ARES FMG

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
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerFrancis Warin [1]
Designed1984 [1]
ManufacturerARES Incorporated
Specifications
Mass2.09 kg (4.61 lb)
Length503 mm (19.8 in) extended
262 mm (10.3 in) folded
Barrel length220 mm (8.7 in)

Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
ActionBlowback
Rate of fire650 rounds/min
Feed system20- 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

References

  1. Warin, Francis J. U.S. Patent 4,625,621 filed Apr. 2, 1984; issued Dec. 2, 1986.
  2. "Ucsar" (PDF). fullautoclassics.com. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  3. 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.

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