Sputter Gun
York Arms Co. · Submachine Gun · Prototype · 1983
Overview
The Sputter Gun is an American prototype 9x19mm open-bolt submachine gun built by William M. York of York Arms Co. using seven major components of the British WWII-era Sten Mk II submachine gun. It has no conventional trigger or fire-control mechanism at all: once a loaded magazine is inserted and the bolt is released, the blowback action fires the entire magazine in a continuous burst until the ammunition is expended. It was conceived to explore and challenge the U.S. federal legal definition of a machine gun.
Specifications
| Barrel Length | 197 mm (7.76") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 365 m/s (1198 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 496 J (366 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 46 m (50 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Features: No Trigger Mechanism, Fires On Bolt Release, Sten Derived Components, Side Mounted Magazine
Production
Prototype only; no series production
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William M. York
Notes
Never entered series production; only prototype/test examples were made. Sources disagree on the exact date of construction (roughly 1977 to 1983). Because the gun lacks a trigger, York argued it did not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun, making it a subject of firearms-law debate.
Background
The Sputter Gun has no trigger: you load a magazine, release the bolt, and it empties the entire magazine in one uncontrollable burst. It was built specifically to probe the legal gray zone in the U.S. definition of a machine gun.