I stumbled upon this “combination lock rifle” as I was reading some reports on how to prevent people from getting accidentally shot, and in all its simplicity it perplexed me.

The Fox TAC-1 carbine was sold in the 1970s, and had a three-wheel combination lock design to prevent

Back in 1971, Mr. Gerard Jerry Fox patented (US #3735519) a special purpose gun that immediately distinguished itself from the pack of carbines by incorporating a couple of head turning features. Marketed to the law enforcement, security, and corrections community, Fox’s semi-auto carbine was unlike any either before or since.

To keep the community safe in case the gun was captured, lost, or stolen, it had a combination lock that blocked the sear from firing. Yes, that’s right, a three-wheeled combination lock that could be set from 000 (factory default) to 999, like on a bicycle security chain. Additionally, a battery cell could be fit in the buttstock that powered a cattle-prod type riot control baton capable of delivering an electric shock.

Description from the patent, US #3735519.

Looks like Samsonite made a rifle.

Black & White vs. Color. Note different serial number. According to The Fox Carbine homepage, it was easy to change from 9 mm to .45. I guess the lower was the same?

The trigger…looks interesting.

According to DollarTimes, $163.00 in 1971 had the same buying power as $968.68 in 2016.

There was also a Police edition of the Fox carbine, which had a battery cell fitted inside the buttstock. The battery powered an electrically charged riot control baton capable of delivering electric shocks.