  The low-lying $M1$-strength of the open-shell nucleus $^{50}$Cr has been
studied with the method of nuclear resonance fluorescence up to 9.7 MeV, using
bremsstrahlung at the superconducting Darmstadt linear electron accelerator
S-DALINAC and Compton backscattered photons at the High Intensity $\gamma$-ray
Source (HI$\gamma$S) facility between 6 and 9.7 MeV of the initial photon
energy. Fifteen $1^{+}$ states have been observed between 3.6 and 9.7 MeV.
Following our analysis, the lowest $1^{+}$ state at 3.6 MeV can be considered
as an isovector orbital mode with some spin admixture. The obtained results
generally match the estimations and trends typical for the scissors-like mode.
Detailed calculations within the Skyrme Quasiparticle
Random-Phase-Approximation method and the Large-Scale Shell Model justify our
conclusions. The calculated distributions of the orbital current for the lowest
$1^{+}$-state suggest the schematic view of Lipparini and Stringari (isovector
rotation-like oscillations inside the rigid surface) rather than the
scissors-like picture of Lo Iudice and Palumbo. The spin M1 resonance is shown
to be mainly generated by spin-flip transitions between the orbitals of the
$fp$-shell.
