The Furrier Rifle

Jim Keenan · 05-18-2003, 09:43 PM

Ron, beautiful pics of a real rarity in this country, but that is not the standard 41/44 SMG. Is it an experimental model or a carbine version?

Some background: Col. Adolf Furrer (not Furrier) was an officer in the Swiss army. He designed the Furrer Submachine gun in the late 1930's and early 1940's. In an era which saw the ideal SMG as stamped or made from tubing and bar stock (MP.40, STEN, M3) Furrer's was probably the most expensive and complex SMG ever made, or at least ever adopted. Compared to it, the Thompson is simple.

But adopt it the Swiss did, as the Model 41, and later added a bayonet stud, making it the Model 41/44. The action is often described as a "sideways Luger", but that is not strictly true, as the action, while a toggle lock, is slightly different.

Still, it is one of the few SMG's to use recoil operation (most are straight blowback) and to fire both SA and FA from a closed bolt.

Jim

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05-18-2003, 09:43 PM	#3
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ron, beautiful pics of a real rarity in this country, but that is not the standard 41/44 SMG. Is it an experimental model or a carbine version? Some background: Col. Adolf Furrer (not Furrier) was an officer in the Swiss army. He designed the Furrer Submachine gun in the late 1930's and early 1940's. In an era which saw the ideal SMG as stamped or made from tubing and bar stock (MP.40, STEN, M3) Furrer's was probably the most expensive and complex SMG ever made, or at least ever adopted. Compared to it, the Thompson is simple. But adopt it the Swiss did, as the Model 41, and later added a bayonet stud, making it the Model 41/44. The action is often described as a "sideways Luger", but that is not strictly true, as the action, while a toggle lock, is slightly different. Still, it is one of the few SMG's to use recoil operation (most are straight blowback) and to fire both SA and FA from a closed bolt. Jim