Reising M50
Type Submachine gun
Place of origin United States of America
Service history
In service 1941–1950
Used by United States, Canada
Wars World War II
Production history
Designed 1940
Produced 1941–1945
Variants M50, M55, M60
Specifications
Weight 3.1 kg (M50); 2.8 kg (M55)
Length 959 mm (M50); 787 mm (M55)
Barrel length 279 mm (M50)
Cartridge .45 ACP
Caliber 11.43 mm
Action Delayed blowback, closed bolt
Rate of fire 550 round/min (M50); 500 round/min (M55)
Muzzle velocity 280 m/s (820 ft/s)
Feed system 12 or 20-round detachable box
The Reising was an American submachine gun patented in 1940 and manufactured by Harrington Richardson. It was designed by Eugene Reising in 1940. The two versions of the weapon produced during World War II were the M50 and the simplified folding-stock M55. Over 100,000 guns were ordered, and were initially used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps, though some went to Canadian, Soviet, and other armies.
Design
Though described as a submachine gun, the Reising was actually designed as a compact lightweight semi-automatic carbine that was also capable of fully-automatic fire. There were three versions of the Reising, the M50, M55, and the semi-automatic-only M60.
The M50 was a selective fire weapon, capable of a full auto fire rating at 450–600 rounds per minute or semi auto fire. It was reported that the true full auto rate was nearer to 750–850 rounds per minute. Unlike most submachine guns, the Reising fires from a closed bolt.
There were several differences between the M50 and the M55. The most obvious one was the use of a rather flimsy, folding wire buttstock in the M55. The latter also