Interesting/Unusual Gun Features

The CZ-82 definitely has several uncommon features. You mentioned the safety already, but I think it's interesting that the safety can only be engaged when the hammer is in the cocked position, so you can't really have a DA safety, other than the weight of the trigger pull.

I think the polygonal barrel on the CZ-82 is also uncommon.

I never use the safety on the Mosin Nagant, in the field, especially wearing gloves, it is difficult to the point of danger to engage and disengage. I just carry it with the magazine loaded, but the chamber empty. I have thought about buying one of those loops that clamps onto the safety knob that Brass Stacker sells, but since I don't actually hunt with my MNs, I haven't.

One other gun feature I find kind of uncommon, or interesting is the 3 position safety on the K98 Mauser bolt, and other mausers that use the same design. I think the straight up position is genius, because you'll never waste your time taking perfect aim, only to squeeze on the trigger and realize you left the safety on. That makes tons of sense, and the left or fire position is easy enough. I find it interesting that they added the 3rd position to the right which locks the rifle up, and holds the bolt closed.

That's all I can think of for now.

Oops, thought of one more.
The rotating barrel design on the PX-4 full size and compact. It is a pretty cool design, and I feel like it does reduce perceived recoil, though I have never seen any study of the matter. It is weird too that they have it on the full size and compact, but not the sub-compact.

I like the safety/decocker as found on later Model Taurus PT92s. The safety lever can be used as a thumb safety for Condition One carry or if can be used as a decocker for first shot double action trigger mode.

I always thought the Ljungman/Hakim rifle action was quite interesting. I like the way, where some rifles seem to have been designed for ease of use, and others (like some would say of the Garand) required a healthy dose of operator respect and care to use, the Hakim could rightfully be described as taking a deliberately misleading and almost predatorially viscous attitude toward its user.

Some rifles seem to thirst for the blood of your enemies. The Hakim isn't so particular, and will be perfectly happy with yours.

Someone will mention this sooner or later: HK P7 grip squeeze cocking. Very unusual and a genuinely foolproof feature to ensure that the gun is safe unless the cocking handle is depressed.

I recently came across this after reading about it in the Ayoob pages in the American Handgunner. Its the shotgun Pat Garret had on him when he was killed.

First Id ever head of them. Wish they were still around. Really cool and functional idea.

Burgess Folding Shotgun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXvmGtLYwKA

The two most unusual features I can think of are the already mentioned H&K P7 "squeeze" mechanism, and the magazine on the Krag rifle.

I think both are pretty darn cool and wish they were more common features.

On the Krag, I like that I can just take a hand-full of loose cartridges and "dump" them into the rifle. Yeah yeah I know everybody says that the clip system on the Mauser was better but personally I perfer the Krag.

I've never owned or even shot a P7 but I have held them before at shops and it just seems like an awesome design. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if they weren't so darn expensive...

Oh just thought of two more, no first hand experiance with either just seen them on the internet.

The "lever" on the Jo Lo Ar pistol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoumAfAHlJQ

And the "blow forward" action on this crazy thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKo06FgXlMM

David4516 said:

The two most unusual features I can think of are the already mentioned H&K P7 "squeeze" mechanism, and the magazine on the Krag rifle.

I think both are pretty darn cool and wish they were more common features.

On the Krag, I like that I can just take a hand-full of loose cartridges and "dump" them into the rifle. Yeah yeah I know everybody says that the clip system on the Mauser was better but personally I perfer the Krag.

I've never owned or even shot a P7 but I have held them before at shops and it just seems like an awesome design. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if they weren't so darn expensive...

Click to expand...

The Krag is easier to load, however, the problem is in how does the soldier carry all his ammunition? 100 rounds of loose individual cartridges, or twenty relatively large easily handled stripper clips?

The SKS safety is nice, as it blocks the trigger, more so for right-handed shooters, the SVT safety for it simplicity.

The Johnson M1941 had some nice features, you could reload the magazine with the bolt closed on a loaded chamber, the last round inserted in the magazine was the next round chambered (very useful when using a grenade launcher, or wanting to designate a target with a tracer), and a easily removed barrel. Unfortunately, it has a few features that make it less than pleasant to shoot - the trigger and disconnector are one solid piece, but work the same way a Garand does. They have a mean trigger slap, the trigger moves forward about 3/16 inch, and with the Johnson's high bolt velocity, it can easily bruise your finger, and usually do. They have a pretty healthy felt recoil and a pretty energetic ejection that destroys brass (not really a military concern).

The BREN and the FG-42 both have an interesting way to reduce felt recoil. The buttstock is sprung relative to the receiver,so the recoil energy is delivered to the shooter over a slightly longer time interval, this also helps with controlability in full automatic fire.

The Sauer 38h cocker/decocker lever, much simplified as just a decocker on the later SIG pistols.

The HSc's automatic slide release that drops the slide when a magazine in inserted. Both the EM-1 and EM-2 had a similar feature that dropped the bolt only when a loaded magazine was inserted (an empty magazine would not release the bolt, like the HSc).

Browning BDM has a screw/slotted turn-switch on the slide that toggles the gun back and forth between DA/SA and a modified DAO that does allow manual hammer cocking (called "revolver" mode). Then it has a frame mounted safety-decocker. Unfortunately, the safety is a down-to-SAFE affair, and, when activated, both drops the hammer AND renders the trigger inert. This safety design basically precludes a modern high grip. Too bad, because it's otherwise a pretty neat gun.

The semi-automatic revolver.

Most notable are the Webley-Fosbery and the Mateba.

How about the grip safety revolvers, AKA "Lemon Squeezers", that Smith and Wesson made?

The M1 Garand trigger guard safety has to be an all time 'brilliant design' for a combat arm.

rc

This revolver might also qualify as "interesting or unusual"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ZbjTdHwOA

The ability to half cock and re-cock a Lee Enfield.
It's handy sometimes.

Edit:
I've also noticed a fascination with the old Browning A5's and Remington model 11's when people unfamiliar with them see that the barrel is not fixed.

How about the Bogurg (SP?) semiauto's that pull the ammo rearward from the magazine before feeding it into the chamber. Only one I know like that.

critter

I think you mean the Boberg Arms Reverse Feed System. Yes, that one is very unusual with it's design feature.

I also think the tip-up barrel, found on several Beretta pistols, is a pretty unique and unusual way to chamber a round.

The Steyr M/S series with the triangle/trapezoid sights and the safety inside the trigger guard is pretty unique.

When Benelli's inertia-driven action came out, I was fascinated by the concept. When I picked one up at the store, I had to have it. Traded two older shotguns for it and it has been my all-weather, never fail, go-to shotgun for these 20 years.

I had always been enamored of the 1950's designed Whitney Wolverine semiauto .22LR pistol, ever since seeing pics of it back in high school in the 70's. Finally got the chance to get mine at a local gunshow some years back. Neat design, with a fixed receiver tube into which is fitted a sliding tube action that encloses the barrel and recoil spring. Looks quite futuristic even today, and has the most comfortable grip design I have ever held. Pretty good accuracy even with it's somewhat funky sights. An Alcoa Aluminum frame, making it quite light even though it is a largish .22 pistol.
Recently Olympic began making a 'modernized' synthetic version, that loses the clean rakish lines of the original, and looks horridly clunky.

With the Makarov when the thumb safety on the slide is pushed on the entire gun locks up. The trigger, hammer and slide are locked and can not be operated.

Click to expand...

That's not a real unique feature the 1911 designed in 1911 and the Highpower designed in 1914 both were the same way and many, many others. FWIW the Highpower's also have a magizine disconnect, that many think is a new feature as well.

Just thought of another one: how about the Lignose Einhand (or one handed), .25 semi-auto pistol? To chamber a round you pull backwards on the curved portion on the front of the trigger guard. This was attached to the slide and moved it back to chamber a round.