Hotchkiss Universal
Hotchkiss et Cie · Submachine Gun · Out Of Production · 1949
Also known as: Pistolet Mitrailleur Hotchkiss Type Universal, Hotchkiss Type Universal
Overview
The Hotchkiss Universal (Pistolet Mitrailleur Hotchkiss Type Universal) is a French 9x19mm submachine gun introduced in 1949. It is best known for its 'transformer' folding design: the stock, pistol grip and magazine housing all fold up and the telescoping barrel retracts into the receiver, collapsing the weapon into an exceptionally compact package roughly 440 mm long. It used a simple blowback action firing from an open bolt.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3430 g (121.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 776 mm (30.55") |
| Folded Length | 440 mm (17.32") |
| Barrel Length | 273 mm (10.75") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 380 m/s (1247 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 650 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: Manual Safety
- Features: Folding Stock, Telescoping Barrel, Folding Pistol Grip, Folding Magazine Housing, Ultra Compact Stowage
Service history
Operators
- French Army
- Venezuelan Armed Forces
Conflicts
- First Indochina War (1946-1954)
Production
Production years: 1949-1952
Produced in small numbers; limited use by French paratroopers in Indochina and a small Venezuelan purchase
Origin
Country of origin: France
Discontinued: 1952
Notes
Designed for paratroopers, vehicle crews and clandestine operatives who needed a weapon that could be carried in a small package and deployed quickly. The complex folding mechanism and large number of parts hurt reliability and raised manufacturing cost, limiting sales to small quantities for the French Army and an export order to Venezuela.
Background
Nicknamed the 'transformer gun,' the Hotchkiss Universal folded down so completely that the barrel telescoped back into the receiver and the entire stock and magazine well tucked under it, shrinking the weapon to a compact block. The clever engineering came at the cost of reliability, and it never sold in quantity.