Madsen M47
The last bolt-action rifle designed for general infantry issue.
The Madsen M47, formally designated the Madsen Lightweight Military Rifle Model 1947, is a Danish bolt-action rifle built to accept a broad selection of then-current military ammunition. It holds the distinction of being the final bolt-action rifle developed with the goal of serving as a standard-issue infantry weapon. The rifle became available for purchase in 1951, with Madsen targeting nations that could not afford semi-automatic rifles for their armed forces. However, the post-World War II flood of inexpensive surplus firearms and the rapid spread of self-loading designs meant global demand was minimal, and the M47 attracted very few buyers.
Madsen designed the M47 in 1947, promoting it as a lightweight, durable, and simple infantry weapon. The company is known to have secured only one production contract, from Colombia in 1958. This order covered up to 6,000 standard-length rifles in .30-06 Springfield, each with a 5-round internal magazine and a knife bayonet. These rifles were not issued for regular field use; instead, they were kept in storage until sold as surplus and exported to the United States for the civilian market in the 1960s.
When first offered in 1951, Madsen provided several options: a lightweight carbine version, telescopic sights, 5- or 10-round magazines, and a choice of chamberings in various military service cartridges, eventually including 7.62×51mm NATO. Standard equipment included a muzzle brake built into the barrel, a thick rubber buttpad, and a windage-adjustable sliding tangent rear sight with a ghost ring aperture positioned ahead of the action.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Denmark
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Used By
- Denmark / Colombia
- Designer
- Compagnie Madsen, A/S
- Design Date
- 1947
- Manufacturer
- Dansk Industri Syndikat
- Production Date
- 1958
- Number
- approx. 6,000
- Weight
- 8.5 lb
- Length
- 43 in
- Part Length
- 23.4 in
- Cartridge
- .30-06 Springfield
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Designed by Madsen in 1947, the M47 rifle was billed as a lightweight, robust, easy-to-use individual infantry weapon. It was first marketed in 1951, primarily to countries which could not afford semi-automatic rifles for their militaries. Madsen offered several options including a lightweight carbine version, telescopic sights, 5- and 10-round magazine capacities, and a variety of chamberings in contemporary military service cartridges, which would eventually include 7.62×51mm NATO. Standard features included a muzzle brake integrated into the barrel, a thick rubber buttpad, and a windage-adjustable sliding tangent rear sight assembly with a ghost ring aperture forward of the action.
Madsen is only known to have received one production contract from Colombia in 1958, which included up to 6,000 standard-length rifles chambered in .30-06 Springfield and featuring a 5-round internal magazine, along with knife bayonets. These rifles are not known to have been issued outside of ceremonial use, and were instead stored as surplus until their purchase and export to the United States for consumer sale in the 1960s.
With the unprecedented availability of low-cost surplus small arms and the rapid proliferation of self-loading rifles after World War II, global demand for such a rifle was very low and the M47 received very little commercial interest.
Reader's Guide
The Madsen M47 holds a unique place in firearms history as the last bolt-action rifle designed with the intention of being general issue to infantry troops. Its development in 1947 and marketing from 1951 came at a time when the world was rapidly transitioning to self-loading rifles, and the availability of low-cost surplus small arms after World War II further diminished its commercial prospects. The rifle's only known production contract, from Colombia in 1958 for up to 6,000 rifles in .30-06 Springfield, resulted in weapons that were not issued outside of ceremonial use and were eventually sold as surplus in the United States in the 1960s. This limited adoption underscores the M47's significance as a final attempt to produce a bolt-action service rifle in an era dominated by semi-automatic and automatic infantry weapons. Its legacy is that of a well-intentioned design that arrived too late to find a market, serving as a historical marker of the end of the bolt-action rifle's era as a standard infantry arm.
Did You Know?
- Madsen only received one known production contract for the M47, from Colombia in 1958.
- The Colombian M47 rifles were chambered in .30-06 Springfield and had a 5-round internal magazine.
- The M47 was first available for purchase in 1951, but saw very little commercial interest.
More in Bolt-Action Rifles 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced