Hovea M44: Husqvarna Makes a Submachine Gun

Published on September 22, 2025
Duration: 8:18

The Hovea M44, a Husqvarna-produced submachine gun tested by the Danish military, featured a unique folding stock and utilized Suomi 50-round quad-stack magazines. It was an open-bolt, full-auto only blowback design with a manual bolt lock and a simple tubular receiver. Despite its functional action, design elements like the stock and grip led to its evolution into the Hovea M49, which incorporated features from the Carl Gustaf M45.

Quick Summary

The Hovea M44 is an experimental submachine gun by Husqvarna, tested by Denmark in 1945. It uses Finnish Suomi 50-round quad-stack magazines and features an open-bolt, full-auto blowback action. Its design evolved into the M49 due to user feedback on the stock and grip.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Hovea M44 & Husqvarna History
  2. 01:05Stock and Grip Design
  3. 01:46Suomi Quad-Stack Magazine Compatibility
  4. 02:52Bolt Lock and Safety Features
  5. 03:42Sighting System Details
  6. 04:29Field Stripping and Bolt Internals
  7. 06:03Barrel, Receiver, and Action Type
  8. 07:34Evolution to Hovea M49

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hovea M44 submachine gun?

The Hovea M44 is an experimental submachine gun developed by Husqvarna (HVA) and tested by the Danish military in 1945. It is notable for its unique folding stock and its use of Finnish Suomi 50-round quad-stack magazines.

What type of magazine does the Hovea M44 use?

The Hovea M44 utilizes Finnish Suomi 50-round quad-stack 'coffin' magazines. Its magazine well is specifically designed to accommodate these high-capacity magazines.

What is the operating mechanism of the Hovea M44?

The Hovea M44 operates as a full-auto only, open-bolt, simple blowback system. It features a tubular receiver and a bolt designed with four bearing surfaces for improved reliability.

How did the Hovea M44 evolve into the M49?

The Danish military found the stock and grip of the Hovea M44 unsatisfactory. This led to the development of the Hovea M49, which retained the Husqvarna action but incorporated a stock and grip design borrowed from the Carl Gustaf M45 SMG.

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