Reising Model 50
Harrington & Richardson Arms Company · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1941
Also known as: M50 Reising, Reising M50, H&R Model 50
Overview
The Reising Model 50 is an American select-fire submachine gun chambered in .45 ACP, designed by Eugene Reising and manufactured by Harrington & Richardson during World War II. It used an unusual delayed-blowback action firing from a closed bolt, which gave it good accuracy but a complex internal arrangement that proved unreliable in the mud and grit of Pacific combat. Adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps as an interim weapon while Thompson production ramped up, it saw action at Guadalcanal and Bougainville before being withdrawn from frontline service.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3100 g (109.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 959 mm (37.76") |
| Barrel Length | 280 mm (11.02") |
| Action Type | Delayed Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 280 m/s (919 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 477 J (352 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 275 m (301 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
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: Manual Safety
- Features: Select Fire, Closed Bolt, Wooden Stock, Delayed Blowback Action
Variants
- Reising Model 55 — Folding Stock
- Reising Model 60 — Semi Automatic Carbine
Service history
Operators
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1941 · as M50
- Canadian Army
- Soviet Armed Forces (Lend-Lease)
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 100,000 · Production years: 1941-1945
Approximately 100,000 units produced across the Model 50, Model 55 and Model 60 series
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Eugene Reising
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The closed-bolt design made the Reising accurate for a submachine gun, but its tight tolerances and an awkward magazine fouled easily in field conditions, earning it a poor combat reputation. After being pulled from the front lines it served on with police, prison guards, and home-defense forces.
Background
Eugene Reising, who had worked alongside John Browning, patented the design in 1940. Rushed into Marine Corps service as a stopgap to the Thompson, the gun's reputation collapsed at Guadalcanal, where frustrated Marines were said to have thrown the unreliable weapons into rivers.