POTD: Italy’s Unusual 1980s Bullpup – The Algimec AGM-1
Sam.S 11.04.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! In the mid-1980s, Alfonso Giambelli developed a distinctive bullpup carbine in Milan, Italy. His creation, the Algimec AGM-1 (the name derived from his initials), combined a simple blowback operation with an 18-inch barrel in a compact 27-inch overall length. Though originally intended for Italian law enforcement, the AGM-1 found its way to civilian markets instead. While advertised in numerous calibers including 9mm Parabellum, .45 ACP, and various .22 variants, most were made in either 9x19mm for U.S. export or 9x21mm for the Italian market, where military calibers were restricted. The carbine cleverly used modified Browning Hi-Power magazines. Some AGM-1s entered the U.S. fully marked from Italy, while others were assembled stateside from imported parts. Despite its limited production run of around 150 units, the carbine gained enough notice to be specifically named in several U.S. state assault weapon bans before imports ceased in 1989.
“Manufacturer: AlgimecModel: AGM 1Type: RifleGauge: 9 mmBarrel: 16 inch roundFinish: black”
Lot 436: Scarce Algimec Model AGM-1 Semi-Automatic Bullpup Rifle. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2091/436/scarce-algimec-model-agm1-semiautomatic-bullpup-rifle.
