Smith & Wesson M76

Infobox Weapon
name=Smith & Wesson M76


caption=MK Arms MK760
origin=flagcountry|Sweden flagcountry|United States
type=Submachine gun
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_missile=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=
wars= Vietnam War
designer=
design_date=1967
manufacturer=Smith & Wesson
unit_cost=
production_date=1967-1974
number=
variants= MK760, M76A1
spec_label=
weight=Unloaded: 7.25 lbs Loaded: 8.75 lbs
length=Stock folded: 2.25 inches Stock extended: 30.50 inches
part_length=8 inches
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=
cartridge=9x19mm Parabellum
caliber=
barrels=
action=Blowback
rate=720 rounds/min
velocity=
range=
max_range=
feed=14, 24 or 36-round magazine
sights=Front: protected blade, rear: fixed aperture

The Smith & Wesson M76 is a copy of the Carl Gustav M/45 that was produced by Smith & Wesson from 1967 to 1974.

History

In 1966, the Swedish government blocked the sale of firearms to the United States because it opposed the Vietnam War. This created a problem for the Navy SEAL Teams, which had wanted Swedish-made M/45 submachine guns to use in covert operations in Southeast Asia. Noting this, Smith & Wesson began to produce the M76, an M/45 clone, which was ready for production in 1967; unfortunately, by that time the US Navy did not have much use for it, and the M76 was produced only in limited quantities, and mainly for the police and civilian market.

However, in 1968 Smith & Wesson engineers, researching the possibility of a gun that could electronically fire caseless ammunition, created a prototype weapon similar to the M76, but with some alterations included so that it could fire the caseless ammunition. Visually it was identical to the standard M76, except for a structure in front of the trigger guard that served as a housing for two 12-volt batteries. Although the gun worked quite well, the ammunition proved susceptible to damage from rough handling and the elements, and the project was scrapped.

The standard version ceased general production in 1974.

Variants

MK760

In 1983, Mike Ruplinger and Kenneth Dominick started a company called MK Arms and acquired the rights to the Smith & Wesson M76. They began producing copies of it with the designation MK Arms MK760, and the US Navy, which still had some original M76s in its inventory, began purchasing replacement parts from MK Arms. MK Arms also produced carbine and pistol configurations of the MK760. In 1986, due the Firearm Owners Protection Act, which banned production of automatic weapons for civilian use, MK Arms went out of business.

M76A1

In 1984, Dominick separated from Ruplinger and began producing his own copy of the M76 under the trade name Global Arms with a designation of M76A1.

External links

* [http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg85-e.htm Modern Firearms: Smith & Wesson M76]
* [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2464.htm Security Arms: MK760]