Pulse Rifle

The Pulse Rifle is a weapon in era 2030, in the pre-alpha that has the unique ability switch between modes, that could switch to a grenade launcher, which launches grenades, or the gun mode, which is automatic and similar to a assault-rifle and fires bullets. These can be switched pressing the 2 key.

It was likely replaced by the Ripgun, due to both of the guns being automatic, and partly the Slugger as both guns can switch modes. The Pulse Rifle seems to be a combination of the two.

It's primary ammo was Pulse Bullets, and according to the pre-alpha's .dll files, Cordite Grenades, exact same name the Slugger grenades use, which suggests the Cordite Grenades were later on carried over to the final, albiet a different appearance.

Just like some other weapons, The Pulse Rifle doesn't appear and was never seen the final game after that.

Pulse Rifle bullet mode sounds a bit like the M41A from Aliens.

An early .bmp texture for the Pulse Rifle can be found in the pre-alpha files. It is much less detailed and browner than the one in the pre-alpha, as half of the texture is taken up by the flare from firing the gun. It looks pretty close to a weapon seen in very early Episode 4 screenshots, making it likely that mystery gun is the Pulse Rifle.

Weapon seen in early screenshots which looks and matches like the Pulse Rifle's old texture.

The Pulse Rifle old texture which is similar the weapon seen in early screenshots.