The Madsen is a unique design in the world of machine guns; it also lays claim to being the world's first true light machine gun. It had a service life of more than 100 years, being used by over 34 countries and available in no less than 12 different calibres. The original design dates from the late 1880's and is based on the M1888 self-loading rifle. Initially, black powder was used in the cartridges, although these were quickly replaced with the newer smokeless propellants. In 1896, updates in the design saw a move to a gravity-fed magazine system, with some 60 prototypes being produced and sent to the Danish Navy for evaluation at coastal fortifications.
In 1898, investors formed the Dansk Riffel Syndikat (DRS) and having purchased the rights to the design in a deal which included future royalties, a commercial version was made available. The design was patented in 1901 and production began in earnest.The operating system was based on the Peabody Martini breechblock, combined with a recoil-operated locking system.
The Madsen was an expensive gun to produce although this reflected its reliability. Imperial Russia alone purchased some 1,250 examples, these being issued to their cavalry where they first saw active service in the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Later, in World War One, the fledgling Imperial Russian Air Service deployed the Madsen and the Germans (using examples chambered in standard Mauser 7.92mm) went on to use the Madsen too.
In World War Two, in addition to the Danish armed forces, the Madsen was also used by the Norwegian Army during April-June of 1940. It was officially the standard light machine gun of the army and was deployed as one gun per squad, rather than in specialist sections. After the conquest of both Denmark and Norway, the occupying Germans used a combination of captured and newly built examples to equip their second-line units. In 1955, the Danish Army finally retired their own Madsens, although they went on to see continued active service around the globe into the 1980s.
Our example is the Gamma variant. These were produced from around 1948 and were supplied to the Portuguese. This example bears the crest of the Portuguese Republic and is chambered for 7.92 mm Mauser (as was the common practice for Portuguese small arms). The principal differences between the Gamma and earlier versions is the flash hider and non-extendable front bipod legs. Also shown is a leather pouch for the transport of four magazines, along with a monopod used to convert the gun to a slightly more stable sustained-fire position when deployed as an LMG in the field. The final picture is of the Madsen deployed on its 'soft mounting'. This transformed the gun from performing the task of a light to a medium machine gun. The tripod can be converted to allow use for AA fire. When deployed as shown, the gun could be operated via a remote trigger, thus allowing the crew to remain in the relative safety of cover during operation.