The Carlo submachine gun is one of the most common improvised submachine guns made by Palestinian groups in the West Bank.
Modeled after the Carl Gustaf M/45 SMG made in Sweden, the weapon has become a favorite of Palestinian terrorists, Israeli-Arab gangs, and criminal organizations the world over.
This includes being frequently used in terrorist attacks in Israel, most recently in the mass shooting attack in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem on Monday, September 9.
But what is the Carlo SMG and why is it so popular? Here is everything you need to know.
What are the origins of the Carlo SMG?
The Carlo was modeled after the Swedish Carl Gustaf M/45, which was first made in the mid-1940s.
Inspired by other innovators in submachine gun weaponry such as the Sten and the MP-40, the gun quickly became standard for the Swedish military. A fully-automatic only weapon, the standard version could hold a 36-round magazine and could fire 9x19mm Parabellum rounds at a rate of 600 rounds per minute.
The weapon was soon phased out starting in th 1960s and fully replaced in Sweden by 2007. However, it was also manufactured under licenses in Egypt and Indonesia and remains in service around the world, having been seen in conflicts from Europe and Africa to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
When was Carlo first used in Israel?
The Carlo was first spotted by Israeli forces in the early 2000s when it was being used by Israeli-Arab criminal gangs.
Though the design is clearly inspired by the Carl Gustaf, there are some key differences in the manufacturing.
The Carlo is very easy to manufacture and very cheap, which has subsequently made it a popular alternative to other guns such as the AK-47 or the M-16.
While many parts used to make them can come from lost or stolen guns, many of which originated from IDF bases, it can also be made by easy-to-access materials. Paintball and airsoft rifles have components that can be incorporated into a Carlo. In addition, according to Ynet, home appliances can also be cannibalized for internal components, and the gun barrel can be made from repurposed pipes or pieces of a home fridge.
Some manufacturers even add rifling to the inside of the barrel to improve accuracy.
However, because of their DIY nature, there is no uniform design or specifications for the Carlo.
While the Carlo is more prone to jamming and has accuracy issues, their high rate of fire and low cost have ensured their popularity among lone-wolf terrorists, criminal gangs, and major organizations like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
What type of ammunition does the Carlo use?
While the guns themselves are easy to make, the ammunition is not, with the manufacturers often not providing the bullets themselves.
According to i24, the bullets are thought to come from the black market or from being stolen, including from the IDF.
While the Carl Gustaf was chambered for 9x19 Parabellum rounds, and indeed many Carlo guns are chambered for just that, there is far more diversity in what a Carlo can fire.
Reports have found that Carlo guns were made to fire .22 LR, .32 ACP, and 9x18 mm rounds.