BR-1 Bolt-Action Rifle
| BR-1 Bolt-Action Rifle | |
|---|---|
 BR-1A2 rifle, created 1935 | |
| Place of origin |  Belfras |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1904-present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Belfro-Mutulese war of 1911 Belfro-Mutulese War of 1928 Second Belfro-Elatian War Social War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1902 |
| Manufacturer | Naxos arsenal |
| Produced | 1902-1950 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.9 kg (8.7 lb) |
| Length | 1.1 meter (43.2 in) |
| Barrel length | 0.6 meter (24 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×63mm |
| Action | bolt action |
| Rate of fire | 10-15 rpm |
| Feed system | 5-round stripper clip |
| Sights | iron sights |
The BR-1 Bolt-Action Rifle, is a Belfrasian five-round magazine fed, bolt-action rifle that became an iconic weapon globally for it's wide spread usage, and for it's usage through the Belfro-Mutulese war of 1911, Social War, and beyond.
It became the first universal service rifle of the Belfrasian military in 1904, as previously rifles were bought in bulk by several manufacturers and beyond a 7.62×63mm cartridge requirement. It was also the first weapon to be named under the Federal Arsenal Naming Convention, where it's full name is Belfrasian Rifle, Model 1.
Development
The Belfrasian government, on the verge of full independence, began to reorganise it's military and found that previous practices of free-buying ordnance were not cost effective or practical in action, as a soldier may be handed a weapon he has had no training with in place of a similar weapon he had prior experience with. During this renovation, a desire to create a single service weapon for the military was born and ultimately a self-designed weapon was selected as the best way forward, with the newly created Naxos arsenal of Orestes being chosen as it's designer.
Following the decision to select Naxos arsenal, it's chief designer - Pistoclerus Bubo - took a trip to Belisaria to study their bolt-action weapons, during which he discovered that current bolt-action weapons had no safe way to release a primed bolt, leading the operator to having to unload it prior to dry-firing, an action that could eventually cause the firing pin to become deformed. As such he began to work on a prototype that worked on a rotating bolt system that, when the bolt was being rotated backwards cocked the firing pin and a small handle on the rear of the weapon, which required purposeful operation as it was brushed against the surface and hard to get snagged, would release the tension of the cocked hammer and pin without the need to dry-fire it at all. The handle of the bolt was designed with a large rounded end that would allow easier gripping of the bolt which was also angled to be more flush with the weapon, allowing for a larger rotation when reloading.
The BR-1 in it's final format when it entered production was chambered to fire the 7.62×63mm cartridge natively through the usage of a magazine that could be fed with a clip that would lock into place above the magazine, allowing the operator to slide the rounds into the weapon. Once done, the operator goes to return the bolt, ejecting the now empty clip and chambering the first round. The weapon was designed to be simple to fire and counters problems found on previous bolt action weapons with a releasing lever that, when actioned, released the firing pin into the stand-by position without allowing it to strike the round, eliminating a need to unload the weapon and dry-fire it to make it safe.
Variants
- BR-1/S
- Initial 1904 production model, the /S was omitted from documents and simply stood for 'Stable', meaning that the design was not to be changed prior to it's 1904 production date.
- BR-1/M1
- 1906 renovation of the weapon to include an improved bayonet-handling system that was more rugged when being utilised in combat.
- BR-1A1
- Major renovation of the weapon that took place in 1912 during the Belfro-Mutulese war of 1911. Stock changed from a straight stock to a semi-pistol grip stock to allow for improved marksmanship. Sights were improved to be more flush with the weapon to reduce the amount of moving parts that could become damaged in artillery fire or during rugged usage in the war's changing environment.
- BR-1A2
- Modification of the weapon took place on 1935 when the weapon was on the verge of being replaced by the BR-10 Service Rifle. Modifications included attachment points for a scope or other kinds of optics, an improved grip design (Called the Type G) and the movement to a new grade of stamped metal parts to utilise the same metal grade as the BR-10 for ease of repair.
- BR-1A3
- Final variant of the weapon created in 1943, removing the iron stocks and streamlining the grip, allowing it to be more easily held by snipers in prone position, along with a cradle for the attachment of scopes as opposed to installation points on the side.