We don’t have very much information on the Halcon SMG from Argentina, but we do have a training manual for the gun to make available. As best I can tell there were at least 5 variants of the Halcon, which were made from 1943 until 1960. These include both 9mm and .45 ACP versions, with long and short barrel and fixed (wood and wire-frame), side-folding, and under-folding stocks.
I don’t know what the proper designations for all these versions are, or in what order they were made. Max Popenker states that the 1946 version (M/946) had the short barrel and underfolding stock, while the 1943 version (M/943) had a longer barrel and fixed stock. I believe that the versions seen with straight magazines are in .45, while the curved mags signify 9×19 chambering.
The guns must have been fairly expensive to make, as they generally feature a big Cutts-style compensator and finned barrels. Mechanically, they are simply blowback actions, with a selector lever above the trigger to allow semiauto or full automatic fire.
The training manual we have shows photos of a long-barreled gun in 9mm, this version:
If you are knowledgeable on the Halcon, I would love to hear from you, so I can put together some more useful information for the archives here. And if you happen to have a parts kit for a Halcon you might consider selling, please let me know – a friend of the site is looking for one to rebuild as a live dealer sample gun.
Here’s the training manual:
Another “Forgotten Weapon” From Argentina is their relatively unknown copy of the Colt Ace built on the Modelo 1927. Bought mine around 1994 from Herr Baltz at GSP in South Florida…it was one of only a few to come into the country – floating chamber just like the original – looks like it was built locally (read relatively crudely), RH slide is marked (en Espanol) Provincial Police of Buenos Aires; LH marked DGFM-FMAP…the floating chambeer broke after about 5 rounds and I had a new one made by Derrick Martin & Jake Kempton of Accuracy Speaks…prolly should take some pics – if there’s any interest…
CB in FL
Chris, you definitely get my vote for posting pictures of the gun in question. I think it would make a very interesting discussion topic, and might invite commentary from others who are familiar with it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I’m interested in any good photos of floating chambers…
I have heard that the Halcon (most likely the .45 version) was used in North Africa by British special operations forces. I don’t know more than that unfortunately.
The British contract was for .45 caliber Ballester Molina pistols. It’s said that the Brits had a high regard for these as they were made sans the grip safety which was prone to malfunctions on account to fine sand getting into the mechanism.
At first glance, the underfolding stock on the the M1946 version appears to be flimsy and strangely contoured, until one looks more closely and realizes that it is actually made of sturdy steel channel and is shaped to place the firer’s eye on the correct sighting plane.
Very interesting. Unfortunately, information on Argentinean SMGs is scarce to say the least. A few additional picture and some videos: http://fdra.blogspot.pt/2012/08/armas-argentinas-halcon-m943.html
Ruy, many thanks for posting the great articles on the Halcon. Two things impressed me the most — the lack of muzzle rise and muzzle deviation ( doubtless due to the effective muzzle brake ), and the fact that although it had right-hand ejection, the expended cartridges were thrown clear in an arc that was still friendly to a left-handed user ( third video clip ). There was also a decent amount of information published along with the videos to enable the reader to learn more about this relatively obscure gun.