MASDEN LIGHT MACHINE GUN OF 1902 , 1950

The Madsen was a light machine gun developed by Julius A. Rasmussen and Theodor Schoubue and proposed for adoption by Captain Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen, the Danish Minister of War and adopted by the Danish Army in 1902. It was one of the first true light machine guns produced in quantity and sold to over 34 different countries worldwide, seeing extensive combat use in various conflicts around the globe for over 80 years The Madsen was produced by Compagnie Madsen A/S (later operating as Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat A/S and then Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S). The Madsen continued to be used by the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with 7.62 calibre. Although some of the Brazilian guns were captured from drug traffickers and pressed into service (mostly old weapons originating from the Argentine Army as well as some stolen from museums, the majority of Madsens used by the Brazilian police were donated by the Brazilian Army. Those guns were .30 cal weapons converted to fit 7.62 mm calibre. Official sources state that the Brazilian army retired the Madsen machine gun in 1996. The Brazilian police guns are, from 2008, being substituted by more modern guns with faster rates of fire. It was reported that the last Madsen guns were finally retired in April 2008. However, photos taken during clashes between Brazilian police and drug traffickers on October 19, 2009 clearly show the Madsen gun still in use by the Brazilian police This one is marked with Portuguese Crest and RP.

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Your comments:

• I'm writing a book based on my Grandfather's exploits, one of which was working for the A/S Dansk Rekylriffel Syndikat in Kovrov, Russia.
  
  I understand that during the Russian Revolution, through cancelled or destroyed shipments, The Dansk Rekylriffel Syndikat never realized full production in Korov. My Grandfather, like many during the Revolution, starved until he was arrested and sentenced to death.
  
  If anyone has more history about The Dansk Rekylriffel Syndikat during the Revolution (in Russia or Denmark), please let me know!)---Thanks.
  .......... John W Taylor, Brooklyn NY, 10th of May 2015
  
  

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