http://www.biggerhammer.net/armpistol/

 

 

Bushmaster ARM "SMG" machine gun.

 

The inspiration for the ARM pistol was the Colt IMP.

The USAF awarded a contract to Colt for the construction of four
Individual Multi-Purpose Weapons (IMP), as a proposed air crew survival
weapon. The original goals for the weapon are a "lethal" range of 100
meters, a weight of less than 1.5 pounds, a maximum length under 13,"
and a minimum magazine capacity of 7 rounds. Dale M. Davis of the USAF's
Armament Laboratory (Elgin AFB) is responsible the stockless bullpup
design which others dub an "arm gun." The best known examples of the
GUU-4/P IMP are the technology demonstrators chambered in .221 Remington
Fireball. However, experimental models are constructed in a couple of
.30 caliber wildcats for suppressed use. These cartridges are based upon
a slightly shortened .30 Carbine case and a shortened .221 Fireball
case respectively (sort of a stubby forerunner to J.D. Jones' later
Whisper experiments).





The Bushmaster arm pistol was developed and manufactured by Gwinn
firearms, Bangor Maine.  It was a direct result of the IMP prototypes
made by Dale Davis.  Mack W. Gwinn Jr. was totally
responsible for the development and production of this weapon.  His
father Mack Gwinn sr. was on board from the get go as adviser and
management consultant.
There was also discussion of building different
models in Frankford Arsenal's 4.32x45mm micro-caliber cartridge (.17
Remington), 7.62x51mm, and 5.56x45mm. (The latter idea is developed and
marketed commercially years later by Mack Gwinn Sr. and Mack Gwinn Jr.
as the Bushmaster pistol.)
Other Gwinn inspired Bushmasters.





The
Gwinn Arms Company of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, were in business
from 1972 -1974 before Gwinn went bankrupt, and Quality Parts (reformed
as Bushmaster ) bought them out. Mark Gwinn was the inventor of the
original bushmaster rifle. Later Mack W. Gwinn JR Started the MGI - Mack
Gwinn Industries, the modern manufacturer of quick change barrel system and
other components for the AR-15).
But I digress....