Captive bolt pistol

A captive bolt pistol (also known as a captive bolt gun, a cattle gun, a stunbolt gun, a bolt gun, a stun gun and a stunner) is a device used for the stunning of animals prior to slaughter.

A captive bolt pistol is intended to deliver a single, powerful strike to the forehead of an animal in order to quickly induce unconsciousness. Depending on the variation and usage, the bolt may or may not penetrate the skull and cause direct damage to the brain.

The bolt consists of a heavy rod or piston, typically made of a corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel. The bolt is actuated by a trigger pull and is propelled forward by either compressed air, a spring mechanism, or by the discharge of a blank round. After moving a short distance, spring tension causes the bolt to recoil back into the barrel.

The captive bolt pistol was invented in 1903 by Hugo Heiss, the former director of a slaughterhouse in Straubing, Germany.

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