CornerShot

CornerShot is a weapon accessory invented by Lt. Col. Amos Golan of the Israeli Defense Forces in cooperation with American investors. It was designed in the early 2000s for SWAT teams and special forces in hostile situations usually involving terrorists and hostages. Its purpose is similar to that of the periscope rifle; it allows its operator to both see and attack an armed target, without exposing the operator to counterattack.

Overview
The concept was first developed in Nazi Germany during World War II in the form of the StG-44's Krummlauf, a curved barrel with a mounted mirror developed for urban warfare; however, a similar concept, the Periscope rifle, was developed by Australian troops in the trenches of the Western Front in World War I. This earlier idea was simply a specialised "second" stock and trigger mechanism combined with a periscope to allow the shooter to remain safely within the trench and still aim and fire a rifle that was laid over the top of the trench.

The CornerShot 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 based in Miami with an office in Israel. There is another separate manufacturer for the CornerShot in France called OMEGA-Cornershot. Units have been sold in 15 countries. The CornerShot was recently evaluated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

Forms and variations


The CornerShot's shooting range is claimed to be accurate and effective to 100 meters in 9x19mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP pistols, and is claimed to be effective to 200 meters with a 5.7x28mm pistol. The device is available in several variations, including the Beretta 92F, a model widely used by US security forces, the Glock, SIG SAUER and CZ, the mechanism can also mount various accessories such as detachable cameras, audio/video transmission kits, visible and IR lasers and tactical flashlights, suppressors and rubber bullets 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 lets 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.

Future versions will be mountable on the US M-16 and a European joint assault weapon. The system can also be remotely emplaced and operated from behind camouflage, with a wire video - out connection sending images to a commander at a distance or saved to a 2-hour 'flash memory' chip attached to the gunstock.

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 40mm 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 37mm size for law enforcement agencies. The 40mm model has a rifling of 1:1.224, is 900mm 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 150meters; and for area coverage, with fragmentation munitions, is 350meters.

Assault Pistol Rifle (or APR)
The Assault Pistol Rifle mounts a custom 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 The Panzerfaust-has a little info about the CornerShot Panzerfaust (and tells the name of the CornerShot Panzerfaust)

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.

China
China has made two CornerShot-like weapons to date: the HD-66, which is based on the CornerShot, and the CF-06. Both models were first unveiled at the 4th China Police Expo (CIPATE) and developed by the Chongqing Changfeng Machinery Co Ltd and Shanghai Sea Shield Technologies Company. According to Qing Shanseng, chief designer of the HD-66 and CF-06, both systems are indigenous and were not done based on the CornerShot.

The two systems use the QSZ-92 as the main pistol.

Pakistan
POF Eye is a special-purpose hand-held weapon system similar in concept to the CornerShot that can fire weapons around corners. It was first revealed at the 5th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2008), held at the Karachi Expo Center in November 2008. It is designed for SWAT and special forces teams in hostile situations, particularly counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations. It allows its operator to both see and attack an armed target without exposing the operator to counter-attack.

Iran
Iran has demonstrated a weapon that is very similar to CornerShot.

South Korea
South Korea had publicly unveiled their own version of the CornerShot on March 23, 2010, created and developed by the Agency for Defense Development. The ADD had ₩350 million invested for research and development of their own CornerShot in September 2008. Its functions are similar to the original version, with the exception of a laser target designator and a pixel sensor included to assist in locating hostile targets.

The CornerShot made in South Korea is being developed by S&T Movic Co., Ltd.

Users

 * 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: used by Azerbailan Special Forces
 * 🇨🇳 China: Beijing SWAT.
 * 🇮🇳 India: Delhi Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico: Mexican special forces
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia: Kopaska (Komando Pasukan Katak).
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea: Special forces (Israeli model).
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇺🇸 United States: US Law enforcement agencies.