Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the machine pistols category.
01 / Overview
Sa 23
Category
Country
Production
1948–1968
Quantity
100,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · EARLY COLD WAR
27
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
78
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General2MOD.2
- Weight (Empty)3.27 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
◈Cartridge & Calibre4MOD.4
- Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
- Calibre9 mm
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation6MOD.6
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modessemi-automatic, full-auto
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity24
- Cyclic Rate of Fire600
◇Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length284 mm
- Sight TypeIron sights
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
◆Construction5MOD.5
- Overall Length445 mm
- Length (stock folded)445 mm
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
▤Features5MOD.5
⬢Production & Cost3MOD.3
- Total Production100,000
- Production Start1948
- Production End1968
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1948Production started
- 1967Sale: Nigeria
- 1968Production ended
- 1985Entered service
78
years in service
20
years in production
100,000
units produced
27
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
SA 23 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN13% win·13% loss
Total Conflicts
8
Victories
1
Ongoing
0
Losses
1
1979–1992Salvadoran Civil War—→1977–1992Mozambican Civil War—→1975–2002Angolan Civil War—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1967–1975Cambodian Civil War—→1965–1983communist insurgency in Thailand—→1961Bay of Pigs invasionDecisive victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries27country
AngolaACTIVE
CambodiaACTIVE
Cape VerdeACTIVE
ChileACTIVE
CubaACTIVE
Czech RepublicACTIVE
EgyptACTIVE
GrenadaACTIVE
GuatemalaACTIVE
GuineaACTIVE
Guinea-BissauACTIVE
IndonesiaACTIVE
IsraelACTIVE
LebanonACTIVE
LibyaACTIVE
LithuaniaACTIVE
MozambiqueACTIVE
NicaraguaACTIVE
NigeriaACTIVE
PolandACTIVE
RomaniaACTIVE
SomaliaACTIVE
South AfricaACTIVE
SyriaACTIVE
TanzaniaACTIVE
VietnamACTIVE
ZimbabweACTIVESa 23SALES1records
| Year | Buyer | Quantity | Amount | Present Value (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 |  Nigeria | — | — | — |
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
06 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
163MACHINE PISTOLS27EARLY COLD WAR · MACHINE PISTOLS105CZECH REPUBLIC · ALL WEAPONS34PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE5terms
A type of firearm action where the breech is not locked and the cartridge case expands to seal the breech, using case expansion and pressure to retain gases.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
A firearm stock that can be folded or collapsed to reduce overall length for storage or transport.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources