M49/57

Description

The Yugoslavian M49/57 at first glance is near identical to the World War Two Soviet PPSh-41 with it’s wooden stock, ventilated barrel shroud and optional drum/curved box magazine, however mechanically it is of a completely different design.

Designed after the war, the Yugoslav military was seeking a locally manufactured SMG to replace its wartime PPSh-41’s, PPS-43’s and captured MP40’s (all used by partisans fighting the occupying Germans), which for obvious reasons were designed to be manufactured at great speed and at low cost. Now that the war had ended, time could be spent refining these designs and where possible upgrading to machined/milled components as opposed to pressed/stamped steel.

The M49 is chambered for the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge and specifically designed so that its magazine housing could accommodate both the Soviet 35 round box and 71 round drum magazines. The PPSh/PPS housing was stamped steel, where as the M49 housing is of a higher quality ‘milled’ design, as is its entre receiver. The stock and butt plate mimics that of the German Mauser Karabiner 98K rifle (which the Yugoslav’s also copied and called the M48).

The M49/57 remained in service with Yugoslav forces throughout the Cold War and often made appearances during the 1991-2001 Yugoslav Wars with militias/irregular forces.