HIW VSK

The HIW VSK refers to 2 prototype weapons, a rifle and a carbine, of German origin developed by Hessische Industrie Werke and August Coenders in 1944. They were intended as Volkssturm weapons and the carbine variant used blow forward operation.

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.

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.