Knorr-Bremse Paratrooper Rifle
Production Information
Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
Manufacturer(s): Knorr-Bremse AG
Year(s) Designed: c.1941 - 1942
Technical Specifications
Weapon Type: Automatic rifle
Caliber: 7.92×57 mm Mauser
The Knorr-Bremse automatic rifle was a German prototype that was developed by Knorr-Bremse AG.
History
This rifle was designed around 1941 or 1942, as part of a Luftwaffe commission for a light automatic, rifle-caliber weapon for paratroopers. It was one of a number of designs developed for Fallschirmjäger trials, including entrants from Rheinmetal and Krieghoff. It is not known whether the Knorr-Bremse rifle was finished in time for these trials, and ultimately the Rheinmetall weapon was selected, officially adopted as the FG 42 in 1942.
After World War II, the Knorr-Bremse prototype was obtained in an incomplete state by Allied occupation troops in Germany and was sent to the Springfield Armory in the United States for study. It remains in the Springfield collection today. Few written records of the Knorr-Bremse rifle have been found.
Design
The Knorr-Bremse automatic rifle was a bullpup design, with the magazine port located on the left side of the rear receiver, behind the trigger assembly. The operation employed by this rifle is unknown, as most the internal components were missing upon its discovery. It was likely supposed to be gas-operated. The weapon’s rear sight and buttstock are also missing.
Source: Knorr-Bremse paratrooper rifle | Gun Wiki | Fandom
