First to the Fight: The Marines' Reising M50 SMG
This video explores the Reising M50 submachine gun, a .45 ACP firearm developed by Eugene Reising and produced by Harrington & Richardson. Unlike the Thompson, the Reising was designed to be light, handy, and inexpensive to produce, firing from a closed bolt with a delayed blowback action. The US Marine Corps initially adopted both the M50 and M55 models in 1942, particularly for their Paramarine unit, due to their compact nature and the unavailability of Thompsons. While praised for accuracy and handiness in roles like ship boarding and guard duties, the Reising M50 ultimately proved susceptible to fouling and malfunctions in demanding Pacific combat conditions, leading to its replacement by other arms and reassignment to secondary duties. The examined M50 is an early production model with distinct features.











