The HIW VSK were two prototype weapons, a rifle and a carbine, of German origin developed by Röchling Eisen-und Stahlwerke GmbH (Hessische Industrie Werke) and August Coenders in 1944. They were intended as Volkssturm weapons and the carbine variant used blow forward operation.
Variants
=== Battle rifle === Chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle round. It used standard 5-round stripper clips to fill the fixed internal magazine. To operate, the "bolt" handle is actually attached to the barrel, and pushed forward to feed a new round to a fixed bolt and breech face.
=== Carbine === Also known as Hessische Selbstladekarabiner (transl. self-loading carbine). Chambered for the 7.92×33mm Kurz round. It used special 5-round stripper clips to fill the fixed internal magazine. The barrel is blown forward by drag of the bullet and propellant gasses and returns under spring pressure, chambering a new cartridge.
References
== External links == Hrachya, H (2017-11-14). "Forgotten Firearms of August Coenders". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2024-05-26. McCollum, Ian (2026-02-04). "Coenders' Bolt-Less Last Ditch Bolt Action Rifle". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2026-02-04. Retrieved 2026-02-04.