M50 Reising

Lore & Background

The M50 Reising was designed by Eugene Reising, who had previously assisted John M. Browning on the M1911 pistol. Reising turned to submachine gun design in 1938 as war threats grew, and submitted his completed design to H&R in 1940. Production began in March 1941. The weapon was tested by the U.S. Army in November 1941 and again in 1942, with initial part failures corrected, but the Army did not adopt it. The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard adopted the Reising due to insufficient supply of Thompsons, and some were shipped to Canadian, Soviet, and other allied forces.

The Reising used a delayed blowback (hesitation lock) mechanism: the rear of the bolt was pushed up into a recess on chambering; on firing, gas pressure forced the bolt-end down, delaying rearward movement until barrel pressure dropped. It fired from a closed bolt, with a linear hammer and the return spring inside the cocking handle under the barrel. The M50 had a compensator and a fixed stock; the M55 variant had a folding wire stock and no compensator. The weapon was more balanced than the Thompson because the barrel-and-receiver group rested concentrically within the stock.

Reader's Guide

The M50 Reising entered service primarily because of uncertainty in Thompson supply. It was lighter (7 pounds vs. 11), cheaper ($62 vs. $200), and more accurate in aimed fire due to its closed-bolt design and better stock fit. However, its combat performance was poor compared to the Thompson, which led to controversy. The Reising's metal components were mostly stampings rather than machined parts, contributing to lower cost and weight. Its delayed blowback allowed a lighter bolt and thus a lighter overall gun without sacrificing controllability. The 20-round magazine limited sustained fire, and the high reported cyclic rate (750–850 rounds per minute) could empty it in under two seconds. Despite its innovations, the Reising was overshadowed by the Thompson's reputation and was eventually withdrawn from front-line service, though it saw use with Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and allied forces during World War II.

Did You Know?

• Eugene Reising was an assistant to John M. Browning and contributed to the final design of the M1911 pistol.
• The Reising cost approximately $50 per weapon in 1941, compared to $225 for the Thompson.
• The M50 Reising fired from a closed bolt, unlike most submachine guns of the era.
• Over 100,000 Reisings were ordered during World War II.