A.T. FISCHER’S PROTO-KRUMMLAUF
Many of us have seen photographs of the Krummlauf (or curved barrel) developed by the Germans during the Second World War. Developed for use with the StG-44, the Krummlauf, at varying degrees of curve, was designed for shooting at oblique angles around corners and for ‘hosing down’ vehicles under close infantry attack.
Krummlauf device with aiming-device fitted to an StG-44 (source)
As is often the case in small arms history, however, the Krummlauf was a case of history repeating itself. In February 1919, Alexander T. Fischer, of Detroit, Michigan, filed a patent for a “Device for Oblique Firing”. In his patent Fischer described his device as enabling the user to aim firearms:
“…at an angle from that of the line of sight as is now practised. This improvement is especially desirable in airplane usage in war, as it enables the observer to shoot over the side of the airplane and direct his bullet to an object beneath him without being obliged to hold the fire arm in a vertical or nearly vertical position and without being exposed to fire from his adversary. Soldiers also by its use may fire over parapets without exposure to adverse fire.”
It seems that Fischer envisaged his device as being most useful to aircraft crews firing on ground targets. It is very likely that Fischer was not familiar with the realities of aerial combat as this envisages a very niche role. Indeed the mounting method he describes, shown in Fig.1, for use in aircraft is rather naive.
Fischer’s patent shows a number of designs including a revolver with his curved device threaded onto the barrel. Similarly he also depicts a shorter device which threaded onto the muzzle of a rifle which also combined a (straight) bayonet (Fig.2 & 3).
Finally, the patent displays a “device attached to a rifle together with a reflecting sight, preferably periscopic, in which the fire can be directed with great accuracy.” Fischer’s patent was granted on the 25th May, 1920 and in August he was granted another patent for an “apparatus for deflecting fire of firearms” - essentially a mitrailleuse with curved barrels (US #1348987).
These were not his only inventions, however, between 1899 and 1901 it appears that Fischer also patented a number of garden tools including a weeder, a hoe and a seed drill.
It seems that Fischer was one of a number of inventors from the period who read about the war but never saw it and as a result designed unusual and sometimes outlandish designs. Fischer’s design, however, is strangely prescient, proceeding the Krummlauf by more than 20 years. The later Krummlauf saw combat and the US and Soviets subsequently experimenting with the idea. Today, systems like CornerShot fulfil a similar niche urban combat role.
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