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The BM59 is an automaticbattle rifle developed in Italy in 1959. It is based on the M1 Garand rifle, chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO, modified to use a detachable magazine, and capable of selective fire. Later revisions incorporated other features common to more modern rifles.
Development
After World War II, Italy adopted the US-designed M1 Garand rifle in .30-06 Springfield (7.62×63mm) and also manufactured it under license. This semi-automatic rifle proved itself well during World War II, but in the late 1950s it was considered outdated and obsolete and the Italian military also wanted a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62×51mm round.
To meet these requirements, Beretta designed the BM59, which was essentially a rechambered M1 fitted with a removable 20-round magazine, folding bipod and a combined muzzle brake/flash suppressor/rifle grenade launcher. The BM59 is capable of selective fire.
The BM59 was adopted in 1959 and served with Italian, Argentinian, Indonesian, and Moroccan armies. In the early 1980s, semi-automatic versions were imported to the United States and sold to private collectors. The earliest BM59s were manufactured from U.S.-manufactured M1 parts, including re-chambered barrels.
Beginning in 1990, the BM59 was replaced in Italian service by the Beretta AR70/90 assault rifles, although some may be in service in the Italian Navy.
Variants
The BM59 has several military and civilian variants that include the following:
Military
BM59 Mark I: had a wooden stock with a semi-pistol grip stock.
BM59 Mark II: had a wooden stock with pistol grip to achieve a better control during full-auto fire;
BM59 Mark III: or Ital TA (also known as the Truppe Alpine), was a variant with a pistol grip and a metal folding buttstock, that was intended for mountain troops. The BM59 Para was similar to BM59 Ital TA, but was intended for paratroopers. It was equipped with a shorter barrel and a removable flash-hider.
BM59 Mark IV: had a heavier barrel with a plastic stock, and was used as a light squad automatic weapon.
BM59E: conversion of customer supplied rifles, maintained the Garand long barrel and front handguard and had no grenade launching devices. The only national military service to adopt this version was the Argentine Navy with approximately 2100 converted rifles originally supplied with American war ships purchased by Argentina during the 50s and 60s.
Civilian
The rare BM62 and BM69 are civilian sporting rifles with the grenade launcher and sights removed. with the following:
BM62: Semi-auto chambered in .308 Winchester (commercial variant of 7.62×51mm NATO), came with 20-round magazines, civilian flash hider (no bayonet lug, no grenade launcher, no tri-compensator (extremely rare to have gas cylinder with bipod capability) Does not normally have bipod capability on gas cylinder, or gas-compensator
The BM59 (top left) on display at the Museo de Armas de la Nación, Buenos AiresBM69: Semi-auto with a bipod and tri-compensator.
BM59 battle rifle
Algeria
Argentina: Used in the Falklands War.
Bahrain
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Morocco: Built under license
Nigeria: Under license by Defense Industries Corporation in Kaduna. Adopted by Nigerian Army in 1963.
Biafra: Some ex-Nigerian Army rifles
Indonesia: Built Under license at the Bandung Weapons Factory as the SP-1 (BM59 Mk I), SP-2 (BM59 Mk I with rifle grenade system) and SP-3 (BM59 Mk IV).
Italy
Libya
Somalia
