The Hotchkiss “Universal” submachinegun was put into production in 1949, and saw only very limited sales. It was intended for clandestine or airborne troops, as the gun’s main asset was its ability to fold into a very small (only about 17 inches long) package. It was chambered in 9x19mm, and (unusual for a submachine gun) fired from a closed bolt. The idea was to prevent dirt from getting into the gun in use, but instead it ended up having problems with overheating and cookoffs. Ultimately, is was determined to be too complicated and without enough advantages to replace the MAT49, which was already in production and use.
Follow Us!