Halcón M1943
Fábrica de Armas Halcón · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1943
Also known as: Halcón Model 1943, Halcón M-1943, PA Halcón 1943
Overview
The Halcón M1943 (Pistola ametralladora Halcón Modelo 1943) is an Argentine submachine gun developed in 1943 by Fábrica de Armas Halcón of Buenos Aires. A select-fire, open-bolt, blowback weapon fed from a detachable box magazine, it was chambered in .45 ACP for police service and in 9x19mm Parabellum for the army. Robustly built of machined steel with a wooden stock, it is recognizable by its distinctive finned barrel and an oversized six-slot muzzle compensator. It was regarded as comparable in quality to the American Thompson submachine gun and served the Argentine army, air force and police forces.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4750 g (167.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 850 mm (33.46") |
| Barrel Length | 292 mm (11.50") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 270 m/s (886 fps) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
Calibers
- .45 ACP · primary — also known as .45 Auto, 45 ACP, 11.43x23mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Stop Button
- Features: Finned Barrel, Muzzle Compensator, Wooden Stock, Select Fire
Variants
- Halcón M1946 Aeronáutica — Compact Paratrooper
Service history
Operators
- Argentine Army · adopted 1943
- Argentine Air Force
- Argentine Police
Production
Estimated total produced: 6,000 · Production years: 1943-1950
Approximately 6,000 units produced between 1943 and 1950 before the simplified M1946 and later ML-series superseded it.
Origin
Country of origin: Argentina
Discontinued: 1950
Notes
Source figures vary. Weight is commonly listed as about 4.75 kg, though firearms.96.lt quotes 'almost 13 lb' (~5.9 kg) for the full machined version. Magazine capacity is quoted as 30, 36 or 40 rounds depending on variant and chambering. The .45 ACP chambering was issued to police while the army received 9x19mm Parabellum.
Background
The M1943 launched Fábrica de Armas Halcón's domestic submachine gun line, giving Argentina an indigenous weapon at a time when imported arms were scarce during the Second World War. Its 1946 Aeronáutica variant, with a shortened barrel, four-slot compensator and underfolding wire stock, was issued to paratroopers.