MAT-49

The MAT-49 is a French submachine gun that was originally produced by Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT). The MAT-49 began production in 1949 after a series of trials for a new submachine gun to replace the MAS-38. The MAT-49 was chosen in part for its simple design and cost-effective stamped metal construction, allowing for rapid, economic production of a large amount of guns that the French military desperately needed. The MAT-49 also includes two design features unusual for a submachine gun: the ability for the magazine well to fold up and a grip safety, a feature more common to handguns.

The MAT-49 was used extensively by the French military during their military ventures of the early Cold War period, such as the First Indochina War and the Algerian War. It was well-liked in service owing to its compactness, ease of use, and reliability. Following the French withdrawal from Vietnam, captured MAT-49s were converted to 7.62×25mm Tokarev by North Vietnamese forces and used by the People's Army of Vietnam and Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

Production of the MAT-49 was taken over by Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne plant (MAS) in the 1960s and production ceased in 1979, when the FAMAS assault rifle was adopted and filled the niche previously occupied by the MAT-49.

Specifications

(1949 - 1979)

• Type: Submachine Gun

• Caliber: 9x19mm, 7.62x25mm Tokarev（North Vietnamese conversion）

• Weight: 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)

• Length: 18.1 in (46 cm) (stock collapsed), 28.3 in (72 cm) (stock extended)

• Barrel length: 9.1 in (23 cm)

• Capacity: 20, 32

• Fire Modes: full auto only

The MAT-49 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Television

Video Games