The French Hotchkiss SMG.

Here are some pictures of my U.K. deactivated Hotchkiss SMG or as I like to call it "the folding-up SMG". U.K. collectors will know what I mean when I say that this item has been deactivated to the "old new spec" U.K. deactivation which when translated into plain English means that most of it has been welded up as part of the deactivation work apart from the folding stock and mag housing/mechanism, as can be seen from the pictures. At the time when this SMG was deactivated sometimes even the magazines got deactivated, by some dealers, and this is one such example. A deac stamp can seen near the base of the lower part of the mag in the close up picture. I purchased this deac in late April purely because of the interesting design of folding stock and mag housing, nothing more.

I don't really know too much about the Hotchkiss SMG other than the unique way that the stock and mag housing fold-up and I thought that any other Forum members who may have more knowledge of the Hotchkiss SMG may like to provide some further background information to the thread, please.

Thanks for taking the time and trouble for taking a good assortment of clear image's F10, a very interesting piece indeed.

I've only ever seen one other example and that was in SE Asia 20 plus years ago.

It's one of those designs that just make you wonder how it ever got off the drawing board and into production, talk about over complicated!

Does anyone have any thoughts on what would be the purpose of this shaped piece of metal attached to the muzzle, please? Would it be to protect the end of the magazine from damage in the "folded up" position? I don't know if I'm dreaming it or if I read somewhere that on a non deactivated version the barrel would concertina into the receiver a certain amount in the folded position?

I wonder if it's there to stop parachute lines/web straps etc snagging between the barrel and closed magazine well?

The recess in it would guide contacted material away from the gap... perhaps??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

Does anyone have any thoughts on what would be the purpose of this shaped piece of metal attached to the muzzle, please? Would it be to protect the end of the magazine from damage in the "folded up" position? I don't know if I'm dreaming it or if I read somewhere that on a non deactivated version the barrel would concertina into the receiver a certain amount in the folded position?

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Correct. It’s a grip to push the barrel in with.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRrFWQXl-RE

I found some data on the Hotchkiss "Type Universal" submachine gun. It was designed and manufactured by Hotchkiss in Paris in 1949, being intended as a semi auto police weapon later modified to full auto, it has
undergone a number of design changes (example Type 010 and Type 017). Used in early fighting in Indochina and Venezuela has purchased them in the 1950's.

It would be interesting to know from where Hotchkiss started with the design of this smg? Did the designers start with a blank canvas or did they, as I suspect, start with the MP40, grease gun and perhaps the the Sten in mind when design work began? The way that the stock and mag folded together with the way that the barrel retracted into the receiver must have been revolutionary and unique when it first came on the market.