A 54-year-old butcher attempted to commit suicide with a manipulated "humane killer". He removed the recoil spring, the rubber bush and also the screw forming the muzzle end, which to our knowledge has never been described in a case report before. Due to this manipulation the entire bolt left the weapon, as a free projectile, penetrated the forehead and lodged inside the skull, from where it could not be removed neurosurgically. The patient died from the consequences of the severe cerebral injury 3 days later.