Métral
Gérard Métral · Submachine Gun · Prototype · 1985
Also known as: Metral
Overview
The Métral is a Swiss blowback-operated, open-bolt submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, designed in 1985 by Swiss army reserve officer Gérard Métral. Firing from a folding-stock frame at around 600 rounds per minute and fed by a 32-round Sten-type magazine, it was conceived specifically for clandestine manufacture and distribution by resistance movements under foreign occupation, blending the Suomi M1931 trigger group and MAC-10 bolt-security features with original bolt and stock designs.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2900 g (102.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 600 mm (23.62") |
| Folded Length | 360 mm (14.17") |
| Barrel Length | 200 mm (7.87") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 390 m/s (1280 fps) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rpm |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
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
- Features: Folding Stock, Open Bolt Operation, Sten Type Magazine, Aperture Rear Sight, Post Front Sight
Production
Production years: 1985
Clandestine/DIY design published as a build-it-yourself weapon; no known mass production figures
Origin
Country of origin: Switzerland
Designer: Gérard Métral
Notes
Not a commercial product; the weapon exists as a published, buildable design intended for construction by a skilled metalworker with a lathe, drill press and milling machine rather than mass production.
Background
Designed to be built in a home workshop, the Métral was intended as a resistance weapon for a population living under foreign occupation, borrowing its trigger mechanism from the Finnish Suomi M1931 and a bolt-safety concept from the American MAC-10.