Halcón M-1946

Fábrica de Armas Halcón · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1946

Also known as: Halcón Modelo 1946, Halcón M/1946, Halcón ML-1946

Overview

The Halcón M-1946 is an Argentine open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced by Fábrica de Armas Halcón in Buenos Aires. A lightened development of the earlier M1943, it replaced that gun's fixed wooden stock with an under-folding metal skeleton stock that reduced overall length from 790 mm to roughly 520 mm, shortened the barrel, simplified the muzzle compensator, and added a rear pistol grip while deleting the forward grip. The Argentine Army fielded the 9 mm version, while a .45 ACP variant served the Argentine police.

Specifications

Weight (empty)4000 g (141.1 oz)
Overall Length790 mm (31.10")
Folded Length520 mm (20.47")
Barrel Length152 mm (5.98")
Action TypeBlowback
Firing MechanismOpen Bolt
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Magazine Capacity17 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Effective Range100 m (109 yd)
Rate of Fire600 rpm
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialSteel
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Service history

Operators

Production

Production years: 1946-1950s

Built by Fábrica de Armas Halcón, Buenos Aires; service with the Argentine Army and police.

Origin

Country of origin: Argentina

Notes

The M-1946 was also produced in .45 ACP as the police 'Modelo Aeronautica'; the Argentine Army adopted the 9x19mm Parabellum chambering. Magazines held 17 or 30 rounds.

Background

Named for the Spanish word for 'falcon', the Halcón family of submachine guns equipped Argentine forces through the mid-20th century, with the M-1946 trading the bulk of the wartime M1943 for a folding-stock, paratrooper-friendly profile.