GB2137323A - Self-loading pistol type firearm with slide breech block insert - Google Patents

Abstract

In a firearm of the self-loading pistol type having a reciprocating breech block slide (B) with a detachable breech block insert (F) holding a cartridge extractor (M) and a firing pin (S), the insert (F) is held in position in the slide (B) by means of the rear sight (N) of the firearm. The rear sight is of bifurcated construction, the two limbs locating in respective vertical slots in the sides of the insert (F) and the top in a transverse slot in the slide (B). One limb of the bifurcation may contain screw means (PP) for adjusting the height of the rear sight, such adjusting means thereby being protected against damage and dirt. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Self loading pistol type fire arms with slide breech block insert This invention relates to fire arms of the self loading pistol type, in which a reciprocating breech block slide is employed, with detachable breech block insert holding a cartridge extractor and firing pin. It is an object ofthe invention to provide a simple method of securing such an insert in the slide.

The usual practice in self loading pistols is to have a rear sight carried in a lateral dovetail cut in the slide upper surface, if an adjustable rear sight is required the existing slide dovetail is utilised to mount the adjustable sight.

The disadvantage of the aforesaid practice is that the adjustable rear sight mounted by any means on the top ofthe slide is prone to damage by knocks which can alterthe alignment of the sight; also any adjusting mechanism is exposed to damage and dirt.

Greater convenience would be provided byan adjustable rear sight being contained within the maximum section of the slide with the vertical adjusting mechanism not exposed on the outer surface ofthe pistol, and it is a further object ofthe invention to provide such a more convenient construction when an adjustable rear sight is used.

It is another object of the invention to provide for self loading pistols or otherfire arms, a breech insert with cartridge extractor, spring for said extractor, firing pin, spring for said firing pin, and if required, a cartridge conversion clip, the whole dismountable withoutspecialised tools on removal ofthe rear sight.

It is another object ofthe invention to provide for self loading pistols or other fire arms an easily alterable mechanism thatwould allowcartridgesof varying case base diameters to be used in a pistol or otherfire arm without having to use more than a single breech block unit or slide.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a vertically adjustable rear sight and a breech insert for a self loading pistol or otherfire arm that is of simple construction and cheap to manufacture.

According to the invention, there is provided a fire arm ofthe self loading pistol type, comprising a reciprocating breech block slide having a detachable breech block insert, holding a cartridge extractor and a firing pin, and a rearsight,whereinthe breech block insert is held in position in the slide by means of the rear sight.

In order to allowthe insert to be used with cartridges ofsmaller diameter, in accordance with a further feature ofthe invention, the insert is provided with means for raising the axis of a cartridge before it is chambered in the barrel, and for supporting the cartridge rim during extraction, so that said cartridge rim can be gripped by said extractor.

An embodiment ofthe invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in 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 providing such a pistol with a breech blockinsertwhich incorporates a cartridge extractor, firing pin, related springs, and, if required, cartridge conversion clip, the whole secured in the breech slide by a rearsight unit; this view shows the slide in forward battery position, barrel chamber loaded with a cartridge, hammeruncocked; Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon the line 1; Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon the line 2; Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon the line3; FigureS is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon the line 4; Figure 6is a partial vertical longitudinal section upon the centre line ofthe breech area of Figure 1, with the barrel chamber empty; Figure 7is a plan view of the slide base with the whole breech block insert unit and rear sight unit fitted in the slide; Figure 8is a plan view ofthe slide top with breech insert and rearsightfitted;; Figure 9 is a left side elevation of the breech block insert; Figure 10 is a plan view of the breech block insert top; Figure 11 is a front elevation ofthe breech block insert; Figure 12is a rear elevation of the breech block insert; Figure 13isa planviewofthebreech blockinsert base; Figure 14 is a perspective view of the illustrated pistol, showing the upper rearframe with a firing lock adapted for the breech block insert and slide herein described; Figure 15is a perspective view ofthe forward breech area ofthe slide, with a complete breech block inset fitted, viewed from the front above the slide; Figure 16 is a perspective view ofthe extractor; Figure 1 7is a further perspective view of the extractor;; Figure 18is a left side elevation ofthe firing pin; Figure 19is a rear elevation of the firing pin; Figure 20 is a perspective view ofthe sight body; Figure 21 is a further perspective view of the sight body; Figure 22 is a perspective view of the cartridge conversion clip; Figure 23 is transverse section view along line A-A of Figure 25 of the rear sight adjusting and retaining screw; Figure 24 is an end view ofthe rear sight adjusting and retaining screw; Figure25is a side elevation ofthe rear sight adjusting and retaining screw; Figure 26 is a perspective view ofthe rear sight spring;; Figure 27is a longitudinal transverse section along line 1-1 in Figure 1 of the rear slide between the breech face and the rear ofthe slide, viewed from below, the bold outline indicating the position oftheframe rear when the slide is locked to the rear with the hold open catch; Figure 28 is a longitudinal vertical section view of the breech area showing the adaption ofthe breech block insertfor use with small calibre rimfire ammunition; Figure 29 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the breech area with the cartridge conversion clip fitted and a small diameter cartridge chambered in the barrel than that in Figure 1; Figure 30 is a front elevation view ofthe breech face showing the adaption for rimfire small calibre ammunition;; Figure 31 is a perspective view ofthe slide, viewed from front lower left; Figure 32 is a perspective view of the frame, viewed from left above.

In the self loading pistol represented in Figure 1 the slide B contains a longitudinal circular pocket in the rearsection, intowhich the breech blockinsert F, hereinaftertermed the insert, is inserted from the breech face B2 of the slide, and abuts against a solid transverse surface B3 at the rear ofthe slide.

The insert is oftheform shown in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive, and will hereinafter befurther described.

The insert has a rebate along the majority of its outer surface, leaving a short bearing surface atthe front F1 and atthe rear F2, the rebate being provided to accommodate a cartridge conversion clip AC, and preventfriction and binding when inserting or removing the insert. In the upper surface ofthe insert is a longitudinal slot F3 with a hole F4 in the curved rear end; the hole is angled towards the rear of the insert, but does not penetrate th rough to the longitudinal hole F5, which holds the firing pin Sand the firing pin spring MM. In the slot F3 is placed the extractor M with theextractorspring NN bearing againsttheextractor tail Ml, the spring locating in hole F4.The extractor pivot pin M2 seats in a semi-circular groove F6 cut transversely across the top ofthe insert where the slot F3 is located. When the insert is in the slide pocketthe extractor upper sides locate in a longitudinal slot B5 in the slidetop centre above the breech face, the slot being accommodated in a shallow concave longitudinal flute B4 as shown in Figure 15,1,2,6, and 8.

Figure 1 shows the position ofthe extractor with the chamber C1 of the barrel C loaded. The extractor nose M3 is hooked in the cartridge extractor groove, raising the front of the extractorto where its front upper section is above the lower surface of the flute B4 but not proud ofthe upper surface of the slide. The raised portion ofthe extractor can befeltorseen lifted in the slide flute when a cartridge is chambered in the barrel and thus acts as a loaded chamber indicator. Figures 6 and 15 show the extractor position with an empty barrel chamber, and will be seen not to protrude into the slide flute, thereby acting as an empty chamber indicator.

Thefiring pin hole F5 has its maximum diameter extended downwards vertically as a cutout slot F9 which will accommodate the firing pin boss S1 as shown in Figures 18 and 19, the boss having flat parallel sides to seat in slot F9 and prevent rotation of the firing pin, and the base of the boss informed into a tooth with a flat base, tapered downwards front and rear. The tooth will be engaged by the notch L5 in the ejector L during a hammer decocking action as incorporated in the pistol illustrated, but not forming part of this invention. Afiring pin without such a boss shown could be fitted to the insert herein described, merely having a suitable flange to act upon the firing pin spring, and contained in a simple longitudinal circular hole.

The breech face Fl 0 ofthe insert has a bush Fl 1 fitted with a central longitudinal hole to allow passage ofthe firing pin nose S4.

The cartridge conversion clip AC,shown in Figure 22, is fitted or removed with the insert removed from the slide pocket. The clip is sprung round the insert rebated section, the tongue AC1 seated on the rear top ofthe insert abutting the front edge ofsurface F2.The two forward tongues traverse recesses along each side ofthe ejector passage slot F12 in the insert, the steps AC2 seating against the rear edge of surface F1.

Figure 29 shows the use of the clip, the rim ofthe cartridgecaseAD being supported at its lower periphery by the upper surfaces ofthe protrudig ends of the two clip tongues. Figure 15 shows the protrusion ofthe clip tongue ends. The action ofthe conversion clip tongue ends will raisethecartridge axiswhen the cartridge case is notchambered in the barrel, and supportthe same cartridge case rim during the extraction sequence, preventing the case being forced down by the extractor and possibly being forced from out ofthe confines ofthe recess B25 during extraction and causing an obstruction in the action.

When the insert is put into the slide pocket the extractor M locates in the slide slot B5, the extractor pivot pins M2 locate in the insert groove F6, and the chamfer M4 on the pivotpinswill bear against the upper inner peripheral surface ofthe slide pocket, as shown in Figure 2.

When the insert is in theslide pocketthe square section vertical slots F7 and F8 in the insert rear section will align with the transverse slot B7 which passes verticallythrough the slide rearterminating on the plane shown in Figure 5 bythe dotted line 1. to 1.

The slot has rounded ends as shown in Figure 8. The rearsight N, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, is a bifurcated block with semi-circularsection sides which correspond with the rounded sides of slot B7.

One bifurcation N3 has a blind vertical threaded hole Nl The rear sight top has bevelled sides and a semi-circular horizontal cut out N2; the solid section to the front ofthe slide top has a square section notch cut N3 in it, as shown in Figure 8 and Figure The rear sight is inserted into the slot B7 and the bifurcations will traverse down the slots F7 and F8 in the insert. The rear sight is inserted into the slide with the cut out N2 facing to the rear ofthe slide. The rearsightscrew PP is inserted into the base of the slide through hole B9 and is screwed into hole N1 in the limb N3. The sight screw is rotated by a suitabie implement applied to slot PP1 and screwed into the sight limb until the screw base PP2 is seated in the hole B9 and fiush with the slide under surface. The rear sight spring QQ is placed in slide groove B11 with the limb QQ1 located in the transverse slide slot B26. The longer limb QQ2will at the rear pass partly through hole B9, and at a right angle to the axis ofthe rear sight screw pass through the slot PP3 cut around the base PP2.The transverse section view of the rear sight screw body in Figure 23 shows the square section where the slot PP3 is cut, the spring limbQQ2will rest along one ofthe fourflats PP4 and obstructtheflange PP5from moving down out of hole B9. When the spring limb is deflected during rotation of the sight screw, as in Figure 27, the limb will not be deflected completely out of slot PP5, thereby still retaining the sight screw during adjustment ofthe rear sight height. The frame guide A9, shown as a hatched line section in Figure 27 traverses slide groove B11 during the slide recoil cycle and is always adjacentto the spring limb QQ3, on full recoil as shown in Figure 27, and with the slide at rest adjacentto limb extremity QQ3.Therefore the rear sight spring can only be removed from its location when the slide is fully offthe frame. The rear sight can only be adjusted with the slide locked to the rear as shown in Figure 27. Figure 31 and 32 show the relation ofthe guides and grooves on the slide and frame, the frame lower surface with the ejector slot B27 and rear sightscrew hole B9. Frame lugs A2 travel in slide slots B7 and '38to compress recoil springs guides R atthe rear of recoil springs P, the springs and guides travelling in slide tunnels B1 and B2.

Figure 15 shows the slide at full rearward position with the ejector nose L1 protruding clear of the breech face, with the two forward limb tongues in position, as in Figure 29 but with no cartridge case.

The removal of the rearsightand insert are effected by reversing the aforementioned procedures.

When the use of small calibre rimfire ammunition is required in a pistol orfire arm with a breech insert as hereinbefore described a suitable barrel should be fitted with the bore axis in a line belowthat ofthe insert firing pin axis and the rim ofthe chambered rimfire cartridge in a position immediately before the central hole in the insert bush B1 1,to allow the firing pin nose to impinge on said rim on the impact of the rotating hammerJ on the base S2 of the firing pin. An downward extended nose extractor will befitted to the insert as shown in Figure 30, the hook M3 low enough to engage the rim ofthe chambered cartridge RF. The normal ejectorwill ejecttherimfirecartridgewhen used with the insert here before described.

The breech block insert could be fabricated from a number of materials such as a light alloy, plastic, or heavy metal,thereby being used as a means of regulating the weight and inertia of the slide.

The application ofthe invention to other small arms differs in no essential respectfrom its application to pistols ofthe type hereinbefore described.

The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" as used herein referto the pistol or other fire arm when held in the normal firing position.

Claims (10)

1. Afire arm ofthe self loading pistol type, comprising a reciprocating breech block slide having a detachable breech block insert, holding a cartridge extractor and a firing pin, and a rear sight, wherein the breech block insert is held in position in the slide by means ofthe rear sight

2. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the lower part of the rear sight is of bifurcated construction, the two limbs of the bifurcation being located in respective vertical slots in the sides of the insert and the upper part of the sight being located in a transverse slot in the slide.

3. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the ends of said transverse slot are rounded and said sight has rounded edges mating with the rounded-ends of said transverse slot.

4. Afire arm asclaimed in Claim 2 orClaim 3, wherein the lower end ofthe one limb of said bifurcation is provided with a blind, vertical, internally-threaded bore, into which an adjusting screwforthe rear sight is threadedly inserted, having a lower portion which projects into a hole in the slide and can be rotated through said hole to adjustthe position of the rearsight, means being provided to prevent relative axial movement of said screw with respect to said slide.

5. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said means comprises an annular groove in the lower portion of said screw and a spring arm bearing against the wall of said groove.

6. Afirearm as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said cartridge extractor is located in a longitudinal slot in the top of said insert and a mating slot in a flute in the top of said slide, said extractor being pivotally mounted in said slot in such mannerthatits upper edge only projects above the wall of said slot into said flute when the extractor is gripping the rim of a cartridge in the chamber of the fire arm, thereby providing a visual and tactile indication ofthe presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

7. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said extractor is spring loaded to bring its nose into gripping contact with a cartridge rim by a spring located in a blind hole in said insert opening into the slottherein in which said extractor is located.

8. Afire arm as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein, in orderto allow said insertto be used with cartridges ofsmallerdiameter, the insert is provided with means for raising the axis of a cartridge before it is chambered in the barrel, and for supporting the cartridge rim during extraction, so that said cartridge rim can be gripped by said extractor.

9. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said means comprises a resilient clip adapted to surround a rebated central portion of said insert, said clip having two forward tongues extending in recesses on either side of a slot in the lower side of said insertforthe passage of an ejector forming part of the firing lock of the fire arm, said tongues extending beyond the forward end of said insert and serving to supportthe rim of a cartridge of reduced diameter.

10. Afire arm of the self loading pistol type substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.