If there were a contest for the weirdest and wackiest-looking submachine gun of World War II, Australia’s Owen would win hands-down.
It looks as if the designer cobbled it together from mismatched pieces of plumbing. Rather than a parkerized finish, the factory painted the Owen gun with a lurid green and yellow camouflage pattern that resembles Shrek’s puke.
What’s more, there’s nothing “down under” about the weapon’s magazine. The magazine loads into the top of the Owen — and spent cartridges eject from the bottom of its receiver.
But there’s just one thing wrong with this picture. Despite all its oddball features, the Owen worked really, really well. It was one of the most reliable submachine guns of the war, with a track record that includes conflict in the Pacific, Korea and Vietnam.
Read Full Article »