Flapper Lock Prototype Friberg/Kjellman Semi-Auto Rifle

In this video from about 2.5 years ago, Ian of Forgotten Weapons takes a look at a prototype of a “flapper lock” semi-automatic rifle whose basic design was patented in 1870 but which couldn’t be made viable until smokeless powder came onto the scene in a big way.

The rifle was built in Sweden, and is one of fifty-something rifles made by the company to be used as sales tools in an attempt to procure lucrative government contracts. These prototypes were manufactured in a wide array of configurations and calibers, the one in the video being 8x57mmS.

For a semi-automatic centerfire rifle built around 120 years ago, it’s certainly impressive. But no military contracts were procured, and the company went belly-up.

It has a selector switch that allows it to become a manually-operated repeater rather than a semi-auto; that’s kinda cool.

The safety doubles as a face protector… for real. It’s a flip-up piece located a ways behind the receiver, which blocks the trigger when down — and when you flip it up so the rifle can fire, it prevents you from placing your face in a position to be pummeled by the bolt when it flies rearward.

Inside, a rather small lever is the thing that flings the bolt open and then throws it forward again. Interesting, and rather ingenious.

Unlike many other FW videos, we get to watch the gun being fired at the range. It’s a bit of a jam-O-matic, but recoil is quite mild.

I want one.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.