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(11) | EP 0 192 343 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Firing lock with safety system for self loading fire arms |
| (57) @ A self loading pistol type firearm has a reciprocating breech block slide carrying
an inertia-operated firing pin and striker. The pistol has a frame containing a firing
lock comprising a hammer, a sear, trigger, trigger bar, firing pin lifter, ejector,
hammer mainspring and strut, sear and ejector spring and a safety catch. The fire
arm has a firing pin which is held securely locked in the slide and has no free passage
forward until the trigger is pressed deliberately fully to the rear to discharge the
fire arm. The firing pin safety system allows the user to release the hammer from
a cocked to uncocked position by operating the safety catch with there being no danger
of discharging the chambered cartridge. The firing pin is itself engageable with a
detent to prevent firing operation and the hammer itself can be so positioned as to
hold the firing pin in engagement with the detent. |
[0001] This invention relates to firearms of the self loading pistol type, having a reciprocating breech block slide carrying an inertia - operated firing pin and striker, the pistol having a frame containing a firing lock comprising a hammer, sear, trigger, trigger bar, firing pin lifter, ejector, hammer mainspring and strut, sear and ejector spring, and a safety catch.
[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide such a firearm with a firing pin which is held securely locked in the slide, and has no free passage forward until the trigger is pressed deliberately fully to the rear to discharge the firearm.
[0003] It is a further object of the invention to provide for self loading pistols or other firearms a firing pin safety system which allows the user to release the hammer from the cocked to uncocked position by operating the safety catch, with no danger of discharging the chambered cartridge.
[0004] It is'another object of the invention to provide for self loading pistols or firearms a firing lock with a safety system of simple construction and cheap to manufacture.
[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide for self loading pistols or other firearms a firing lock with a safety system not requiring specialised tools to disassemble.
[0006] According to the invention, there is provided a firearm of the self loading pistol type with a frame containing a'firing lock comprising a hammer and main-spring, a trigger, a sear for holding the hammer in a cocked position, a linkage connected to said trigger whereby operation of the trigger will cause the sear to release the hammer, a reciprocatable slide mounted on the upper surfaces of the frame, and a firing pin carried by said slide, the firing pin being operable responsive to release of said hammer, characterised in that a longitudinally moveable striker is held in a recess in said slide, said striker having a striking end against which the hammer strikes in operation of the firearm, the firing pin is contained within said recess for movement longitudinally and vertically therein, a firing spring pin is contained within said recess to act upon the firing pin to urge said firing pin moveably in said recess, a detent is provided in said slide, means are provided for urging a projection from said firing pin into engagement with said detent when said firing pin is in its rearmost position, said firing pin, when engaged with said detent, being out of line with the striking end of the longitudinally moveable striker, and a firing lock lifter is mounted in the frame for movement responsive to actuation of said linkage by operation of the trigger to lift the firing pin to a position in which the firing pin projection is disengaged from said detent and in which the firing pin is aligned to be struck by said striker striking end responsive to the striker having been struck by said hammer.
[0007] Preferably the means for urging the firing pin extension into engagement with the detent comprises an extension of the firing pin spring and when the firing pin rear is forced down by the firing pin spring extension the striker solid striking end will, under forward pressure by the lowered hammer, override the firing pin rear, preventing the firing pin from being able to rise or otherwise move.
[0008] The firing pin spring may be formed as a single unit from spring wire having a coiled portion reducing in diameter to the rear, the rear coils a sliding fit around the firing pin forward round section, and a limb formed from a continuation of the front coil to traverse rearwards and uppermost when installed in the slide insert, the rear of said limb formed into a torsion coil with a short limb extending downwards to seat on the top of the firing pin and exert a downwards pressure to the firing pin rear section, the torsion coil containable within the said striker slot width. Alternatively the firing pin spring may have the rear coil extended to form a limb continuing to the rear, the rear of said limb bent at an angle in order to bear against the upper ) surface of the striker hole in the slide insert, and under torsion of the bent limb force the firing pin down to locate the firing pin rear section within said suitable recess in the slide.
[0009] Embodiments of the invention are shown in the 5 drawings and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, a self loading, semi-automatic pistol provided with means constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention for a firing lock with single and double action firing functions, with a safety system provided partly by a hammer block and sear lock provided by a dual lever catch at the rear of the frame, a firing pin retraction and locking system provided by the firing pin spring in conjunction with a suitable slide recess or cutout, and striker; this view shows the pistol with loaded chamber, loaded magazine inserted, and firing lock at rest, hammer uncocked, firing pin locked, safety not applied.
Figure 2 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the firing lock at rest, the firing pin forced down by the firing pin spring extension limb, and the striker end overriding the firing pin end.
Figure 3 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the hammer cocked and held by the sear, the trigger bar thrust back against the hammer tail, and the striker ready to be struck by the hammer, the striker end cleared from above the firing pin rear.
Figure 4 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the hammer cocked, the lifter bent engaged by the trigger bar and the lifter cam against the firing pin rear lower wing.
Figure 5 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the trigger bar being pulled forward by the trigger, the lifter being rotated by the trigger bar, the lifter raising the firing pin rear, and the lifter tail engaging the sear trip pin.
Figure 6 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the pistol at the moment of discharge, the lifter having tripped the sear and fully raised the firing pin to be hit by the striker being impelled forward by the impact of the rotating hammer under main spring pressure.
Figure 7 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the pistol slide recoiling, unlocked from the barrel, the cartridge case being extracted, and the lifter and trigger bar cammed down by the slide. The firing pin and striker have been thrust rearwards by the firing pin spring, and the firing pin rear has been forced downwards by the spring rear limb into the slide recess or cutout.
) Figure 8 is a partial view of the pistol, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the pistol in full recoil, the cartridge case being ejected, the trigger bar being disconnected by the disconnector limb being forced down by the slide rear under surface, and a cartridge risen in the magazine ready to be fed by the returning slide into the barrel breech.
Figure 9 is perspective views of the hammer, from front and rear, and the hammer strut bearing pin.
Figure 10 is perspective views of the sear, from front and rear.
Figure 11 is perspective views of the trigger, from front and rear.
Figure 12 is perspective views of the firing pin striker.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a firing pin spring viewed from front left and a perspective view of the firing pin viewed from front left.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the trigger bar.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the lifter, viewed from front left.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the ejector viewed from rear right.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of the hammer mainspring strut.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the safety lever unit, showing the key and slot by which the unit is joined.
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the safety unit spring.
Figure 20 is a plan view of the safety lever unit as assembled, showing position of spring with the horizontal leaf acting upon the safety arbor central bridge.
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the pistol frame viewed from the left rear, with hold open catch, safety lever unit, and grip removed, showing the hammer strut, mainspring, sear and ejector spring and mainspring compression unit in relation to their accommodation in the frame.
Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of the hold open catch unit with the combined hold open catch, trigger and trigger bar spring, the dotted lines showing the relative position of the frame hold open catch pivot and access holes.
Figure 23 is a partial perspective view of the pistol frame rear, showing the backstrap without mainspring compression unit fitted, sear and ejector fitted.
Figure 24 is a perspective view of the mainspring compression unit.
Figure 25 is a perspective view of the sear and ejector spring.
Figure 26 is a partial view of the pistol left upper rear in elevation, with the manual safety lever unit in the off position, the right safety lever would be in an identical relative position, the whole safety lever unit being held in this position by the safety spring detent.
Figure 27 is a partial view of the pistol left upper frame in elevation, with the manual safety lever unit applied upwards, locking the hammer in either the cocked or uncocked position, both the positions shown. The safety lever unit is held in this position by the safety spring detent.
Figure 28 is a partial view of the pistol left upper rear in elevation, with the manual safety lever unit applied downwards against pressure from the safety spring horizontal leaf, to release the hammer from the cocked position, shown in dotted lines, to the uncocked position as shown. The arrows show relative movements of parts. The right safety lever would move relative to the left safety lever.
Figure 29 is a partial view of the pistol left upper rear, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the position of the safety arbor when the safety levers are as shown in Figure 27, with the hammer uncocked and the arbor bridge interposed beneath the hammer tail.
Figure 30 is a partial view of the pistol left upper rear in longitudinal vertical section showing the position of the safety arbor with the levers in the position as shown in Figure 27, with the arbor bridge interposed over the hammer tail, and the lifter rotated around the hammer axis pin to lock the sear.
Figure 31 is a partial view of the pistol right upper rear, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the pistol with the safety levers depressed as in Figure 28, the safety arbor rotated to impinge on the rear tail of the ejector, forcing the ejector to pivot around the sear axis pin and trip the sear out of engagement with the hammer. The arrow indicates the rotation of the hammer to hit the striker end, the firing pin rear end being depressed below the forward passage of the striker end.
Figure 32 is an exploded perspective view of the frame mounted firing lock and manual safety lever unit, without the hammer mainspring and strut, showing the juxtaposition of the parts.
Figure 33 is a partial transverse vertical section and schematic view of the slide and upper frame, along line I in Figure 2, looking rearwards.
Figure 34 is a partial perspective view of the slide rear viewed from below, with all relevant fittings, showing the firing pin wing engaged in the slide recess or cutout.
Figure 35 is a partial left side elevation of the upper rear frame, partly in elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section along the centre line of the pistol frame, the dotted line showing the position of the magazine rear.
Figure 36 are perspective views of the slide insert, viewed from the left front and the left rear.
Figure 37 is a perspective view of the trigger guard with the magazine catch fitted.
Figure 38 is a perspective view from the front left, in longitudinal vertical section, of the slide insert.
Figure 39 is a partial perspective view of the frame rear section, showing the frame grip section with a solid backstrap.
Figure 40 is an exploded perspective view of the hammer strut, hammer mainspring, mainspring compression base, sear and ejector spring.
Figure 41 is a partial elevation view of the pistol rear, with the left grip panel partly cut away to show the solid backstrap left side.
Figure 42 is a partial view of the pistol frame rear partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, with solid backstrap.
Figure 43 is a partial view of the pistol grip frame lower rear, showing the solid backstrap in longitudinal vertical section, with the hammer strut passing through the mainspring seated on the mainspring compression base. The arrow 'A' shows the direction of force exerted by the mainspring and arrow 'B' shows the direction in which the mainspring compression base tends towards.
Figure 44 is a partial view of the pistol left upper rear, partly in elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing a pistol slide with a breech insert holding a firing pin which has a firing pin spring fitted with a limb continuing to the rear from the rear coil, and said limb forcing the firing pin rear section down, the limb contained within the bifurcation of the striker.
Figure 45 is a partial view of the pistol left upper rear, partly in elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, showing the pistol as in Figure 44, with the firing pin striker shown in longitudinal vertical section.
Figure 46 is an exploded perspective view of the firing pin and firing pin striker with the firing pin spring having a limb continuing from the spring rear coil.
[0010] In the self loading pistol represented, the slide B is mounted on frame A by means of frame guide rails A9 engaging with slide groove B8 and frame wings A2 act upon and and compress recoil springs carried longitudinally in the slide. The rear of the slide holds a breech insert F which is retained by the rear sight N. The breech insert holds the firing pin S, striker GG, and the firing pin spring MM, the striker being prevented from escaping to the rear by its rear face GG1 seating against a solid surface B3 within the rear section of the slide, and the firing pin wing S1 also seats against surface B3 when the firing pin is fully rearwards. The firing pin spring will tend to force both the striker and firing pin to the rear equally or independently. When both striker and firing pin are fully rearward the surfaces GG3 and S2 are level transversely and the rear coil MM5 of the firing pin spring will seat against both. The front coil MM1 of the firing pin spring seats against the forward shoulder F6 of longitudinal hole F5 and the spring tail MM2 travels longitudinally rearwards along the upper surface of hole F5 and is formed into a coil MM3 from which a limb MM4 descends, seated on firing pin surface S3, acting under the rotary torsion of coil MM3 to force the firing pin rear section downwards. With the firing pin-fully rearwards the wing S4 will be forced down into the slide cutout B14, and the forward wing surface S3 will abutt against slide cutout vertical transverse surface B15, the firing pin thereby being prevented from being able to move forwards or rearwards. While the firing pin is held down by the limb MM4 the striker lug GG4 will ride over the top of the firing pin at the rear, over surface S7, and will act as a safety feature, keeping the firing pin rear down in the slide cutout when the striker is held forward by the hammer, as in Figures 1 and 2. The firing pin can only rise out of its locked condition as previously described when the hammer is withdrawn from contact with the striker; thus in the normal rest position of the lockwork, with the hammer down the firing pin cannot possibly contact the primer of a chambered cartridge.
[0011] An alternative firing pin and firing pin striker spring is shown in Figures 44, 45, and 46, where the rear coil MM5 of the spring MM is extended to form a limb MM6 which seats partially on surface S3 of the firing pin and which lies on end MM7 which seats against the upper surface of the breech insert hole F6 to maintain level MMB under torsion so that the firing pin is forced down by its engagement by the forward portion of limb MM6.
[0012] The forward frame accommodates a trigger guard D which is normally kept forced to the rear by trigger guard spring AA and the trigger guard locates against frame pin A19. The trigger guard has a cutout section D9 which carries in each side panel a hole D10, into which the trigger pin DD passes transversely from either side, passing through trigger hole G2.
[0013] Carried on the trigger pin is the trigger G which has a transverse pin G1 which protrudes from either side of the trigger upper section, onto which are sprung the two formed wings H1 of the trigger bar H. Two limbs H2 and H3 of the trigger bar pass longitudinally to the rear inside the frame sides and pass across the magazine well A1. The magazine T has its upper portion narrow enough to allow the trigger bar limbs to traverse forwards and backwards and perform all their functions during normal double and single action cycles, and to allow the whole trigger bar to be depressed for disconnection. The trigger bar limbs pass rearwardly into the rear frame recess A18 where the limbs are connected transversely by trigger bar rear limb H4.
[0014] As shown in Figure 35 the rear upper frame is perforated transversely by the hammer axis pin hole A11, the sear axis pin hole A12, and the manual safety unit arbor axis hole A14. The manual safety arbor axis hole has a slot A5 cut parallel to the axis of the rearmost point of the circumference. The frame-at either end of hole A12 is reduced in width from that of the regular frame and steps formed on either side inside the grip SS fit adjacent to the ends of the sear axis pin and retain that pin when the grip is fitted to the frame. The whole lockwork is fitted before the grip is fitted.
[0015] The right safety lever unit HH is inserted into the safety axis hole from the right side of the frame with the safety catch spring KK engaged by tongue KK1 with the right safety lever unit arbor peripheral groove HH1 and the safety spring leaf tongue KK3 resting on the right safety lever arbor bridge upper surface. The main vertical transverse body of the safety spring will be accommodated in frame slot A5. The right safety lever is turned to a vertical position and the left safety lever unit JJ can be inserted into the safety arbor axis hole, the safety spring tongue KK2 can be deflected rearwards to pass along flat JJ3 to reach the left safety lever peripheral groove JJ2, and the right safety lever unit arbor tongue HH3 will mate with the left safety lever unit slot JJ4. The whole safety lever unit can be rotated, the levers to point forwards, and the safety spring tongue KK4 will be engaged in the peripheral groove JJ1, and sit in one of two detent notches cut in the groove JJ1, the spring tongue KK4 will seat in the other detent notch when the safety levers are in the position as shown in Figure 27.
[0016] The hammer J, the lifter LL, and ejector L are offered into the frame rear and the hammer axis pin EE is entered through frame hole All, passing through from the right side, ejector hole L1, hammer pivot hole J1, and lifter pivot hole LL1. The sear K is offered into the frame rear and the sear axis pin FF is entered through frame hole A12, passing through from the right side, ejector pivot hole L2, and sear pivot hole K1. The sear pin K2 will be engaged in ejector hole L3 and in lifter cutout LL2. The mainspring strut BB cutout BB1 is engaged with hammer pin J2, the mainspring ZA is mounted on the lower round section BB2 of the mainspring strut and the bottom of section BB2 is entered into hole ZB1 in the mainspring compression unit ZB. The mainspring compression unit is fixed to the frame backstrap A20 as shown in Figure 21, permanently, or in a removable manner, the threaded unit hole ZB2 in line with frame backstrap hole A19, which is a clearance hole for the threaded portion of the grip screw TT to pass through when the grip is fitted on the frame.
[0017] In certain applications a one piece grip fixed to the rear of the frame backstrap is not desirable, so provision for a solid backstrap for the frame, and facilities for attaching a separate grip panel on each side of the frame grip section A29 is made. Figure 39 shows the pistol with a solid backstrap A28 which has a cut out section A32 traversing down inside the front of the backstrap from the hollow section in the upper rear of the frame where the hammer, sear, ejector and lifter are located. The hammer strut passes down inside section A32 carrying on its lower part BB2 the hammer mainspring ZA. A slot A31 is cut into both side walls of the backstrap, the slots being parallel to the upper surface of the frame and having their rear extremities rounded to a diameter equal to the height of the slots. A hammer mainspring compression block ZC has a vertical hole ZCI through it and a trunnion on two opposite sides. The trunnions have a reduced diameter ZC2 at the outer end, and the inner part of each trunnion ZC3 is of a larger diameter than ZC2. An alternative sear and ejector spring ZD is provided and has coils ZD1 that are fitted onto the block trunnions on sections ZC3. The hammer mainspring strut section BB2 lower part is put through block hole ZC1 and with compression of the hammer mainspring with block ZC the trunnion outer sections ZC2 can be fitted into the backstrap slots A31. The spring ZD arms ZD4 will rest against the rear surface of section A32 and spring arms ZD2 and ZD3 can be engaged respectively with the ejector and the sear. In Figure 43 the arrow 'A' shows the direction of force exerted on the block ZC by the hammer mainspring, arrow 'B' shows the direction the trunnions ZC2 will tend to move in under such a force, the angle as shown at 'C' being less than 90°. The enlarged inner diameter of the block trunnions will prevent the lateral movement of the block. As the hammer is rotated the hammer pin J2 will rotate down and forward around the axis of hammer pin EE, and will force the hammer strut upper section BB3 down and forward also. The mainspring strut lower part will move through the hole ZC1 in the block as the.strut moves down and any tendency for the strut lower portion to pivot will be accommodated for by the ability of the block ZC to rotate on its trunnions in slots A31 rear rounded surfaces. In order to allow a grip panel SA to be fixed to either side of the frame section A29 a threaded hole A30 is placed in each side wall of the solid backstrap and each grip panel can be secured to the frame with a screw ZE each side.
[0018] The sear nose K5 engaged in the hammer notch J3 will hold the hammer as in Figure 21, under mainspring tension. With the assembly of the firing lock complete the grip can be fitted to the frame grip A18, and secured by screwing the grip screw TT through the grip rear hole into the mainspring compression unit hole ZB2.
[0019] With the whole firing lock assembled and the pistol complete, it is as shown in Figure 1 with the firing lock at rest. The trigger and trigger bar are kept forced to the rear by the action of the spring tail Z1 of the hold open spring Z. The whole hold open assembly is shown in Figure 22. The hold open lever X is held in the frame by axis pin X3 locating in frame hole A4 and pin X1 passing through hole A5. The inner hold open member Y fits onto the hold open pins on the inside of the frame, the flange Y1 to the front of the frame. The hold open spring coiled section is fitted over the rebate X2 on pin X3, acting to retain both hold open units together; the right angled tail Z2 is seated underneath the forward section of the inner hold open member, as in Figure 7, with the spring tail Z1 bearing against the bottom forward edge H5 of the left forward transverse arm H6 of the trigger bar. The pressure of the spring tail Z1 against point H5 will tend to pivot the trigger bar around the axis of trigger pin G1, thereby forcing the rear of the trigger bar upwards, bearing the disconnector bar tip H8 up against the under surface of the rear slide, and acting as a trigger bar and trigger return spring.
[0020] With the hammer resting against the rear surface B13 of the slide, the sear nose K5 is resting in hammer notch J3, and the trigger bar rear limb will be forced rearwards by the spring tail Z1, seating against the upper forward surface of the mainspring strut, as shown in Figure 2.
[0021] To fire the pistol from the position as shown in Figure 1 in the double action sequence, the trigger is pressed rearwards, drawing the trigger bar forward until the forward face of the trigger bar rear limb contacts hammer bent J4, and will tend to rotate the hammer around its axis pin. The hammer will continue to rotate until the forward face of the trigger bar limb contacts the lifter point LL3, and will then rotate the lifter in unison with the hammer. Under rotation the lifter will engage its cam LL4 with firing pin wing base S4, and while the pressure is still applied to the trigger the hammer and lifter will continue to rotate, and the lifter cam will elevate the rear of the firing pin. The sequence will continue until the lockwork is as shown in Figure 5, with the lifter tail LL5 contacting the sear pin K2. At this point the firing pin base S4 forward vertical surface lower edge S3 will have cleared above slide surface B20, and the firing pin has clearance to travel forwards. The trigger bar will traverse forward a further small amount and clear beneath hammer bent J4, thereby allowing the hammer to rotate under pressure from the mainspring ZA, to impinge on the firing pin striker point GG2. The striker will be flung forward and the surface LL5 of striker lug LL4 will hit the firing pin step S5 and fling the firing pin forward for the firing pin point S6 to hit the primer of the chambered cartridge XX, and thus discharge said cartridge, as in Figure 6.
[0022] To fire the pistol in the single action sequence, the hammer is manually cocked to the position as shown in Figure 3, where the sear nose is engaged in hammer bent J5, the trigger bar rear limb is held rearward against hammer surface J6 and the lifter point LL3 is against the forward surface of the trigger bar rear limb. The firing pin wing is locked down into the slide cutout under pressure of the firing pin spring torsion limb MM4, and the lifter cam is positioned under the firing pin wing. It will be seen in Figure 4 that there is clearance between lifter surface LL5 and the sear pin. When the trigger is pulled rearwards the trigger bar rear limb will tend to rotate the lifter and cam the firing pin wing upwards to the position as shown in Figure 5, where the lifter has contacted the sear pin and the firing pin wing has been lifted out of engagement with the slide cutout. With the firing pin having clear passage forward the lifter surface LL5 will press against the sear pin while the lifter is still rotated by the trigger bar and the sear will be pulled out of engagement with the hammer, allowing the hammer to rotate under mainspring pressure, hit the striker, which in turn hits the firing pin, and fires the chambered cartridge as in the double action sequence.
[0023] When the slide recoils as shown in Figures 7 and 8, during the firing cycle, the trigger bar disconnector limb H9 point H8 will be cammed down out of the slide recess B16 by cam surface B17, thereby depressing the rear of the trigger bar out of contact with the lifter point LL3. As the slide recoils the forward surface LL5 of the lifter cam will impinge on slide cutout forward surface B15 and the lifter cam will be rotated down, the lifter surface LL5 away from the sear pin, and allow the sear nose to move into contact with the hammer forward surface under pressure of the sear and ejector spring BA, the spring arm BA1 acting on the sear tail K6 through the right angle tail BA2. The sear and ejector spring locates against the frame backstrap A20, the transverse spring limb BA3 passing through the mainspring compression unit under the unit top plate ZB3, and each spring limb will seat in the notches ZB4 ZB5, the longer sear spring arm BA1 in the left notch ZB4, the shorter limb BA4 will act upon the ejector, the right angle tail BA5 being inserted in ejector hole L4.
[0024] During the slide recoil the extracted cartridge case will impinge on ejector point L5 and the case will be ejected from the pistol. The slide will return from full recoil position and feed the next cartridge ZA from the magazine into the chamber C1 of the barrel C. The trigger bar rear limb will be depressed under the lifter point LL3, and releasing pressure on the trigger will allow the trigger bar to travel rearward and pressure from spring tail Z1, tending to rotate the trigger bar around trigger pin G1 will lift the trigger bar rear limb upwards, placing it behind lifter point LL3. The pistol is now ready to fire again in the single action sequence.
[0025] With the hammer cocked or uncocked the manual safety can be applied by pushing either lever upwards. Figure 27 shows the left safety in the applied position, with the hammer in either the cocked or uncocked position. When the safety is applied with the hammer cocked the safety bridge HH2 will rotate under the base J6 of the hammer tail, thereby preventing the hammer from moving. The forward edge of the safety bridge will impinge on the lifter tail LL7 and rotate the lifter tail upwards, depressing the lifter foward section, and the cutout LL2 will descend as shown in Figure 29 to lock against the sear pin, thereby preventing movement of the sear. With the hammer cocked application of the manual safety as in Figure 27 will rotate the safety bridge to interpose it over the upper surface J7 of the hammer tail, thereby preventing the hammer from dropping, and the lifter will be rotated as previously mentioned when the hammer is uncocked. If required a right angled strut could be added to the lifter, proceeding to the left from the forward section, positioned over the trigger bar arm H3, and application of the manual safety while rotating the lifter as previously described would depress the trigger bar rear section, thereby acting as a disconnector and safety feature.
[0026] When the hammer is cocked with a live cartridge in the barrel chamber it may be desired to lower the hammer safely with no danger of discharging said cartridge. To decock the hammer the manual safety levers are pushed down as in Figure 28, the dotted outline hammer showing the position of the cocked hammer. When the safety levers are forced down the safety bridge will rotate, the rear of the bridge acting against the safety unit spring leaf tongue KK3, thereby lifting spring leaf KK5. While the safety unit arbor rotates the flat HH4 will impinge on the ejector point L6 and tend to rotate the ejector around the sear pivot pin, the sear and ejector spring resisting the rotation by acting upon the ejector lower section. The upper portion of the ejector will rotate forward and the rear edge of hole L3 will impinge on the sear pin tending to force the sear forward and the sear nose out of engagement with the hammer bent, thereby decocking the hammer. The amount of rotary movement of the ejector is governed by the hammer axis pin passing through hole L1 in the ejector. Figure 31 shows the abuttment of the pin on the rear peripheral surface of the hole when the ejector has disengaged the sear from the hammer. The two holes L5 and L6 are to reduce weight in the upper portion of the ejector.
responsive to the striker (GG) having been struck by said hammer (J).