FBP SMG (Fabrica de Braco de Prata)

Submachine Gun (SMG) [ 1948 ]

The FBP became a rare Portuguese submachine gun design utilizing components from the German MP40 and American M3 Grease Gun lines.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/11/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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With development stemming from 1940, this Portuguese submachine gun evolved in the post-World War 2 years into the "FBP" (Fabrica de Braco de Prata). The war introduced all sorts of capable designs, functions, and components to which several were simply incorporated into the original Portuguese design. Design of the weapon was attributed to Portuguese Army Major Goncalves Cardoso and the weapon led a healthy frontline service life nearing 30 years.

The FBP utilized the telescoping bolt, barrel, and general construction (steel pressings) of the German wartime MP40 submachine gun along with the pistol grip, trigger mechanism, and wire stock of the famous American M3 "Grease Gun". The resulting FBP was chambered for the ubiquitous 9x19mm Parabellum German pistol cartridge and fired through a blowback action - limited to full-automatic only. The rounds were fed via a 21- or 32-round detachable straight box magazine. The weapon's arrangement was conventional with a standalone pistol grip/trigger unit, receiver, magazine well set ahead of the pistol grip, and barrel. The barrel section was unique in that the designs saw fit to add support for a bayonet. Sighting was through a front and rear iron arrangement. Performance specifications included a rate-of-fire of 500 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 1,280 feet per second. As in the M3 Grease Gun, the wire stock of the FBP was collapsible for compactness. The cocking handle was set along the left side of the receiver within a long-running channel.©MilitaryFactory.com

In practice, the FBP proved a reliable weapon and well developed for the rigors of military service. Its steel pressing manufacture approach made the weapon suitable for mass production. If there proved one downfall it was in accuracy at range - which can be expected of a "mutt" gun design like the FBP. The original full-automatic-only m/948 was then followed by the improved m/963 which introduced a select-fire capability by incorporating a semi-automatic action. The m/963 was then, itself, followed by the modernized m/973 which introduced a perforated barrel jacket to help with cooling. These were not produced serially. Internally, however, all models of the FBP line remained largely the same.

The Portuguese Army eventually gave up their FBP submachine guns in favor of the Israeli UZI. FBP service therefore spanned from 1948 into the 1980s. The weapon also fell into use by non-military elements in combat across several former Portuguese colonies.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Fabrica de Braco de Prata - Portugal
Manufacturer(s)

Angola; East Timor; Guinea; India; Mozambique; Portugal
Operators

1948
Service Year

Portugal
National Origin

807 mm
(31.77 inches)
Overall Length

250 mm
(9.84 inches)
Barrel Length

8.31 lb
(3.77 kg)
Empty Weight

Blowback; Full-Automatic Only; Telescoping Bolt
Action

FULL-AUTOMATIC
Rounds are automatically ejected from the breech, a new cartridge stripped from the feed and set in the chamber, and rounds are continuously fired so long as the trigger is pulled and an ammunition supply exists.

BLOWBACK OPERATION
Gas pressure from the rearward movement of the ignited cartridge case provides the needed bolt movement, ejecting the spent case and stripping a fresh case from the magazine.

9x19mm Parabellum
Caliber(s)
May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

21- or 32-round detachable box magazine
Rounds

Iron Front and Read
Sights

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

500
Rounds-per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

1,280 ft/sec
(390 m/sec)
Muzzle Velocity

FBP - Base Series Designation

m/948 - Model of 1948; original production model; full-automatic fire only.

m/963 - Model of 1963; upgraded model; semi-automatic fire function introduced.

m/976 - Model of 1976; modernized FBP; perforated barrel jacket; not produced.

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Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

FBP SMG (Fabrica de Braco de Prata)

Submachine Gun (SMG) [ 1948 ]

The FBP became a rare Portuguese submachine gun design utilizing components from the German MP40 and American M3 Grease Gun lines.

Specifications