HC Deb 27 June 1918 vol 107 cc1234-5
94. Mr. CURRIE

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can, consistently with the public interest, say to what manufacturer or group of manufacturers the Madsen gun belongs; whether such owners were the owners of the gun when it was known as the Rexel gun; and whether the experiments now proceeding as to its possible improvement are being conducted at the public expense and in the public interest?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The Madsen gun is the property of the Danish Rekyl Riffel Syndicate, Copenhagen. It is believed that the syndicate took over the patents of M. Rexel, who died some years ago. The company's agent has been invited to manufacture a gun with a longer barrel which will be tested to see if the objections to the present gun can be overcome. This is being done in the public interest.