The cocking handle is a device on a firearm which, when operated, results in the hammer

Hammer (firearm)

thumb|150px|Hammer with an integral [[firing pin]] on a [[S&W Model 13]] revolver The hammer of a firearm was given its name for both resemblance and functional similarity to the common tool...

 or striker

Firing pin

A firing pin or striker is part of the firing mechanism used in a firearm or explosive device e.g. an M14 landmine or bomb fuze. Firing pins may take many forms, though the types used in landmines, bombs, grenade fuzes or other single-use devices generally have a sharpened point...

 being cocked or moved to the ready position. It allows the operator to pull the bolt

Bolt (firearm)

A bolt is a mechanical part of a firearm that blocks the rear of the chamber while the propellant burns.In manually-operated firearms, such as bolt-action, lever-action, and pump-action rifles and shotguns, the bolt is held fixed by its locking lugs during firing, forcing all the expanding gas...

 to the rear, facilitating any number of the following:

• Ejecting a spent shell
  Shell (projectile)
  A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
  
   casing or unfired cartridge
  Cartridge (firearms)
  A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
  
   from the chamber.
• Loading a round from the magazine or by hand through the chamber
  Chamber (weaponry)
  In firearms, the chamber is that portion of the barrel or firing cylinder in which the cartridge is inserted prior to being fired. Rifles and pistols generally have a single chamber in their barrels, while revolvers have multiple chambers in their cylinders and no chamber in their barrel...
  
  .
• Clearing a stoppage such as a jam, double feed, stovepipe or misfire.
• Verification that the weapon's chamber is clear of any rounds or other obstructions.
• Moving the bolt in to battery, acting as a forward assist
  Forward assist
  The forward assist on a rifle is a button found commonly on M16 and AR-15 styled rifles, usually located near the bolt closure, that when hit will push the bolt carrier forward, ensuring that the bolt is locked. In order to ensure that the extractor is clipped around the rim of the shell, the...
  
   but not necessarily .
• Releasing a bolt locked to the rear, such as would be the case after firing the last round on a firearm equipped with a last-round-hold-open feature.

These devices vary significantly between firearms but may occur in the form of a small protrusion or hook from the side of the bolt, a pumped slide or lever. The slide

Pistol slide

The slide is the part of the weapon on a majority of semi-automatic pistols that moves during the operating cycle and generally houses the firing pin or striker and the extractor, and serves as the bolt...

 in a pistol performs similar actions as a cocking handle.

There are also additional factors concerning the design of cocking handles, and some of them are especially important if the weapon is for tactical use. One issue is the mean time between failures due to metal fatigue

Metal Fatigue

Metal Fatigue , is a futuristic science fiction, real-time strategy computer game developed by Zono Incorporated and published by Psygnosis and TalonSoft .-Plot:...

. Just like other parts, cocking handles sometimes break when weapons are heavily used. Another issue is whether the cocking handle is sufficiently large for use by someone wearing heavy glove

Glove

A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called "fingerless gloves". Fingerless gloves with one large opening rather than individual openings for each...

s and protective clothing. The FN F2000

FN F2000

The FN F2000 is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle, designed by FN Herstal in Belgium. The F2000 made its debut in March 2001 at the IDEX defense exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.-Design details:...

is one of the weapons that has this latter feature.