This is an exceptional example of a rare Swiss SK46 bolt action prototype rifle. This series of rifles was actually developed shortly after WWII when the Swiss Government was in the process of developing several new designs. One of the rifles they came up with was the Model SK46 that used a tilting breechblock design with a detachable five round box magazine. This rifle is certainly unique and a clear departure from the standard K31 rifle in that it actual uses a tilting breechblock in lieu of the traditional round rotating bolt as in the K31. It still used a fixed, side mounted, straight pull bolt handle that was directly connected (on the side) to the tilting breechblock. This breechblock itself is actually square in shape and is identical in configuration and operation to the Savage 99 rifle design in that during the cycling action the rear of the breechblock tilts or drops downward to unlock the bolt and during the reloading/cocking action the rear of the breech bolt is pushed up into battery, locking it into the rear edge of the ejection port in the receiver. Additionally, the outside rear recoil spring housing has three rear locking lugs that presumably lock into the rear lugs on the rear of the receiver, kind of like safety lugs on a 1903 Springfield. As you can see, the overall look of the rifle actually resembles the K31; however, as noted, the actual operation and cycling of the rifle is completely different. This model is still considered a bolt action design and not a semi-automatic rifle, just like the K31. It is theorized that this rifle was developed to investigate alternate breech bolt designs in different calibers as it still retains the straight pull mechanism. This rifle is even rarer in that is chambered in the 7.92 mm Mauser cartridge and not the standard 7.5 Swiss service rifle cartridge. This can be easily discerned by the extended length of the barrel on this rifle which measures approximately 1 7/8 inch in front of the front sight, vs. the standard 3/4 of an inch protrusion in the 7.5 Swiss rifle barrels and the rear of the bolt is marked "7.9". This nonstandard cartridge may have been an early attempt to develop a new export rifle in 7.92 mm to capitalize on all the left over German ammunition from WWII. The barrel is fitted with a military style tangent rear sight graduated "1-15" (100-1,500 meters) and a standard fixed front sight with protective ears. Additionally, this rifle was designed to be fitted as a sniper rifle as the right side of the receiver has a machined flat scope base integral with the receiver for a sniper mount/scope (not included). The top of the receiver is marked "SK/46", and the left side is marked with serial number "107/ Schweizerische Industrie - Gesellschaft Nauhausen a/Rhf." The left side of the receiver has a two position safety lever. It is fitted with a full length walnut stock and one-piece handguard with finger grooves on the sides that is fitted two barrel bands and sling swivels mounted on the left side, just like the K31 rifles. It comes with one original box magazine that is marked on the left side: "SK 46/Kal. 7.9/113".