At the IWA exhibition in 2016/2017, HK presented a comprehensive design and acceptance study: ten different concept variants were showcased with the objective of adapting proven military and law-enforcement technology to the hunting rifle market.

The study addressed a key challenge: while the AR15 system is technically mature and globally trusted, the pure “assault rifle” design language often meets resistance among traditional hunters in the forest or field. By creating a deliberate synthesis of military functionality and classical hunting aesthetics, the aim was to significantly increase acceptance and open up new market opportunities.

Among the concepts were, for example, a retro stock based on the civilian HK41 - a nod to the G3 familiar to many hunters with military service - as well as exclusive special models such as the “Abu Dhabi Model” featuring gold inlays and snakeskin details.

The user survey made it clear: design is not just a visual accessory but a decisive factor in overcoming barriers, building trust, and unlocking new markets. The study demonstrated how technological precision and design expertise can merge seamlessly into a single form, creating products that unite function, tradition, and contemporary expectations.

Client: Heckler&Koch

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