The Teterycz machine gun (Polish: Ręczny karabin maszynowy Franciszka Teterycza), sometimes transcribed as Teteryka LMG, is an improvised light machine gun chambered in 8mm Mauser made under secrecy in occupied Poland.
History[]
The weapon was made by Franciszek Teterycz (AKA Skobel) in late 1942 in his blacksmith shop in Rachodoszcz near Zamość.[1] It was made covertly at night with help of Stanisław Szewczuk (AKA Kmicic).
The machine gun was ready after 3 months of work in December 1942, and was given to partisans for field testing on the 22nd of that month. It was reported to have been shot 20-40 times. Later it was returned and a further order for 5 guns placed, although forcible relocation of the blacksmith made it impossible. The only example was hid in a pigpen.
The gun was found in 1970 in a heavily corroded state.
Design details[]
The Teterycz was a closed bolt straight blowback gun. The recoil spring consisted of 3 K98-type bolt springs bundled together. The barrel came from a Karabinek wz. 1929.
Design flaws[]
The firearm was reported to have many issues
- The gun was reportedly light, which in combination with a powerful cartridge resulted in big recoil.
- The bolt wasn't locked and was light, which even magnified the recoil.
- During the early non combat tests the gun suffered a case rupture, chamber tear and bending of the end of the barrel.
- Post war evaluation found out the gun was dangerous to the shooter
Trivia[]
- After rediscovery of it in 1970 the creator of the gun came out and told its story.
- In December of 1977 Franciszek Teterycz, Józef Maroszek and Adam Popiel did an evaluation of the gun.
See also[]
- Teterycz submachine gun
References[]
- ↑ K. Satora, Produkcja uzbrojenia w polskim ruchu oporu 1939-1944 (1985)