Carl Gustaf m/45B
Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1948
Also known as: Kpist m/45, Swedish-K, Carl Gustav M/45
Overview
The Carl Gustaf m/45B is the most common production variant of Sweden's m/45 submachine gun, known internationally as the Swedish-K. Chambered in 9x19mm and operating from an open bolt by simple blowback, the m/45B refined the original 1945 design with a permanently fixed magazine well (accepting only the reliable 36-round double-column Swedish magazine), smaller cooling holes in the barrel jacket, and a lighter grey-green finish. Robust, simple, and dependable, it was carried by US Navy SEALs in Vietnam until a US arms embargo on Sweden cut off supply, prompting development of the Smith & Wesson Model 76 copy.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3430 g (121.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4200 g (148.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 806 mm (31.73") |
| Folded Length | 552 mm (21.73") |
| Barrel Length | 213 mm (8.39") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 36 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 410 m/s (1345 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 626 J (462 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 250 mm (9.84") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Locking Safety Slot
- Features: Open Bolt, Folding Tubular Stock, Perforated Barrel Shroud, Fixed Magazine Well, Double Column Double Feed Magazine
Variants
- Carl Gustaf m/45 — Original Model
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Swedish Armed Forces · adopted 1945 · as Kulsprutepistol m/45
- Egyptian Armed Forces · as Port Said
- United States Navy SEALs · as Swedish-K
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Production
Estimated total produced: 300,000 · Production years: 1945-1965
Approximate total across all m/45 variants including the m/45B
Origin
Country of origin: Sweden
Discontinued: 1965
Notes
Early m/45 guns accepted both the older 50-round Suomi-pattern and the newer 36-round magazine via an interchangeable magazine housing; the m/45B fixed the housing for the 36-round magazine only. Egypt produced a licensed copy as the Port Said.
Background
US Navy SEALs prized the silenced "Swedish-K" in early Vietnam, but a Swedish arms embargo over the war abruptly cut off spare parts, forcing Smith & Wesson to reverse-engineer it as the Model 76.