A hand firearm incorporates a carrier handle at about the centre of gravity of the firearm which carrier handle is of generally tubular shape which is adapted to protect a sight such as a telescopic sight giving a smooth outer surface not likely to become entangled with undergrowth or otherwise impede usage of the firearm. Side apertures in the tubular member provide an easy hand hold.

A firearm having a launching tube the rear portion which is surrounded by a forestock serving as support for the launching tube. The forestock is formed of two parts which are removable independently of each other. One part is a lower housing which serves as support for certain firing mechanisms, such as the trigger mechanism. The lower housing is fastened by screws to the launching tube and breech housing of the firearm. The other part is an upper hood which protects accessory mechanisms present in the upper region of the firearm, such as sighting and recocking devices. The upper hood is fastened by screws to the launching tube.

A firearm having a receiver, a barrel connected to the forward portion of the receiver, a front sight connected to the forward portion of the barrel, and a carrying handle connected to the receiver. The carrying handle has a grip member portion that is adapted to be used for carrying the firearm and a forward mounting member portion depending downwardly from the forward portion of the grip member portion. The forward mounting member portion has its lower portion connected to the receiver and serves to mount the forward portion of the grip member portion to the receiver. Another rearward mounting member portion depends downwardly from the rearward portion of the grip member portion and the lower portion of the rearward mounting member portion has its lower portion connected to the receiver to connect the rearward portion of the grip member portion to the receiver. Each mounting member portion has an aperture extending through it from its forward to its aft surfaces and a rear sight is partially located within the aperture of the rearward mounting member portion so that the line of sight from the rear sight through the aperture of the forward mounting member portion to the front sight is located closer to the centerline of the bore of the firearm than is possible with present firearms that have receiver mounted carrying handles. The close location of the line of sight to the centerline of the bore makes the firearm easier to shoot and improves the accuracy potential of the firearm. The apertures in the two mounting members can also be used as auxiliary sighting means under poor light conditions.

A semi permanent backup iron sight is adapted for attachment to, and detachment from a weapon while other devices are still attached to the weapon. The iron sight comprises a base formed of two vertical rails and an interconnecting member that allows the base to flex for securing the iron sight on the weapon; a sight aperture assembly formed of a sight aperture, a sight aperture frame, a sight aperture spring, and a sight aperture pivot pin; an elevation cam assembly formed of an elevation cam, a retaining clip, an elevation cam spring and keeper, and a detent spring and a ball detent; and a windage mechanism. The base provides a mounting interface for the sight aperture assembly, elevation cam assembly, and windage mechanism. The elevation cam assembly has an elevation scale located in a position that allows the shooter to see the elevation scale without moving his or her head from the shooting position. The elevation cam assembly has a limited range of rotation to preclude inadvertently over rotating the elevation cam assembly during low light and/or high stress conditions.