VARIABLE-LENGTH FIREARM

Abstract

The invention relates to a firearm comprising a housing (1), having a cartridge feed (2), a breechblock, an impacting unit having a trigger, optionally a magazine shaft (3) for holding a magazine (4), and a unit (5) of two barrels (6, 7) arranged one over the other. The upper barrel (6) is longer than the lower barrel (7). Guide protrusions (8) are provided on the unit (5) of the two barrels (6, 7), which guide protrusions are guided in corresponding control tracks (9, 10) in the housing (1), whereby the two barrels (6, 7) can be moved along the control tracks (9, 10) between two end positions, wherein, when each end position is reached, alternately one of the two barrels (6, 7) aligns with the cartridge feed (2) and therefore forms the active barrel, which can be locked in this position.

Claims

1. A firearm comprising: a frame having a cartridge feed, a breechblock, and a firing mechanism having a trigger; an assembly of an upper long barrel and a lower short barrel; control tracks on the frame; and respective guide tabs guided in the control tracks of the frame for movement of the barrels along the control tracks between upper and lower end positions in each of which a respective one of the two barrels is aligned with the cartridge feed, forms the active barrel, and can be locked in position.

2. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein both barrels are of the same caliber.

3. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein there are two essentially identically constructed control tracks, one on each side of the assembly of two barrels in the frame, each barrel having at least one of the guide tabs engaged with a respective one of the control tracks.

4. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein each control track has front and rear end sections that extend from the lower and the upper end positions toward each other parallel to the barrels and a center section extending at an angle to the barrel direction and connecting the respective end sections to each other and serving to vertically displace the two barrels on movement between the end positions.

5. The firearm according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring biasing the assembly of the two barrels arranged over each other toward the end position in which the short barrel is aligned with the cartridge feed.

6. The firearm according to claim 1, further comprising: an extractable shaft with a shoulder stock in the frame.

7. A firearm comprising: a frame having opposite side faces each formed with a respective guide track having a pair of parallel but vertically spaced front and rear end sections and an angled center section extending between inner ends of the respective end sections; a firing mechanism and cartridge feed in the frame; a barrel assembly having an upper long barrel extending parallel to the end sections and a lower short barrel fixed and parallel to the upper long barrel; and respective guides on the barrel assembly engaged in the tracks and movable therealong between an upper rear position with the short barrel aligned and cooperating with the firing mechanism and cartridge feed and a lower front position with the long barrel aligned and cooperating with the firing mechanism and cartridge feed, whereby in the upper rear position the short barrel is active and in the lower front position the long barrel is active.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention is described in greater detail with reference to of the attached drawings, where

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a weapon according to the invention in an end position with an active short barrel,

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a weapon according to the invention from FIG. 1 in the other end position with an active long barrel and

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the weapon according to the invention from FIG. 1 in an intermediate position when switching between the two end positions.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The firearm according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 has a frame 1 carrying a cartridge feed 2, a firing mechanism, a breechblock and a trigger (not shown). Furthermore, the frame 1 has a magazine shaft 3 for receiving a magazine 4 as well as grips 16. Optionally, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, other add-on parts may be provided on the frame, such as sights 17 or attachment rails 18, for example a Weaver rail.

[0020] Furthermore, in the frame there are upper control tracks 9 and lower control tracks 10 in which guide tabs 8 of an assembly 5 of two barrels 6, 7 arranged above each other are guided. The guide tab of the upper barrel 6 is thereby guided into the upper control tracks 9 and those of the lower barrel 7 in the lower control track 10.

[0021] The control tracks 9, 10 are each essentially constructed in the same manner. Each control track has an upper end section 11 and a lower end section 12 that extend essentially parallel to the barrels 6, 7. These two end sections 11, 12 are each connected by a center section 13 that extends diagonally to the two end sections 11, 12 and connects them to each other.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the firearm in an end position in which the shorter lower barrel 7 is aligned with the cartridge feed 2 and is locked as the active barrel. The longer upper barrel 6 is accommodated in a space-saving manner in the frame 1 so that the weapon is not longer than a conventional small arms weapon with a short barrel. Therefore, the weapon can be easily used in close-quarter combat situations. Another advantage is that the structural overall length of the weapon is significantly shortened, to some extent even by more than half, in comparison to conventional long-barrel weapons, which also simplifies transportation and storage of the weapon.

[0023] If one now wishes to switch the weapon over for long-range use, the barrel assembly 5 is unlocked and initially pushed forward parallel to the barrels 6, 7 away from the frame so that the guide tabs 8 slide along the upper end sections 11 of the respective control tracks 9, 10. On reaching the center section 13 of control tracks 9, 10, the assembly 5 of both barrels 6, 7 is displaced downward, and the long upper barrel 6 is pushed in front of the cartridge feed 2. This intermediate position during the shifting is shown in FIGS. 3.

[0024] The barrel assembly 5 is then pushed back along the lower end section 12 toward the frame 1 and the now active long barrel 6, which is now aligned with cartridge feed 2, locks as is shown in FIG. 2. In addition, a shaft 14 with a shoulder stock 15 accommodated in the frame 1 can be pulled out for long-range use of the weapon.