Owen Submachine Gun

Owen Mk 1/42 - 9x19mm. This is an earlier version of the Owen gun, featuring a finned barrel, early wireframe stock (some wireframe stocks have a clip that holds an oil bottle), and solid trigger housing. The parkerized finish is a post-war refurbishment.

Owen Mk 1/43 - 9x19mm. This is a later version of the Owen gun, featuring a non-finned lightened barrel, solid wood stock with lightening cuts (wood stocks without the lightening cuts also exist), and a trigger housing with lightening cuts. The yellow/green camouflage is applied in-factory.

The Owen Submachine Gun is an Australian submachine gun designed by Evelyn Owen during World War II. In trials, despite much political resistance, it managed to beat the Australian variant of the Sten, and was officially adopted by the Australian army. It was noted for its excellent reliability, due in part to a unique receiver layout that prevented nearly all dust, dirt, sand, etc. from entering the weapon's action. It was also considered to be an excellent weapon especially suited for jungle warfare, and remained in service throughout Korea and in Vietnam.

In its prototype phase, it was chambered for .45 ACP and .38 S&W, before the 9x19mm was decided as the best cartridge for the weapon. There were also prototype 60 and 72 round horseshoe magazines, which were never adopted or made in large numbers.

Variants:

Owen Mk 1/42 - the first serial version. The trigger mechanism chamber is pressed from sheet metal, the frame stock is bent from a flat bar, the barrel has ribs to accelerate cooling.
Owen Mk 1/43 - simplified version with reduced weight. The trigger mechanism chamber is made of flat bars (sides partially covered with a sheet, wooden stock, barrel without ribs).
Owen Mk 2/43 - an experimental version equipped with a reduced trigger compartment and a wooden stock (with a different shape and mounting method than in the Mk 1)
Owen Mk 1/44 - Mk 1/43 with added bayonet mount for No.I Mk III rifle.
Owen Mk 1 (1952 version) - submachine guns of this version were created by modernizing older models. They had a trigger mechanism chamber pressed from sheet metal (shape as in the Mk 1/42 version, but made of thinner sheet metal), a barrel and stock from the Mk 1/44 model and a special cover covering the slit of the breech chamber, in which the bolt tensioning handle moved (the cover protected the interior of the castle chamber against contamination and protected the weapon against accidental shots as a result of the fall of the weapon).

Specifications

(1941 - 1945)

• Type: Submachine Gun

• Caliber: 9x19mm

• Weight: 9.28 lbs (4.21 kg)

• Length: 31.7 in (80.6 cm)

• Barrel length: 9.72 in (24.7 cm)

• Capacity: 33 rounds, 60 or 72 round horseshoe (prototype only)

• Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto

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The Owen Submachine Gun has appeared in the following films and video games used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
The Cowra Breakout	Alan David Lee	Stan Davidson		1984
	Tony Barry	Sergeant Best
The Battle of Long Tan		Australian soldiers		2006
Kokoda		Australian soldiers		2010
The Railway Man		Australian Paratroopers		2013
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan		Australian soldiers		2019

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Date
World of Guns: Gun Disassembly	"Owen Gun"		2014
Heroes & Generals		Owen Mk 1/43	2016
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades	"Owen"	Owen Mk I/42	2016
Day of Infamy	"Owen Mk I"		2017
Rising Storm 2: Vietnam			2017
Call of Duty: Vanguard	"Owen Gun"		2021
Enlisted		Owen Mk 1/42	2021
		Owen Experimental Model 3