Madsen M47

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	Weapon: Madsen M47 Type: Infantry Rifle Country of Origin: Denmark Year Adopted: 1947 Caliber: .30-06 Springfield Action: Bolt-Action Overall Length (mm): 1150.0 Overall Length (in): 45.28 Weight (kg): 8.00 Weight (pounds): 17.64 Effective Range (m): 600 m Effective Range (yards): 656.17

The Madsen Light Military Rifle (often referred to as the Madsen "Rifle") was a bolt-action rifle developed by the Danish arms manufacturer Dansk Industri Syndikat in the early 1950s. It was unique in that it was one of the few bolt-action rifles designed in the post-World War II era, at a time when most nations were moving toward semi-automatic or fully automatic rifles. The Madsen rifle was intended for export to developing nations and colonial forces that still favored bolt-action rifles due to their simplicity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. It was chambered in various calibers, including .30-06 Springfield, 7.62x51mm NATO, and 7x57mm Mauser, to cater to the needs of different militaries.

The rifle was primarily adopted by smaller nations and colonial forces, as larger and more industrialized countries were already transitioning to semi-automatic designs such as the M1 Garand or fully automatic assault rifles. Countries like Colombia and several Latin American and African nations purchased the Madsen rifle in limited quantities, using it for internal security and defense. The adoption of the Madsen bolt-action rifle was relatively limited due to the rapidly changing military landscape, where automatic and semi-automatic rifles were becoming the new standard for infantry.

Production figures for the Madsen rifle were relatively low compared to other bolt-action designs like the Mauser or Lee-Enfield. Only a few thousand units were produced, making it a rare firearm in military history. Despite its limited adoption and production, the Madsen rifle was known for its robustness and precision, making it effective in the environments where it was deployed. However, its development during the age of automatic weapons limited its widespread use and notoriety, leaving it as an interesting yet somewhat obscure chapter in the history of military bolt-action rifles.