The ARES FMG is a folding submachine gun designed by Francis J. Warin of Oak Harbor, Ohio,[1] while he worked at Eugene Stoner's ARES Inc. Warin designed the gun for concealment and covert use, describing it as a “businessman’s personal defense weapon”. Allegedly, Warin had the idea of a defense weapon for VIPs and CEOs following the numbers of kidnappings of many of such persons in South America during the early 1980s. The FMG never entered full production.
| ARES FMG | |
|---|---|
 Unfolded and folded FMGs | |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Francis Warin [1] |
| Designed | 1984 [1] |
| Manufacturer | ARES Incorporated |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.09 kg (4.61 lb) |
| Length | 503 mm (19.8 in) extended 262 mm (10.3 in) folded |
| Barrel length | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
| Action | Blowback |
| Rate of fire | 650 rounds/min |
| Feed system | 20- or 32-round box magazine |
The weapon was unique, in that it is designed to be folded into a box shape, which can be unfolded and made ready to fire in a matter of seconds. When folded, the size is about the same as a cigarette carton, and the appearance is deliberately similar to an old-fashioned metal commercial radio.
The ARES FMG can be folded with its 20-round UZI magazine loaded. A 32-round magazine was also available, but its use prevented folding the weapon. The original prototype was designed to use a World War II German MP40 magazine. The second prototype used UZI magazines and had a three shot burst mechanism as well.
The weapon inspired a Russian, and a Ukrainian copy which are almost identical except for caliber, magazine and folding sights that were added.
While descriptions of a fictional "ARES II FMG" exist on the web, the actual ARES FMG was only chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum.
Similar weapons
edit- UC-9 – 9×19mm folding submachine constructed by Utah Connor using some Uzi parts in the late 1980s. It was used in the 1990 film RoboCop 2.[2]
- PP-90 – Russian 9×18mm Makarov folding submachine gun by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in the 1990s.
- Magpul FMG-9 – 9×19mm submachine gun using some Glock parts, unveiled at the 2008 SHOT Show.[3]
- B&T BWC-9 – 9x19mm concealed carry submachine gun by Brügger & Thomet based off the SIG Sauer P320.
References
edit- ^ a b c Warin, Francis J. U.S. patent 4,625,621 filed Apr. 2, 1984; issued Dec. 2, 1986.
- ^ "Ucsar" (PDF). fullautoclassics.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Crane, David (2008). "MagPul FMG 9: Prototype 9mm Folding Submachine Gun". Defense Review. Archived from the original on 4 March 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
External links
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