA Converted)
Action	Blowback
Rate of fire	600rpm (9x19mm Parabellum) 900rpm (7.62x25mm Tokarev)
Feed system	20, 32 rounds