THE OWEN GUN

Evening Star, Issue 24004, 1 October 1941, Page 8

THE OWEN GUN

mimtms ihwfwh mm FOR HAHUfMTIIfIE CRcc..B ‘*’ have beqsr made for (the manufacture of the first instalment of betweep. 1,000 and 1,500 Owen jguns,” declared the Minister of Munitions (Stenator M‘Bride) to-day. “ The jOwen sub-maplune gun has qnly three parts, compared" with 20 in -iffie Thompson gun, and the rate of fire is so _ rapid tKSt the ear camnot distinguish. between the QKgSdstvons. The magazine and barrel can be changed' in a spgj. second.” Senator M'Brido said the Owen gun, which might prove An'i|feaJi&% biggest contribution to war inventions, possessed many features sought fbr years by leading inventors in Britain, the United States, and Germany, and might even revolutionise ' many aspects of home defence. [A message received yesterday stated; An Aogfcf ah and nvente d submachine gun came through a successful test in the presence of the Army MinSter, Mr P. C. Spender, and othqr high Annoy officials at a suburban rifle range. Invented T)£ a plasterer, a former liiepibSr of file Australian forces, Evelyn Owen, the gun was subjected' tp graeilmg tests and ebjipsod two dffier. rfc possesses only oqp moving: pant,. with general m the caSSe cither types. Its achievement was the amazing acbufacy. after its immersion in water and sfeb and the worst war conditio na. Cnp.enrsjOTi; .costs between £5 and £lO, oomphredj (with £6O for-a toimnfy