The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms - 1350 to 1700
- Road to American Liberty - 1700 to 1780
- A Prospering New Republic - 1780 to 1860
- A Nation Asunder - 1861 to 1865
- The American West - 1850 to 1900
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt and Elegant Arms - 1880s to 1920s
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond - 1940 to Present
- For the Fun of It
- Modern Firearms - 1950 to Present
- Hollywood Guns
Anschutz Model 1827 Fortner Bolt Action Biathlon Rifle
This straight-pull rifle with stock-mounted five-round magazines is designed specifically for Biathalon competition.
This straight-pull biathlon rifle is designed for the competitive sport where shooters must ski a course with periodic halts to fire at targets. Unlike other competitions, the targets are reactive metal discs that fall down when hit. A miss results in the addition of penalty time to a competitor's score. For biathlon competition, shooters carry their ammunition supply in several spare 5-round magazines fitted to the stock.
The carrying sling quickly converts to a shooting sling and back again. To ensure against snow collecting in the sight apertures, both the front and rear sight are equipped with covers. A straight-pull action is preferred in this winter event, where shooters compete not only against time and other shooters to complete a stage of firing, but also against usually frigid conditions, where contestants shoot without gloves.