Smith & Wesson M76
Smith & Wesson, Inc. · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1967
Also known as: S&W Model 76, Mark 24 Mod 0
Overview
The Smith & Wesson M76 is an American 9x19mm blowback-operated, open-bolt submachine gun produced from 1967 to 1974. It was developed as a domestic copy of the Swedish Carl Gustaf m/45 after Sweden embargoed arms exports to the United States in protest of the Vietnam War, leaving US Navy SEAL teams without a supply of their preferred submachine gun. Built around a tubular steel receiver with a perforated barrel shroud and a side-folding stock, the M76 fired from an open bolt at roughly 720 rounds per minute and fed from detachable box magazines.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3280 g (115.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 3970 g (140.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 774 mm (30.47") |
| Folded Length | 522 mm (20.55") |
| Barrel Length | 203 mm (7.99") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 36 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 425 m/s (1394 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 720 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic, Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector
- Features: Folding Stock, Tubular Receiver, Perforated Barrel Shroud, Select Fire
Variants
- MK Arms MK 760 — Licensed Clone
Service history
Operators
- United States Navy · adopted 1967 · as Mark 24 Mod 0
- United States law enforcement
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Cold War (1947-1991)
Production
Production years: 1967-1974
Limited military adoption and modest commercial sales; never widely fielded.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Smith & Wesson
Discontinued: 1974
Notes
Designated Mark 24 Mod 0 in limited US Navy service. Commercial success was minimal and production ended in 1974; the design was later cloned by MK Arms as the MK 760.
Background
The M76 was rushed into development when Sweden halted exports of the Carl Gustaf m/45 to the US over the Vietnam War, cutting off Navy SEALs from their favored submachine gun. Smith & Wesson reverse-engineered a near-identical domestic substitute, but by the time it was ready the war was winding down and interest had faded, leaving the M76 a historical footnote.