Gevarm D4
Gévarm (Gévelot) · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1956
Also known as: Gévarm Type D4, Gevarm D-4
Overview
The Gévarm D4 is a French blowback submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, developed in 1956 by Gévarm, the firearms subsidiary of the Gévelot ammunition company. Firing from an open bolt with selective single and full-automatic fire, it was conceived as an economical alternative to the standard-issue MAT-49. Its receiver, trigger unit and short barrel jacket were formed from stamped sheet steel to keep manufacturing cheap, and it featured an automatic grip safety, a retractable steel-wire buttstock and a flip-up rear sight graduated for 50 and 100 metres.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3300 g (116.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 782 mm (30.79") |
| Folded Length | 535 mm (21.06") |
| Barrel Length | 233 mm (9.17") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 380 m/s (1247 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Grip Safety, Fire Selector
- Features: Open Bolt Firing, Retractable Stock, Flip Up Rear Sight, Stamped Sheet Steel Construction, Left Side Charging Handle
Variants
- Gévarm D3 — Fixed Stock
Service history
Operators
- French Police (CRS)
- Paris Police Prefecture
Production
Estimated total produced: 4,000 · Production years: 1956-1960s
Approximately 3,000-4,000 units produced in limited quantities
Origin
Country of origin: France
Notes
Only about 3,000 to 4,000 units were built. The French Army tested D3 (wooden stock) and D4 (retractable wire stock) variants in February 1957 but never adopted them, retaining the MAT-49 in service. The D4 saw limited use with French police forces and some export customers.
Background
Designed by Gévarm, a subsidiary of the cartridge maker Gévelot, the D4 was an inexpensive stamped-steel rival to the MAT-49. Although it never won a French military contract, its economical construction and open-bolt design made it a notable budget submachine gun of the post-war era.