Switzerland. Canton Uri. Rütli. Twenty competitors and members of the riflemen's association aim their rifles and automatic or semi-automatic assault rifles SG 550 during the Rütlischiessen. 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). Thousand competitors from all over Switzerland fire their fifteen shots at targets arranged on a cliff. 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. 9.11.2016 © 2016 Didier Ruef