Abstract: A cocking trigger mechanism is disclosed. The cocking trigger mechanism includes a hammer element that is moveable between a front position and a rear position, and a drive part that is moveable between an uncocked position and a cocked position. The drive part is arranged to entrain the hammer element during its movement into the uncocked position. A striker spring biases the drive part into the uncocked position. A trigger causes movement of the drive part against the force of the striker spring from the uncocked position to the cocked position and actuates its release. When the drive part is moved independently of the trigger into the cocked position, it is held in this position until subsequent operation of the trigger. The hammer element is connected to a return spring that forces it into a rest position that is situated near its front position as long as the trigger is not operated so that it always assumes a defined position.