CornerShot is a special-purpose weapon that can fire around corners. It was designed in the early 2000s for SWAT teams and special forces in hostile situations usually involving terrorists and hostages.
Overview
Its designers were two former Israeli Army senior officers Amos Golan, with sponsorship by American investors. It has several variations. The variations developed so far are the Standard, the 40 mm grenade launcher, the APR, and a derived Anti-tank version. It works because its many parts are either on the muzzle or the butt end, which are connected by a steel hinge. It is manufactured by Corner Shot Holdings, LLC, a company headed in Miami with offices in Israel. Units have been sold in 15 countries.
Forms and variations
The CornerShot is available in several variations. A standard pistol version is available, along with a 40 mm grenade launcher. Because they are fitted with high-resolution digital cameras, any variant can also be used as a surveillance tool. All the models come with the same stock camera and 2.5 in. color LCD monitor, providing a video observation and sighting system with transmission capability. The flashlight and camera let it operate in either day or night. A variety of optional interchangeable cameras, as well as a folding stock, are available, and a universal accessory rail is standard.
Standard
The standard CornerShot mounts a normal semi-automatic pistol in the front part of the weapon, with a remote linkage to the trigger mechanism in the rear part, it has a trigger pull of 21 newtons (4.7 lbf). It is 820 millimetres (32.67 in) long, with a weight of 3.86 kilograms (8.5 lb).
40 mm grenade launcher
The 40 mm Grenade Launcher is a breech-loading, single shot grenade launcher. Manually operated, it fires all 40 mm grenades, less-lethal and non-lethal ammunition, and tear/irritant gas projectiles; spent cartridges are ejected for easier reloading. The same system is available in 37 mm size for law enforcement agencies. The 40 mm model has a rifling of 1:1.224, is 900 mm long, and weighs 4.4 kg (9.5 lb). The muzzle velocity is 74.7 m/s (M-406 grenade). Its range for precision fire, single target is 150 meters and for area coverage, with fragmentation munitions, is 350 meters.
Assault Pistol Rifle (or APR)
The Assault Pistol Rifle mounts a custom assault pistol in the front part of the weapon to allow the use of rifle cartridges. It fires 5.56 mm ammunition. The APR pistol can be removed from the CornerShot frame.
CornerShot Panzerfaust (or CSP)
Debuted at the Eurosatory 2004 military trade show in Paris, a derivative of the system for use against armored vehicles is designed to fire Panzerfaust anti-tank rockets. It can turn 90 degrees instead of the standard 60 degrees.
How it works
In the standard version a pistol is mounted in the front end of the weapon, which bends horizontally at a mid-gun sixty-degree hinge. There is a digital camera and a flashlight attached to the barrel in the bayonet position. On the butt side of the hinge are the trigger, camera screen (which is on a horizontal hinge just like the mid-gun hinge but it is off of the left side of the gun), and controls for the camera and light.
Similar Weapons
The Krummlauf was a bent barrel designed for the Sturmgewehr 44, which was used by the Germans in World War II. It allowed for looking and firing around corners with its 30 degree barrel and a periscope-style sight.
During one of Iran's latest gun shows, a replica CornerShot gun was observed as one of Iran's modern weaponry that is said to be mass produced in the following years. It is claimed to be domestically made and invented.
