Rusty
Purveyor of Fine Weaponry
Image Source
Intent: A personal weapon for [member="The Major"]
Development Thread: If Necessary
Manufacturer: Rusty's Custom Firearms and Cutlery
Model: Viel Glück
Affiliation: [member="The Major"]
Modularity: Interchangeable Breech Block
Production: Production: Unique
Material: Synthetic wood, slugthrower components, durasteel, brass
Classification: Slugthrower
Size: Handheld
Length: 2.02 Meters
Weight: 6.7 kilograms
Ammunition Type: .50 caliber (ball, BMG, or Beowulf depending on the breech block)
Ammunition Capacity: 1, 1, 10 (ball, BMG, Beowulf)
Effective Range: 100 meters, 1000 meters, 250 meters (ball, BMG, Beowulf)
Rate of Fire: Flintlock, Single shot, Semi (ball, BMG, Beowulf)
Special Features: Interchangeable breech blocks allow the weapon to fire three distinctly different types of ammo in three distinctly different manners. Synthetic wood stock is both extremely durable and stylish. Also, antimicrobial.
Description: To call this weapon impractical for the normal user is to master the art of understatement. But considering that it was made for an impractical woman, that's to be expected.
The base weapon is a simple antique flintlock rifle design. In order to accommodate the rifled barrel, the weapon shoots minié style balls that allow for more rapid loading than traditional musket balls. However, it is still far from a rapid firing piece in this configuration, topping out at about two shots per minute.
Unable to leave well enough alone, Rusty designed a system that allows the breech block to be interchangeable. A rotating cam system allows the old block to be removed and the new block to be installed in a matter of moments. Most of the mechanism is hidden internally, and is robust enough to take a beating. However, it adds considerable weight to the weapon. The length of the barrel had to be extended to allow for optimum balance, sending it soaring just past two meters.
The second of three breech blocks is designed to fire the .50 BMG round. As there's no room for an internal magazine or even a proper bolt, the block must be removed and reloaded by hand. Though much more powerful than the flintlock, it actually fires slightly slower, at about 1.5 rounds per minute. It also goes without saying that recoil is tremendous, and use while standing is discommended.
The third and final breech block is designed to accommodate the .50 Beowulf round. This breech block is fed by a ten round box magazine that loads at a 45 degree angle from the left side of the weapon, in order to allow the customer to use the sights while firing. It utilizes a short action direct gas impingement firing system with a hydraulic buffer to cycle. This allows it to function as a semiautomatic weapon with very little room. Such a firing mechanism is not recommended for normal weapons, however, as the hydraulic buffer confers more of the recoil energy to the shooter. If not for the hefty weight of the thing, the recoil of this mode would be quite punishing indeed, though it still wouldn't hold a candle to the .50 BMG breech block.
Primary Source: N/A
