REPEATING FIREARM

The invention relates to a repeating firearm, in particular a repeating rifle, which is configured as a straight-pull bolt action rifle, comprising a forestock and a bolt handle. The repeating firearm is selectively operable either with the forestock or with the bolt handle.

This application claims the benefit of German application number 10 2023 112 184.7 filed on May 9, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a repeating firearm, in particular a repeating rifle, which is configured as a straight-pull bolt action rifle, comprising a forestock and a bolt handle.

PRIOR ART AND ITS DISADVANTAGES

With the invention of cartridge ammunition, handguns (pistols and revolvers) and long guns (rifles and shotguns), after their historic era as muzzle-loaders, changed into breech-loaders. This triggered an avalanche of development, which resulted both in so-called multi-loaders with their associated cartridge magazines, as well as breechblocks in a wide variety that can hardly be overlooked.

The task of breechblocks for firearms is basically to mechanically securely close the tube open for loading at the rear, the barrel, when shooting. In addition to breechblocks for semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons, which among other things use the mass inertia of breechblock elements, the most common breechblock technology for rifles for civil, official, and sporting use was and still is rigidly locking breechblocks, which are typically operated by hand.

For long guns, which are designed for bullet ammunition and are referred to as rifles (versus shotguns for shot ammunition), the bayonet-like, manually rotatable cylinder breechblock has prevailed, which not only solidly locks the barrel (though often indirectly by way of the system housing bearing the barrel), but with its linear movement component also serves to eject the spent cartridge case and to feed a new cartridge from said cartridge magazine. This process is called repeating and thus the associated rifles for bullet ammunition are referred to as repeating rifles and the corresponding design for shotgun ammunition as repeating shotguns.

For manually handling the (rotating) cylinder breechblock (bolt action)—also referred to as the chamber—it is equipped with a bolt handle that extends transversely to the cylinder axis, which cylinder axis coincides with the barrel axis, the free end of said bolt handle bearing an easily operable handle ball, as is widely used in millions of instances for handling machines (and machine elements).

When handling this type of design according to, for example, AT 2715 B and U.S. Pat. No. 398,063 A, the so-called shooting hand that grips the rifle stock by its pistol grip (formerly called the stock wrist), which lies between the buttstock and forestock, must release it, grasp the ball grip, handle it for repetition, and then grasp the pistol grip again and place the trigger finger (carefully) on the trigger. This is time-consuming and not infrequently too slow for rapid follow-up shots—as they are necessary, for example, in so-called driven hunting, hunting searches, or in biathlon shooting.

This is why designs were devised quite early on with the elimination of the manual rotary motion component, for example according to CH 1613 A, CH 7667 A, AT 71 620 B, and DE 106 939 A, wherein the kinematics of the breechblock head guided in a helical groove are similar to that of a historical drill. Significantly, the term “straight-pull action” is already used in the old documents, which became the name for the “straight-pull bolt action rifle”, which have only matured in recent decades and are now offered by almost all well-known hunting gun manufacturers. This type of construction with “linear action” (“pull/push action” or “straight pull”), as it is called in expert circles, has also taken its place among sport and sniper shooters.

Nevertheless, the disadvantage of this design—as with all repeaters with a bolt handle—is that for rapid repeating, the above-described, time-consuming replacement of the grip from the pistol grip to the bolt handle ball and vice versa is unavoidable. This is compounded by the fact that buttstocks are increasingly configured as so-called thumbhole stock. Here, the stock hole acts as a thumbhole, which allows a relaxed firing position, but is ergonomically cumbersome due to the removal and insertion of the thumb.

This disadvantage is circumvented by another type of construction, which is particularly common in the USA, the so-called pump action repeater. This is well established as a rifle—for example according to EP 0 692 696 B1—or shotgun—for example according to GB 756 769 A—and is predestined for rapid consecutive shots, which are usually fired while standing, because both hands can remain on the firearm while repeating, and the firearm does not have to be taken out of the (free-standing) firing position. For repeating, the so-called guide hand moves the forestock back and forth in parallel to the barrel and thereby drives the linear action by way of a linkage.

A major disadvantage of this design is the need to lift the weapon for repetition when shooting the follow-up shot on a hunting or sporting stand, or when shooting from the prone position, so that the forestock can be oscillated linearly with the guide hand.

In order not to have to carry a bolt action rifle with a bolt handle and thumbhole stock for stand hunting and a pump action repeater for driven hunting and battue, but instead to enable the hunter to use the weapon with which they are familiar in terms of firing position and trigger action for both types of hunting, based on the straight-pull repeater Model R93 from the manufacturer Blaser according to DE 43 05 700 C1, it was attempted with a connecting rod-like retrofit kit according to the documents DE 200 00 158 U1 and DE 201 00 014 U1 to be able to use the straight-pull repeater as a pump action repeater as required. As well as the approach was intended, it failed miserably—apart from the aesthetics that took some getting used to—mainly because of the significant disadvantage that the attachment had to be mounted by the hunter, mostly outdoors, and the necessary accessories had to be carried along.

In addition to the repeater with a cylinder breechblock (bolt action) and the forestock repeater (pump action), there is also the lever repeater (lever action), referred to colloquially as the “Winchester rifle”, which could not prevail over the other two types but had its place especially in the “Wild West”, when shooters had to repeat on horseback with one hand.

The disadvantages described seem to be surmountable with a semi-automatic rifle, for example according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,581 B2. However, on the hunt, it is ethically frowned upon and legally banned in some countries, or—at least in Germany—its magazine capacity is limited to only 2 cartridges. This reduces its suitability for driven hunting, specially for which driven hunting magazines with high cartridge capacities for repeating rifles are offered. In addition, this design does not match the shooting precision of bolt action rifles, so it is not suitable for long-range shooting with the weapon supported shooting from a stand. There are two technical reasons for this: On the one hand, in the case of (semi-) automatic weapons, after firing the shot and before the projectile has left the barrel, the breechblock mechanism is in motion and the vibration thereof has an effect on the entire weapon. On the other hand, in the most predominant kind of autoloaders, the so-called gas-operated weapons, the energy required for the autoloading process is diverted through a transverse bore of the barrel. Since this is arranged not far from the barrel mouth, as shown inFIGS.2and8to11of document U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,581 B2, the apparatus used for gas discharge and the autoloading process hinders the free oscillation of the barrel, which is essential for a high shooting precision.

Another reason that speaks against a (semi-automatic) autoloader is its dependence on ammunition loads and weapons accessories, such as muzzle brakes and—now hunting approved—silencers. Lastly, its unreliability in the case of so-called “failures” is disadvantageous: Once a cartridge fails to fire, no reloading takes place. These disadvantages are foreign to a repeating rifle and are not acceptable for dangerous use cases, such as hunting. Similarly, for this very reason, in the case of handguns, the autoloading pistol will not be able to supersede the revolver, which is immune to loading malfunctions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the described disadvantages of the prior art and to create a repeating firearm, in particular a repeating rifle, which is operable in a versatile and ergonomic manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a repeating rifle according to claim1. The invention allows the shooter to operate the same repeating firearm, depending on the specific situation, using the repeating mechanism that is more advantageous in this respective situation, in particular from an ergonomic point of view.

In accordance with the invention, a switching between the operation with the forestock and the operation with the bolt handle takes place in a toolless manner by way of at least one actuating handle arranged on or in the repeating firearm.

Switching between the two operating modes is therefore very fast and simple for the shooter. It is particularly favorable if an actuating handle is attached to or in the forestock or housing of the repeating firearm on both sides (for left-handed and right-handed shooters). The concrete embodiment of the actuating handle can be based on the design that has proven itself millions or times, which is implemented, e.g., in switches of hand drills for switching from clockwise to counterclockwise rotation. In particular, the at least one operating handle may be configured as a push-button switch, a toggle switch, a rocker switch, a rotary switch, or a pendulum switch.

The at least one actuating handle has a two-stage switching mechanism with a first switching state and a second switching state (in its end positions determined by stops). The switching mechanism may hereby be completely or partially hidden by the forestock. Thus, in the first switching state (i.e. in the one position of the actuating handle), the straight-pull repeater can be handled as a pump action repeater, while in the second switching state (i.e. in the other position of the actuating handle) the operation takes place by way of the bolt handle, with the forestock axially fixed.

Further preferred embodiments of the repeating firearm in accordance with the invention result from the dependent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Depicted inFIG.1is a repeating rifle, denoted by1, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the linear action of which (with a breechblock head located thereon in the firing direction) allows the operation as a straight-pull bolt action repeater. For this purpose, the breechblock, longitudinally guided in a housing4arranged between the forestock2and buttstock3, is provided with a bolt handle5, at the free end of which a handle ball is attached for comfortable repeating. A cartridge magazine6and a trigger assembly7are inserted in the housing4, and a barrel8is arranged at the front end face of said housing.

The forestock2is passed through transversely to the barrel axis by an actuating handle13, which is axially displaceable, is arranged in a rotationally-fixed manner, and is configured as a sliding switch13, the two end faces of which are mirror-symmetrically opposite one another and are operable as push-buttons (with a left and a right end position). With these, the repeating rifle1can be switched between the two operating modes “repeating by means of bolt handle” and “repeating by means of forestock”.

InFIG.2, the forestock2is removed, such that a longitudinal guide9becomes visible, said longitudinal guide being configured as a rectangular rod9in parallel to the barrel and being fixed to the housing4on the end face with a largely mirror-symmetrical slide10that is mounted on the longitudinal guide in an axially displaceable and rotationally-fixed manner. For this purpose, the slide10is provided with a preferably square longitudinal perforation18. Perpendicular to said longitudinal perforation, the slide has a shaft-like transverse perforation19for longitudinally guiding the sliding switch in a rotationally-fixed manner. On its two side faces, the slide10is provided with mirror-symmetrical guide grooves11(or longitudinal perforations) for two actuating bars12(preferably of rectangular cross section), which are coupled to the linear breechblock in an axially-fixed manner. Alternatively, the at least one actuating bar12may be longitudinally guided only in the housing4or both in the housing4and in or on the slide10.

The forestock2and the slide10form an assembly connected to one another in a mechanically rigid manner.

With the slide10removed,FIG.3shows the longitudinal guide9with a polygonal profile, as the aforementioned rectangular rod. It is preferably stationarily arranged as a cantilever on the housing4below the barrel8and substantially in parallel thereto (said barrel also being stationarily arranged on the housing4). Since the slide-forestock-assembly2,10is arranged on said cantilever (so as to be longitudinally movable) and is not in mechanical contact with the barrel8, the cantilever can vibrate freely in a way that is conducive to shooting precision.

The straight-pull breechblock not depicted here is guided in the housing4so as to be longitudinally movable and is coupled, preferably in a positive-locking manner, to at least one of the two actuating bars12in an axially-fixed manner.

FIG.3toFIG.6disclose the compact and user-friendly switching mechanism, the sliding switch13of which comes into engagement either with the rectangular rod9(according toFIG.4) or the actuating bar(s)12(according toFIG.6) by said sliding switch being actuating in the manner of a push-button on its left or right end face. For this purpose, the latter12according toFIG.5is/are provided with at least one gap-like cut-out14, and the rectangular rod9is provided with a vertical transverse groove15.

In order to achieve a bolt-like positive engagement, the sliding switch13according toFIG.5is provided with a cuboidal locking projection16, which on its side pointing away from the rectangular rod transitions into a groove-like locking set-back portion17, which terminates with an end-face cross section in the outline of the locking projection16.

On its side pointing toward the rectangular rod9, the locking projection16is stepped. From here, the sliding switch13has a flat cross section, which according toFIG.1protrudes transversely out of the forestock2like a push-button. This shape of the sliding switch13provides in both its directions of movement locking noses20,21on both sides of the locking projection16, which serve to axially lock the slide10and thus the forestock2(seeFIG.5).

For the operating mode with the bolt handle5according toFIG.1toFIG.3, according toFIG.4andFIG.5the groove-side locking nose20of the locking projection16comes into engagement with the vertical transverse groove15of the rectangular rod9and out of engagement with the gap-side portion14of the actuating bar(s)12with its opposite locking nose21. The slide10with the forestock2attached thereto is thereby axially locked on its longitudinal guide9and the forestock2is thus fixed to the housing4in an axially-fixed manner. When actuating the bolt handle5, the two actuating bars12slide unhindered in the guide grooves11of the slide10(or laterally past said slide10) and thereby pass through the groove-like locking set-back portion(s)17according toFIG.4andFIG.5.

After displacing the sliding switch13into the opposite end position by ergonomically comfortably pressing it from its end face projecting out of the forestock2(seeFIG.1), it is exactly the opposite: In this position of the sliding switch13, according toFIG.6, its groove-side locking nose20has now come out of engagement with the vertical transverse groove15of said locking nose20and its gap-side locking nose21has come into engagement (with the gap14) with at least one of the two actuating bars12. An axial connection of the slide10to the actuating bar(s)12is thus established in a positive-locking manner and is released from the rectangular rod9. The firearm1can thus now be operated as a pump action repeater, the forestock2driving the linear breechblock (in the same direction) and the bolt handle5fixed thereto being moved uselessly back and forth therewith. This does not interfere mechanically and ergonomically, but it may be removed for aesthetic reasons.

FIG.7shows this operating mode with the breechblock closed with the slide10andFIG.8with the forestock2attached thereto in the front end position of said forestock2. The market accepts the hand-wide “gap” that exists here between the forestock2and housing4, even if it is concealed here and there with forestock extensions projecting to the rear in a U-shape. This is counteracted by the present invention in the operating mode with the bolt handle5, which is presumably predominantly used: InFIG.1andFIG.2, the slide10is located in its rear end position locked to the longitudinal guide9by the sliding switch13, the forestock2transitioning flush into the housing4in a stylish manner.

The design of the sliding switch13with its latching noses20,21on both sides, and the arrangement of the corresponding gap14or groove15arranged in alignment with said sliding switch13, which gap14or groove15is arranged transversely to the barrel axis according toFIG.5, allow for switching between the two described operating modes only when the breechblock is completely open. This switching logic has 3 advantages:1. There is no cartridge in the barrel, so no unintentional shot can be fired when switching.2. When the weapon1is loaded and possibly even ready to fire, the sliding switch13is automatically secured against displacement, so that the set operating mode cannot be changed unintentionally.3. For the shooter, the two switching positions are clear, so that it is easy to learn and, after some practice, the weapon1can be intuitively controlled. To this end, it appears plausible to let the end face of the sliding switch13protrude on the side of the bolt handle in the operating mode with the bolt handle5.

According toFIG.5, the sliding switch13, as mentioned, is stepped at the groove-side locking nose20and extends from here with its flat cross section up to its end face. This cross sectional profile allows for easy assembly with an open breechblock through the entire firearm1. Here, the sliding switch13first passes a corresponding shaft in the forestock2, then passes through the cross sectionally identical transverse perforation19of the slide13, before it emerges with its end face out of the forestock2through a shaft of a small cross section. This end position is formed in a mechanically elegant manner by the groove-side locking nose20striking on the groove base of the vertical transverse groove15and thus ensures the maximum positive engagement between the longitudinal guide9and the sliding switch13and thus with the slide10and hence also on the forestock2fixed thereto.

In both end positions, the sliding switch13is secured in position by a spring catch and can be pushed out of the forestock2laterally—for example with a screwdriver blade—when the breechblock is open. The forestock-slide-assembly2,10can then be removed in the firing direction, for example for cleaning the weapon.

As an alternative to the locking noses20,21, a round pin may be arranged on at least one of the two end faces of the locking projection16, the axis of which round pin extends in the direction of movement of the sliding switch13. The one engages into a corresponding transverse bore of the rectangular rod9and the other engages into a through-bore of the actuating bar(s)12, which can be produced economically as a punched hole.

Nevertheless, at least one raised form that is arranged on the sheet metal strip(s)12and is economically producible by forming technology (e.g. bent sheet metal flap) can come into or out of positive-locking engagement with a corresponding recess of the locking projection16.

In another embodiment, which is not graphically illustrated here, the sliding switch13described above is configured as an axially-fixed and rotatable switching shaft. It is rotatably mounted in an axially-fixed manner in a transverse bore, in a similar position as the transverse perforation19, of the slide10and corresponds to recesses in the actuating bar(s)12and the rectangular rod9, which recesses, when the breechblock is open, are congruent transverse to the barrel axis and are preferably of semi-circular cylindrical configuration, or of prismatic or V-shaped configuration. For this purpose, the lower side faces22of said bars12and the lower side face23of the rectangular rod9structurally form a plane in which (or in a plane parallel thereto) the axis of said switching shaft lies. The switching shaft is configured as a circular cylinder that can be manually rotated (from the outside by means of a rotary handle/rotary handles).

While the two half-shaft cross sections in the region of the actuating bars12—viewed axially—are congruent, the half-shaft corresponding to the rectangular rod9is rotated by 180° compared to those two of the actuating bars12. Thus, in the operating mode as a repeating rifle with the drive by way of the bolt handle5, the switching shaft with its central half-shaft is in engagement with the rectangle9and out of engagement with the half-shaft pair of the actuating bar pair12: The slide is thereby axially locked on its longitudinal guide9and thus the forestock2is locked to the housing4in an axially-fixed manner. Upon actuating the bolt handle5, the two actuating bars12slide unhindered along the guide grooves11of the slide10and past their half-shaft cross sections.

After rotating the switching shaft by 180°, it is exactly the opposite: In this angular position, the switching shaft is now in engagement with the two actuating bars12and is decoupled from the rectangular rod9: An axial connection of the slide10to the actuating bars12is thus established in a positive-locking manner and is released from the rectangular rod9. The firearm1can thus now be operated as a pump action repeater, the forestock2driving the linear breechblock (in the same direction) and here, too, the bolt handle fixed thereto being moved uselessly back and forth therewith.

The described design of the switching shaft, as well as the positions of the corresponding rectangular and actuating rod/bar(s)9,12allow switching between the two described operating modes described only when the breechblock is completely open. This has the same3advantages as mentioned above:1. There is no cartridge in the barrel, so no unintentional shot can be fired when switching.2. When the weapon1is loaded and possibly even ready to fire, the switching shaft13is automatically secured against rotation, so that the set operating mode cannot be changed unintentionally.3. For the shooter, the two switching positions are clear, so that it is easy to learn and, after some practice, the weapon1can be intuitively controlled.

In a second embodiment of the invention according toFIG.9andFIG.10, the sliding switch13or the switching shaft or a pivot mechanism are arranged within the weapon, such that they are not visible from the outside and cannot be operated incorrectly, and after removing the cartridge magazine6, for example, can be manually switched through the then free magazine well.

In the case of the pivot mechanism configured in this manner, according toFIG.9, a mirror-symmetrical and fork-shaped pivot latch24(which can be considered a pendulum switch13and can be produced economically as a punched bent part), is guided with its two latch flanks26on bearing pins28arranged on the slide10on both sides, also mirror-symmetrically, so as to be pivotable about the pin axis transverse to the repeating rifle1. For this purpose, the two flanks26are provided with two coaxial bearing bores29.

At their free end, each of the two flanks26has a respective gap33,34on both sides in the circumferential direction, wherein the one can come into or out of engagement with, e.g., a sheet metal flap35of the actuating bars(s)12and the other one with a projection or a recess of the buttstock-housing-barrel-longitudinal guide-assembly3,4,8,9. For this purpose,FIG.9shows a locking bolt30projecting transversely out of the rectangular rod9mirror-symmetrically on both sides, the two ends of which are laterally in engagement with the two gaps33of the pivot latch24, wherein it is structurally preferable if the rear flanks of the gaps33abut against the rear outer surfaces of the locking bolts30and the slide10(including the forestock2) preferably strikes against the housing4in the firing direction. The slide10, preferably configured as a rectangular tube, is thereby connected to the buttstock-housing-barrel-rectangular rod-assembly3,4,8,9in an axially-fixed manner and thus also the forestock2that is stationarily attached thereto or optionally formed in one piece therewith. This results in the operating mode by means of the bolt handle5. During its repeating operation, both actuating bars12, which are axially coupled to the breechblock in a mirror-symmetrical manner—of which actuating bars12only the left one is shown so that the pivot latch24becomes visible—oscillate through their shafts32. The sheet metal flaps35bent inwardly in a mirror-symmetrical manner out of the two actuating bars12(and out of their bottom sides22by forming technology) hereby pass the bottom sides of both latch flanks26in an unhindered manner.

When the breechblock is open, the two ends of the locking bolt30, which can be produced as welding bolts (bolt welded symmetrically on the rectangular rod9), are mirror-symmetrically opposite one another with their two corresponding gaps33and the two sheet metal flaps35with their two corresponding gaps34in the latch flanks26. In this position, the pivot latch24operable as a pendulum switch13can be used to switch between both operating modes in a manual and toolless manner. For this purpose, an operating finger engages through the open magazine well31according toFIG.9and engages under a handling lip25, which is arranged on a latch bridge27connecting both latch flanks26. By pressing a finger on the bottom side of the handling lip25, the pendulum switch13jumps from its angular position inFIG.9into its other end position according toFIG.10. Thus, the two gaps33in engagement with the two locking bolt ends30inFIG.9synchronously come out of engagement and the gaps34, according toFIG.10, synchronously enter into a positive engagement (in the direction of the direction of movement of the slide10) with the two mirror-symmetrical sheet metal flaps35of the two actuating bars12. This results in the operating mode as a pump action repeater with the following flow of force: forestock2→slide10→bearing pin28→bearing bores29→latch flanks26→gaps34→sheet metal flaps35→actuating bars12→breechblock.

To switch to the previous operating mode with the bolt handle5, when the breechblock is open and the cartridge magazine6is removed, the pivot latch24must be pressed back into its original end position through the magazine well31by pressing a finger on the latch bridge27, in which end position the two gaps33of the two flanks26again synchronously engage around the two locking bolt ends30.

The pivot latch24snaps in a haptically perceptible manner into both end positions, in which it remains securely. This is achieved by a catch, which consists of at least one catch pin38arranged transversely on the slide10, on the outside face of which catch pin38a ball rests that is acted upon by a catch compression spring37. All catch elements are arranged in a respective, preferably congruent, perforation36of the latch flanks26, which is covered inwards by the slide10and outwards by the respective actuating rod12. Thus, they are enclosed securely in a sandwich-like manner in the latch flank(s)26between the actuating bar(s) and the side face(s) of the slide10.

The pendulum switch24is to be understood mechanically as a single-arm lever with a pivot axis about the axis of its bearing pins28. To operate it, the latch bridge27must be pressed or the handling lip25must be pulled (up). It may be economically advantageous if the switch13,24is operable only by pressure. To achieve this, the pendulum switch must become a rocker switch13. This is achieved by extending at least one latch flank26in the firing direction, whereby a two-armed lever would be created, the two ends of which could be operated by manual pressure through the forestock2.

Another type of construction not graphically illustrated here comprises a pivot mechanism, also arranged on the slide10, the axis of rotation of which extends substantially in parallel to the barrel axis and which is rotatably mounted on the slide10or forestock2in an axially-fixed manner. The end of the pivot mechanism accessible through the magazine well has a claw coupling configured as a rocker switch, which claw coupling in its one angular end position comes into or out of engagement with the housing-barrel-longitudinal guide-assembly4,8,9and in its other angular end position with the breechblock-actuating bar(s)-assembly12.

The embodiments described above can be continued in a variety of variants. In order to fulfill the goal of the invention, all have in common the mechanical function that on the buttstock-housing-barrel-longitudinal guide-assembly3,4,8,9both the forestock-slide-assembly2,10and the breechblock-actuating bar(s)-assembly12are guided substantially in parallel to the barrel axis and independently of one another, wherein, in accordance with the invention, the first is coupleable to the second assembly in a toolless manner, such that the third assembly is then repeatable by means of the bolt handle5, or the second is coupleable to the third assembly in a toolless manner, such that the repeating firearm1is repeated by means of the forestock2.

In another embodiment, which is also not graphically illustrated here, the forestock2is decoupled from the slide10and is guided separately on the longitudinal guide9in an axially movable manner. Both elements are force-coupled by way of a reversing gear, so that they move axially in opposite directions. This design takes aesthetic aspects into account in the operating mode as a pump action repeater, since when the breechblock is closed—i.e. when the weapon is ready to fire—the forestock2transitions flush and “seamlessly” into the housing4.

Another embodiment, also not graphically illustrated, comprises the so-called “bullpup” design. This is a short design of firearms, in which the classic buttstock2is omitted and the housing4replaces it with an ergonomically designed shoulder system. The subject matter of the invention is predestined for this short design, since the repetition—by means of the forestock2or bolt handle5—is carried out ergonomically comfortably in the front region of the weapon1using the actuating bar(s)12, while the actuating bar(s)12ensure the other weapon functions—e.g. loading by means of the movement of the breechblock and tensioning the lock—in the housing4in the manner of transfer rails.

All features and advantages arising from the claims, description and drawings, including structural details, arrangements and method sequences, may be relevant to the invention both in themselves and in a variety of combinations.

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