This article presents the Suhl Model 626-1 biathlon rifle on the basis of a real specimen.
Since 1978, KK (.22 lr) rifles have been used in the international biathlon sport. Initially, the large-caliber rifles used until then were simply downsized. Later, attempts were made to shorten shooting times by redesigning special biathlon rifles. In the former GDR, the Suhl biathlon rifle model 626/626-1 was developed in the 1980s. Rifles of this model were used to win many international titles at World Championships and Olympic Games as well as victories and podium finishes in the World Cup. The article shows the model in detail on the basis of a real specimen. Certainly not all "secrets" of these weapons can be revealed at this stage. Nevertheless, I would like to offer a first look at this interesting piece of sports and weapons history.
The present real copy bears the serial number V0693. There is another known real specimen with the serial number V0689. So the presented specimen has at least one predecessor in the range of serial numbers. Presumably, the serial numbers in between were also assigned. I do not know what pattern was used to assign serial numbers to these rifles and what range of serial numbers the two known specimens are in.
I know of a total of 11 examples of the 626-1 model. Including the two listed above. In addition, I know of one example of the Model 628. From the literature, the production of about 171 Model 626/626-1 rifles and about 41 Model 628 rifles is known [1]. The models 626 and 626-1 differ externally by a magazine inserted laterally at an angle of approx. 135° to the vertical axis on the model 626. The successor model 626-1 (from approx. 1987) has, as also seen here, a "conventional" magazine well again.
The condition of the specimen under review can be described as heavily used. Especially the various parts of the stock show clear signs of wear. There is also some evidence of repeated reworking, especially of the pistol grip and the buttstock.
It is ready for use when the carrying system and the support strap with hand stop are attached.
The following descriptions are based on the direction of firing.
The receiver houses the barrel, sight, trigger group, bolt, action mechanism, magazine well, and buttstock assembly.
The receiver is basically round. However, in the front area the upper side was worked out as a three-sided prism. The serial number and the lettering "Suhl-Biathlon" and the proof marks are applied to the left surface. On the upper surface is the Suhl Waffenschmied symbol. The right surface is free of markings.
Behind the ejection port on the upper side of the receiver is the mount for the rear sight.
On the left and on the right there are elongated openings, worked out in a form of control section/curve for the transverse pin of the bolt.
The locking mechanism on the left and right is pinned behind these openings.
Below the rear open end of the receiver, a plate with a slope was welded on, to which in turn a short tube is welded to hold the buttstock.
The magazine well is screwed on. The same applies to the trigger group.
The barrel is clamped in the front area of the receiver with two screws. It is possible that it is also screwed in. This has not yet been investigated.
In addition, there are two welded threads in which the forend is screwed.
The bolt is basically cylindrical in shape. In the front area, it is not quite half recessed at the bottom. Here there is a rail in which the ejector runs. On the bolt head, two extractor claws are present at an acute angle and symmetrically. The firing pin tip is in the 12 o'clock position on the bolt head and thus on the cartridge edge.
The firing pin is designed as a "solid" component and forms a functional unit with the bolt itself. It is not evident that it could be replaced by the athlete. In this case, only the replacement of the entire unit - bolt/firing pin - could be considered.
The action mechanism is a so-called toggle-lock action mechanism. This locks by bringing a "linkage" beyond a "bend line" and thus can no longer be opened by simple pressure from the front. Unlocking is achieved by overcoming this buckling line in the opposite direction by "external" influence on the linkage. In the present case, the control of the toggle-lock action mechanism is performed by a triangular plate and the lever, which is hidden in the pistol grip. The mechanism is symmetrically designed on both sides of the receiver and guides the bolt through a pin, which connects both sides of the mechanism and the bolt continuously. The pin runs in the corresponding recesses of the receiver, the linkage with the triangular plate controls the closing/locking and the unlocking and full opening of the bolt. The recesses in the receiver serve as a control cam. For complete opening, the lever with the pistol grip must be moved approx. 30° forward downward. To close completely, pull back accordingly to the starting position. The movement thus takes place around the pivot point of the bolt system without generating a lateral moment on the gun. When operating the pistol grip, the unlocking and locking point can be clearly felt.
The lever is mounted asymmetrically on the right side. Since the locking mechanism runs and operates outside the receiver, it is protected at the top by a sheet metal cover. This is hooked into two protruding screws on the receiver and held in place by a "spring effect".
The trigger group is attached to the receiver with two screws and was obviously largely adopted from the Model 150. The adjustment possibilities are practically the same. It is possible to adjust the preferred trigger slack (reduction to single-stage trigger possible), the take-up weight, the trigger pull, the trigger travel and the longitudinal position of the trigger blade [2]. The trigger guard was adapted in the right rear area so that the trigger finger can remain in front of the trigger blade during the repeating process and also does not touch the rifle when the trigger is pulled.
The left side of the barrel is stamped "Kal 22 lang für Büchsen" (22 caliber long for rifles) and behind it is the proof mark. Three eights are stamped under the proof mark. The eights do not represent the last three digits of the serial number. In the rear third of the barrel, the number 51474 is stamped on the bottom. The five has been re-struck or has been struck incorrectly. This further number on the barrel could not be assigned to any reference so far.
The barrel is clamped in the receiver with 2 screws. In addition, there is another grub screw and a threaded hole on the right side of the barrel clamp. The function has not yet been clarified, including whether a screw is actually missing from the real piece.
There are clear machining marks at the muzzle of the barrel, possibly from cutting to length. The caliber muzzle was set cleanly and relatively deep or far back. The direct transition to the barrel profile is clearly chamfered. The "bullet exit" is thus extremely well protected against external damage.
The front end of the barrel is flush with the front sight carrier, which is slid on and clamped with screws. It has a spring-loaded protective flap. This in turn has a covered bullet hole in case the sportsman forgets to open the flap.
The stock consists of the forearm, the pistol grip and the buttstock. All three parts are independently attached to the rifle and made of wood. The pistol grip also serves as the bolt action lever.
The holder for four magazines, the mounting for the carrying device and the the hand stop attachment are integrated into the forend. It has plastic anti-slip inserts at critical points. A magazine guide made of red plastic has been fitted in the area of the magazine well. It is fastened to the receiver with two screws of different lengths.
The buttstock has an end cap with a lower mandrel and accommodates the two carrying straps in recesses underneath. The shoulder support is slid onto a threaded tube welded at an angle to the system and screwed into place. The screw is concealed by the end cap.
The buttstock and the pistol grip were basically delivered in a raw form and then adapted to the respective sportsman. Therefore, the buttstock, for example, does not have an adjustable cheek piece or butt plate.
The existing sight consists on the one hand of the front sight and the rear sight. The front sight is screwed into the front sight tunnel and can be changed accordingly. The front sight carrier with the front sight tunnel is in turn screwed to the front end of the barrel. The sight is an Anschütz sight and probably not original. This one clamps on the gun without retaining screws. It does not have a snow flap. The V0689 also carries an Anschütz sight. It is not known if imported Anschütz sights were installed or if they replaced the original sights at some point.
As accessories, the gun has a carrying device and four magazines. The magazines are made of plastic and have an attachment for three spare cartridges. At the time of development and production of the weapon, the spare cartridges were always deposited at the shooting range before shooting. For this purpose, a spring can be operated on the magazine and the three spare cartridges fall out of their receptacle.
The magazines are inserted straight into the magazine well and locked by a spring-loaded plate from the rear to the front against a small hook on the magazine well with their lower end. To remove the magazine, it only needs to be grasped and pulled out of the gun with slight pressure against the direction of firing.
Further accessories were certainly available (e.g. comparable to the Model 150), but are unfortunately no longer available with the present real copy.
Overall, the first examination of the existing real specimen reveals interesting details, but also leaves some questions unanswered. Now it is necessary to clarify the open exciting questions. Further examination of the weapon and research will certainly help.
Of course, every reader is very welcome to contribute with his knowledge to the further "research" of this interesting part of the sport and weapon history. Of course, this also applies to corrections of my assumptions or previous results.
[1] Dieter, Ernst G.: Im Zeichen des Waffenschmieds (Alamanach der modernen Schusswaffenfertigung in der Region um Suhl/Thüringen, Teil 2 Erfindungen, Patente, Konstruktionen, Kuriositäten), Bad Liebenstein, Federal Republic of Germany: Ernst G. Dieter Selbstverlag 2010
[2] VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenwerk Ernst Thälmann Suhl: Operating instructions small caliber rifle model 150 -Standard-, Suhl, GDR.
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