Springfield Armory Museum - Collection Record



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Title:GUN, SUBMACHINE -  U.S. SUBMACHINE GUN UD M42 9MM SN# 5687
Maker/Manufacturer:SWEBILUIS, CARL G.
Date of Manufacture:1942-1943
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:SPAR 1677
Measurements:OL: 81.9CM 32 1/4" BL: 27.9CM 11" 9.66 lbs. fully loaded.

Object Description:

U.S. SUBMACHINE GUN UD M42 9MM SN# 5687
Manufactured by Marlin Firearms Co., New Haven, Ct. - Standard UD M42 submachine gun. Blow-back operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, select fire submachine gun. Cyclic rate of fire 880 rpm. Weapon weighs approximately 9.66 lbs. fully loaded. No magazine. Parkerized finish and in very good condition.

Markings:
Frame: UNITED DEFENSE SUPPLY CORP./NEW HAVEN, CONN./UDM42/PAT APPLIED FOR. (Right): UD5661.
Receiver: 5687 forward of magazine and behind trigger guard.

Weapon found in one of "29 Boxes of Miscellaneous Foreign Weapons as received from New York Port of Embarkation on 6 March 1946, per SA OOO.4/17 and 28. Note: Itemized list showing quantities and descriptions of individual weapons to be attached and made part of this voucher promptly upon completion of checking of weapons in Experimental-Laboratory, Building No. 28. Weapons to be retained in Experimental-Laboratory for an indefinite period for examination and study per Mr. P.W. Oliver, 11 March 1946, after which they will be regreased and boxed suitable for storage and place with other Museum Material in Building #19 pending reopening of the Armory Museum."

Notes: "M42 UD (United Defense) Submachine Gun - In a history of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) I was reading, the author made reference to procurement of the M42 submachine guns, but did not explain any further. Can you tell me what an M42 submachine gun is? Was this gun ever issued to conventional American or Allied Forces?
No M42 submachine guns were issued to the American Armed Forces during the war, but it was supplied to several allied countries during the war, and it was an item of issue to the OSS for use in various clandestine related operations. The M42 was invented by Carl Swebilius, who was affiliated with the firm of High Standard. High Standard developed the prototype and produced a few early versions of the gun, but the Marlin Firearms Co. manufactured approximately 15,000 of these guns.
Most were chambered in 9mm, but a few .45ACP versions were made as well. The M42 could accept a conventional box magazine and also had the ability to be used with staggered side-by-side magazines. Government records indicate that 2,405 9mm Marlin MD 42 submachine guns were airdropped in France from January to October of 1944 for use by OSS-related resistance operations.
The MD42 was an unremarkable submachine gun with no outstanding virtues or glaring vices. Since it was not an issue item to U.S. Armed Forces, it is a little known arm today and extremely few examples survive." - Bruce Canfield, American Rifleman, September, 2006.

References:
Iannamico, Frank. UNITED STATES MACHINE GUNS: FROM THE AMERICAN 180 TO THE ZX-7. Moose Lake Publishing LLC. Henderson, NV. 2004.

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