Switzerland. Canton Schwyz. Brunnen. Two men, both members of riflemen's association, talk together while their wifes clean their muddy shoes in the water of Lake Lucene. Both men carry semi-automatic assault rifles SG 550. Both couples have just returned by boat from the Rütlischiessen (Rütli shooting). Rütli or Grütli is a mountain meadow overlooking the lake Lucerne where the oath of the Rütlischwur for the forming of the Old Swiss Confederacy is said to have occurred as the legendary turning-point in the pursuit of independence. To commemorate this historic event, the riflemen's association of Lucerne organized the Rütli rifle match (Rütlischiessen) in 1862. It is held every year on the Wednesday before Martinmas (Saint Martin's Day). The SG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by Swiss Arms AG (formerly Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft) of Neuhausen, Switzerland. "SG" is an abbreviation for Sturmgewehr, or "assault rifle". The rifle is based on the earlier 5.56mm SG 540 and is also known as the Fass 90 or Stgw 90. An assault rifle is a selective-fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Brunnen is a resort on Lake Lucerne. Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldstättersee, literally "Lake of the Four Forested Settlements", French: lac des Quatre-Cantons, Italian: lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country. 8.11.2017 © 2017 Didier Ruef