US1276716A

US1276716A - Firearm.

Info

Publication number: US1276716A
Application number: US15856917A
Authority: US
Inventors: John M Browning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-03-30
Filing date: 1917-03-30
Publication date: 1918-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1935-08-27

Description

1. M. BROWNING.

FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 191?.

1 ,276,7 1 6. Patented Aug. 27, L918,

JOHN M. BBOWNING, F OGDEN, UTAH.

FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Applicatitn flled March so, 1917. Serial No. 158,569.

To all whom it may concern:

. all parts are in the Ogden, in. the county of long barrel rigidly, and in which Be it known that 1, JOHN M. BROWNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weber and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Firearms, of which the following is a specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in magazine firearms, and more es ecially to automatic firearms and particular y to automatic pistols in which energy is stored: during the opening movement of the breechslide in a spring, the re-action of which is utilized to actuate the return or closing movement of the breech-slide.

The main object of the invention is to produce a firearm of this class which shall be simple and inexpensive inconstruction, reliable, and safe under all conditions of use.

Anotherobjectof the invention is to produce an automatic pistol speciallyadapted for accurate target practice, byhavirng the handle or grip of the pistol formed to be securely graiqped and conveniently held in aiming and ring, and in which the frame of the arm shall support thecomparatively the breechslide may be at will and readily detached and removed from the frame, and be replaced and attached upon the same without requiring the use of any tool therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide the firearmwith an automatic safety device for positively preventing the firing of the arm unless the breech is closed and proper firlng position,

and by the same device to always prevent more than one shot from ,following upon each pull of the trigger.- I

A further object. is toyprovide the arm with a manual safety lock fonat will and simultaneously locking the breech-slide and the cooked firing mechanism, and by'this same device to provide thearm with a reliable indicator for showing at a glance or touch whether the firing mechanism is in the cocked or in the released'position- These objects are attained'by mechanism of simple and practical construction which is efficient, perfectly safe in use, and not liable to get out of order;

The invention is shown herein as embodied in a gas-operated magazine pistol;

portion of the frame,

but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other firearms.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a left-hand side view of a central vertical section through. the frame and the rear breech closed and ready for firing; but showing the breech-slide in a vertical section in a plane somewhat to the left side of its central axis, thereby exposing to view the re-action spring and its guide for storing the energy of the recoil on firing a shot, and showing the manner in which the two ends of the re-act-ion spring are supported, the front end in the breech-bolt and the rear end by the butt piece of the grip or mainspring housing.

Fig. 2 is a left-hand side view of the upper portion of the the breech-slide in the closed Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the breech-slide, showing the firing-pin with its retracting spring and locking pin in the breech-bolt.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the breechslide.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the breech-bolt near its forward end looking forward, showing also an upper portionof the cartridge magazine.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of the breech-slide in rear of the breech-bolt, indicating the respective positions of the firing pin and of the reaction spring and its guide rod, the spring-and rod being shown in Figs. 4 and 6 as held in their forward compressed position by a transverse pin.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the forward portion of the frame below the barrel, showing a top view of the trigger and showing the trigger spring, its piston and its fastening plug.

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section of the frame showing the trigger in its above it'the trigger spring, its plston and fastening plug.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section of a showing the hub and position.

frame of the pistol and of place and the pivot of the trigger, and the side plate,

seen from the front.

Fig. 0 shows the trigger pivot detached,

in an end. view and in a top new.

Fig. 11 shows the trigger-bar in a lefthand side view and in an under side view.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

From the barrel seat rearward,

The pistol .represented in the drawings has the following main parts, the frame 1, the barrel 2, the breech-slide 3, and the butt piece or mainspring housing 4.

The frame 1 has a strong upwardly projecting abutment at its forward end for receiving the rear portion of the barrel 2, as

shown in- Figs. 1 and 2, this seat and the rear portion of the barrel are of considerable length and the barrel has an annular shoulder to fit against the front end of the frame, so that the barrel is most rigidly supported in the frame, being fastened therein either by screw threads or by any other well known means.

the top of the frame is lower and open, and is provided with external longitudinal ribs and grooves, and the bottom of the breech-slide 3 has corresponding internal grooves and ribs by which the breech-slide when placed from the rear upon the frame, is vertically confined upon the same, and guided thereon in its rearward and forward movements in opening and closing the breech pf the barrel. In rear of the barrel, the frame 1 extends downward and rearward forming the grip of the pistol, the hollow interior of the grip is the seat for the cartridge magazine 5, which is inserted from below into the seat and confined therein bv the pivoted magazine catch 6, which may be at will forced rearward to release the magazine for -removal or for enterin a magazine into the grip.

' In. rear of the magazine seat, the grip and the upper part of the frame are providedwith a central recess in which the butt piece vor mainspring housing 4, the hammer 7 the v sear 8, and the sear spring 9 are seated, the

mainspring housing 4 thus forms the central rear portion of the butt of the grip, and its up er end extends through and projects above the top of the frame.

The forward portion of the breech-slide 3 is solid and forms the breech-bolt provided with a central firing pin -10 and firing pin retracting spring 11 which are confined in the breech-bolt by a vertical locking pin 12,

as clearly' shown in Figs. 3"and 4. The breech-bolt also carries in its right side the usual shell extractor 13 and has in its under side two grooves for receiving the upper edges of the sides of the cartridge magazine 5, see Fig. 5'. In rear of the breechbolt the breech-slide 3 is recessed from the bottom upward, for the reception of the top of the hammer and the upper end of the butt piece 4,'the rear end of-said recess be ing closed by an imperforate wall which fits upon the top of the frame 1, thus positively preventing any-rearward escape of powdergases.

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, on the left side of the central firing .pin seat, the re-action spring 14 and its guide rod 15 are seated in the breech-bolt so as to extend rearward into the recess in the breech-slide, the forward end of said spring 14 thus restng in the breech-bolt holds the same yieldingly forward and-the rear end of the spring and of its guide rod being supported by the upperend of the butt piece 4, in the face of which 1s provided a recess for receiving and holding the reduced rear end of the ide rod 15, see Fig. 1. Just in rear 0 the breech bolt a small hole is bored transversel y through the breech-slide 3 in such a position that a pin may be inserted transversely through the breech-slide when the reaction spring and its guide rods are in thelr forward comppessed position; this transverse pin thereby confines the reaction spring 14 andits guide rod'15 in the breechbolt as indlcat'ed by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 6. 'Whenever the breech-slide is in its rea-rmost position on-the frame, the re-acti'on sprmg 14 and its guide rod 15 are forced to this forward compressed position and the upper forward corner of the butt-piece 4 is cut away so as to allow the transverse pin to be inserted between the guide rod and the butt P1668, thus locking spring and guide rod in the breech-bolt. If now the breechslide is moved forward, the guide rod and I ice for removal rearwardly from the top of the frame.

Thehammer 7 is pivotally mounted upon the transverse hammer, pin in the frame, in rear of the magazlne'seat'; a Strut 16 pivoted t the 'rearjof the hammer hub extends downward intothe butt piece 4, in which the mainspring 17 and the mainspring piston 18 are located, being confined therein by a small transverse pin-18 near the top of the mainspring seat in the housing. The end of the hammer strut 16 rests in a. recess in the top of the piston=18,' the-strut thus transmits the tensionofthe mainspring 17 to the hammer 7 tending-toswing the top of the hammer upward"jintolfthe recess in the breech-slideand-,againstthe rear endof the firing pin 10.

"In front and below the hammer, the sear 8 s pivotally mounted upon a transverse pin, its upper arm extends-upward to the frontof the central hub of the hammer 7, and its end forms the sear point adapted to engage the full-cock notch o'f the-hammer 7. The

lower arm of the sear-extendsdownward from its pivot andisacted uponby the upper end of the searsprlng 9, the 'tensionof which thus causesthe sear point of the upper arm of the sear to engage the hammer. The upper. arm of the. sear .8 carries on its left side an upward extension, .the' left side of the hammer being cut. away to allow this. extension of the sear to'belocated on theleft side ,of the hammer-hub andwbetween the same it and the left. side wallgof the frame.

. The searspring 9 extends downwardzbetween the rear wall vof the magazine seat and the front face of the butt piece ,4, which ,tive magazineengaging position.

In rear of the magazine catch a transverse pin 19 is fixed in the. grip, and the lower end of the butt piece it has a semi'circular recess for engaging-said pin, see Fig. 1,.thus the lower end of the butt piece is. downwardly and rearwardly supported in position by said transverse pin .19, the tension of the mainspring 17 yieldingly holding the butt piece down upon .the pin 19. Anupward pressure against the lower end -of the butt piece 4, while the'breech-slideis in itsforward position and while the reaction spring and its guide rod are confined in their forward compressed position by the trans .verse pin, as hereinbefore described, will cause the buttpiece to move upward until it is free from its hold upon the p1n;19, when the butt piece ;may be removed rearand downwardly from the frame, thereby releasing the breech-slide for removal from the frame. y .1,

p n. The frame in front of the grip carries the trigger-guard into which-the finger-piece of the trigger 20 depends,the hub of thetrigger being pivoted in a circularre cess cut from the left side into, the frame, above said guard. The pivot pin 21 of the trigger,

shown detached in Fig. 10, is inserted through the hub ofthe trigger into the frame from the left side; this trigger pivot pin 21 carries on its left endawasher affixed thereto andclosely fitting the recess in the frame, thus limiting the lateral move ment of the left end.- v

Above its hub and pivot, the trigger 20 carries a circular extension, so that a pull on the finger-piece of the trigger will cause the pivot pin and supporting its uppercireular extension to move forward,

the frame having a second circular recess connected with the lower one to receive the upward extension] of the trigger and to allow its free movement. k p

In the forward portionof the frame, be-

neath the barrel, in a lon 'tudinal central hole, the helical trigger spr1ng'22 is located,

its'rear end pressing upon a piston 23, its

,front end being supported by 'a plug 24 fixed in the frame by a small transverse pm.

The piston 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is cut away on each side at ts rear end, so as to form a narrow, vertical fin which extends into a corresponding vertical groove or recess inthe front of the upward trigger extension; the piston 23 and the recess in the trigger serve to lock the trigger in the frame from which it cannot be removed until after the plug 24, the trigger spring 22 and the piston 23,have been forwardly removed from the frame.

From the upper circular recess of the' trigger seat in the frame, a horizontal groove is, cut rearwardly in the left side of the frame, see Figs. 7 and 8, for the reception of the trigger-bar 25 by which the movements of the trigger are transmitted to the firing mechanism in rear of the magazine seat. This trigger-bar 25, clearly shown detached in Fig. 11, has at its front end an integral laterally extending arbor which fits into a corresponding circular seat provided for it in the upper extension of the trigger, thereby pivotally attaching the bar 25 to the trigger. The front of the arbor has a vertical groove which, when the arbor is seated in the upper trigger extension, corresponds with the vertical groove or recess in sald extension and permits the narrow rear fin of the piston 23 to enter through the trigger extension into .the groove in the arbor and allows the rear end of the fin to press upon the vertical bottom of said groove. By this construction, the rear end of the piston 23 pressing upon the bottom of the groove in the arbor transmits the tension of the trigger spring to the arbor Ofthe trigger-bar 25 and through it to the trigger 20, thus holding the trigger yieldingly in its inoperative position, with its finger-piece in its forward position. See Figs. 1, 7, and 8. The rear end of the piston 23 also serves to lock the arbor and through it the trigger-bar 25 to the trigger and to yieldingly hold the trigger-bar with its rear end raised, as shown in Fig. 1.

At its rear end, the trigger-bar is provided with an upward and inward rojection which rises lnto thepath of the mechslide and extends through an opening in .the side of the frame to the rear of the upward extension of the sear 8. The lower left-hand edge of the breech-slide bears upon this projection so as to forcedown the rear end of the trigger-bar-25 whenever the breech-slide moves rearward from its closed position. To

allow the trigger-bar to. rise when the. breech-slide is in the closed or firing position, a recess 26 is cut into the lower lefthand edge, of the slide so located as to be above the projection of the trigger-bar and to allow the same to rise into the recess-26 when the slide arrives at its closed firing position; but so that the inclined forward firing unless ward projection on its rear end will rearward, asunder its recoil on This construction forms safety of the ward closed position, when arearward pull on the trigger will cause the trigger-bar to move forward so that the face of the inen' age the rear face of the upward extension-- ger to the sear and cause the same to release the hammer" for firing a shot.

1 5*"and trigger-bar: in. that case Just below its upper end the sear extension has a recess open at the rear into which the inward projection of the trigger-bar will enter whenever thetrigger-bar is moved forward while its rear end is depressed by the edge of the breech-slide when the same has, moved rearward from its forward firin transmittedto the sear,-.landthe sear Willventing This construction; aud o ration:- besides acting as an automatic sa ety,'?as'just de scribed, also serves to QOIltlOLutllB fil'illg"0f' the pistol, by. preventmg more than-one shot to, follow upon each pull'ofthe trigger;-

turned forward by the re-action spring, thus for the next shot.

again loading the pistol by transferring a cartridge from the magazine to the chamber of the barrel and making it ready for firing f another shot. These automatic operations occur very rapidly and'are completedbefore fore the finger can release the trigger, At

the first recoil of the slide, the rear endofthe trigger-bar is'depressedfl andthe lateral *soon as the recoiling slide has forced the hammer rearward and downward, so asto cook the same, and holds it cocked ready On'the return of the breech-slide forward, the recess 26 in the edge of-the slide is again brought over the 1 projection of the trigger-bar and the end of the bar would at once he raised by the trigger spring if this were not prevented by the top of the sear extension above the recess which top continues to 'hold thehar'in its depressed position, until the pull on the trigger is released and the finger-pieceof the the automatic, pistol by positively preventing 1 the breech-slide is in its forthe'left side offthdframe. o -'the sear 8, and'transmit the motionof the trigthe left between the name and projeeting:reducedehdof main i ro hax m l e "BIOYEP fro'm-the frame untilafter islide "hasibee'n r moved-am the 'The transverse" pin. upon" which" the hamounted in the frame, extends beyondthe left side' of: the frame and in the lower left outside'a'thumb piece moving 'tlieti-igger'-baireaward' and allowend of said recess at once deprewas the tr1g--,;- ger-har as soon as the breech-slide moves jing 'the pojectioitof the bar'to' escape from therecessin the-sear, then the bar Willl be raisedbringingiits projection into line with the rear face of the soar-extension, ready to engage the sear if the triggeris again pulled. By'tliis'"al-raugenient, only one shot can r01- lowupon each pull'of the trigger.

0 close thebpen seats of the trigger and trigger -bar',' a side plate 27' is provided upon In Fig. 12. the

sideplate-is showndetached and in Fig. 2

the side-platei'sffrepresented in its-place upon side of the frame;

its" "central; wardly, ception frameand. projects from the "left surface of the frame; the stud. '28"has an annular recess its outer end, laterg {ally'eq'ual to the thickness-'oftheside plate. the trigger a will "not he The plate 27" {has near forward lower end a"hole to freel'y fitfover the outward-1y I y the trigger pivot pm 21, andat -its'rear end the side plate has a rearward and downward extension in WhlClI out for the reception of the th 1sidiplate127 is put upon the side of jth'efr'am'e so that the stud'28' and the f-ends the, tri ger pivotfpin and of the sear pin' project '='th'rough' the plate,- a downward, .and "inwardpressiire 1 upon the face of the plate will cause the same to engage the annular recess' m the stud "28and thereby hold the s de p'latef firm ly'upon" the side of the frame" :The upper edge of the side plate, when. in ,positlon, corresponds withthe groovefprov1ded jin' the frame for the reception of lithe newer" leftf'edge' of the p breech slideffso'that whenever the breechthe pull upon the trigger has ceased and-heslide isfmouu't'ed' upon the'frame, its lower 'edgefhtilds' th side plat e'in the stud-engagmer is pivotally to be at will pressed upward-or downward by the thumbfof the hand-grasping the grip of pistol. The catch extends 'also forward of the h'ammer pivot pin and carries on its innerfacs an inwardly projecting pin 30 which extends throughaslot in the side of This side plate 7, conslsts' f athm plate oftempered steehin the frame into a position in front of the sear oint. When the rear endof the catch is raised as described, to lock the breechslide, the inwardly projecting pin 30 on the catch is brought in front of the sear point thereby positively locking the sear if the same holds the hammer in the cocked position; but when the hammer is in its downposition, the sear point being thereb moved into its forward position stands directly below the inwardly projecting pin 30 which thus is prevented from being moved to the front of the sear; so that when the pistol is closed, the safety catch 29, by being movable or immovable, will at once indicate if the hammer is cocked or not, as only with the hammer cocked can the catch be moved upward to lock the breechslide in its forward position and.at the same time lock the sear against releasing the hammer. When the breech slide is in the rearmost, open position, the manual safety catch 29 may be at will pressed upward to lock the slide in that second smaller recess in the edge of the slide, somewhat in front of the locking recess described, allows the rear edge of the projection on the catch 29 to hold the slide a downward open, until it is released by the partly pressure upon the catch. From circular front face of the catch extends a thin forwardly projecting lip which will be caught under the rear edge of the side plate 27 when the same is adjusted upon the left side' of the frame, as heretofore described;-by this means, the side plate also serves to lock the safety catch and hammer pivot in laterally in the frame and to yieldingly old the catch in eitherthe ralsed or the depressed position.

The cartridge magazine has the usual form of a tubular holder in which the cartridges may be held one upon theother. Fig. 13 clearly shows the cartridge magazine in three views. The rear portion of the top of each side of the magazine is turned inwardly so that the turned in edges will overhang the head of the topmostcartridge in the magazine and thereby prevent the cartridges from escaping from the magazine, unless they are successively pushed forward so as to escape from the overhanging edges of the magazine. In Fig. 5, this construction of the top of the magazine is clearly, indicated as are also two grooves in the bottom of the breech-bolt into which the overhanging edges of the magazine may enter when the same is pushed into its position in the grip of the pistol with the breechbolt in the forward position. A follower and a follower spring in the magazine serve to press upward the cartridges therein and the bottom of the magazine is closed by a bottom late aiiixed thereto. The righthand sid of the magazine is slotted and a the breech-bolt will position, a

overcome this drawback button, the inner end of into the follower,

extends through the slot serves to at will depress the follower so as to facilitate the loading of cartridges into the magazine. When, as shown in Fig. 1, the cartridge magazine is in the grip with some cartridges therein, and after firing the breech-bolt recoils, the topmost cartridge wlll be raised by the follower so that a port1on of its head will project into the path of the breech-bolt and on the ensuing forward movement of the breech-bolt under the tension of the re-action spring, the face of engage the upwardly projecting head of the topmost cartridge in the magazine and press the same forward from the'magazine into the chamber of the barrel. As long as the head of the. cartridge to be transferred to the barrel, remains under the overhanging edges of the sides of the magazine, the head of the cartridge cannot rise while the forward movement of the breech-bolt and cartridge forces the bullet upward into the barrel; this steeply inclined position of the cartridge, while being fed to the barrel, is apt to block the free forward movement of the breech-slide and interfere with the working of the pistol; to

an inwardly projecting rib inclined forward and upward has been formed in each side of the magazine forward of the overhanging lips, when the head of the cartridge escapes from the overhanging sides of the magazine, .the sides of the cartridge head will strike these ribs and, under the forward movement of the breech-bolt, the head of the cartridge will be forced to rise being guided upon the inclined ribs, and to assume a horizontal position in front of the breech-bolt, which then may readily push the cartridge home into the chamber of the barrel.

It will be understood that several of the features of my improvements herein described are not necessarily combined in the same structure with one another, nor are they necessarily employed in a firearm of the particular character of that shown. Obviously, also, various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abutment, a barrel rigidly supported by frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in piece removably mounted in the frame and piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame.

2. In a firearm, frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip,

and having an open top in rear of the abutment, a barrel rigidly supported by the framein the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and held thereon by ribs on the breech-slide engaging rooves in the frame, and comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, and a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same uponthe frame.

3. In a firearm, the combination ,of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abutment, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and com -v prising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereofinto said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame, and a re-action spring seated in the breech-bolt .and extending rearward through said 'recess to the butt piece, whereby said re-action spring yieldingly holds said breech-slide for- 45 ward.

4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open to in rear of the abutment, a barrel rigidi y supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and, comprising a breech-bolt for opening an closing the barrel, and "having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting, above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame, and a reaction spring seated in the breech-bolt and extending rearward through said re- 56 cess to the butt piece, and carrying a guide thereof into said said reaction the combination of a,

rod in its rear portion, the rear end of said guide rod seated in said butt piece, whereby spring yieldingly holds said breech-slide forward.

5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having anupward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abut ment, and having a hammer pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of the grip, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt for receiving the hammer and an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, and a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame.

6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abutment, and having a hammer pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of the grip, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically l ocked to reci rocate thereon, and comprising a breechlt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt," for receiving the hammer and having an imperforate rear wall closing said recess, a butt piece removably mounted in p the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, and a mainspring seated in said butt piece and connected with the hammer to yieldingly hold the top of the hammer in said recess, said mainspring' yieldingly holding said butt piece'interlocked with the frame whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame,

7. In a firearm, the combination of a 5 frame having an upward extending front abutment and a downward extending grip, and having an open top in rear of the abutment, and having a hammer pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of the grip, a barrel 12o rigidly supported by the frame in the abutment, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame andvertically locked to re-.

ciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech- -bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and 12 above the top thereof into said recess in the I butt piece wardextending .butt piece and connected with seated in said the hammer to yieldingly hold the top of the hammer in said recess and a transverse pin fixed in the grip, the lower portion of said butt piece adapted to engage said transverse pin, whereby said mainspring yieldingly holds said interlocked with said transverse pin, and whereby said butt piece may be disengaged from said pin for removal and for releasing the breech-slide for removal from the frame. 8. In a firearm, a frame having a downgrip, a hammer and a scar mounted. in the frame in rear of the gri a'trigger pivotally mounted in front of the breech-slide, a mainspring grip and a trigger-bar pivotally mounted in the trigger and connecting the trigger with the sear, a trigger spring seated in the frame and holding the trigger in inoperative position and holding the trigger-bar in operative position, means for confining the trigger spring in the frame and interlocking means between the trigger spring and the trigger and trigger-bar, whereby the trigger and trigger-bar are removably locked in the frame.

9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame and a barrel rigidly sup orted by the frame, a breech-slide mounte to reclprocate upon the frame, a hammer and a scar pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of said grip, and a trigger pivotally mounted in the frame in front of the grip, an upward extension on said trigger carrying a rearward extending trigger-bar connecting the trigger with" the sear, and a trigger spring seated in the frame and carrying a piston, said piston having a flat rear portion and said trigger and trigger-bar each having a groove to receive the rear portion of said piston, means for confining said trigger spring and piston in the frame, whereby said trigger spring will hold said trigger in inoperative position and hold said triggerbar in operative position and lock said trigger and trigger-bar in the frame.

10. In a firearm, a frame having a downward extending grip, a hammer and a sear pivotally mounted in the frame in rear of said grip, a trigger pivotally mounted in front of said ally mounted in the trigger and connecting the trigger with the sear, said trigger and said trigger-bar'each being seated side of the frame,

in an open recess in the a trigger grip and a trigger-bar pivotspring seated in the frame and holding the trigger in inoperative position and ho ding the trig er-bar in operative position, means for con ning said trigger spring in the frame, and a side plate mounted upon the frame and kept in place thereon by a recessed stud on the frame and by a hole in said side plate, whereby said side plate and said stud are interlocked.

11. In a firearm, a frame having a downward extending grip, a hammer and a sear mounted in the frame in rear of said grip and a trigger-bar pivotally mounted in the trigger and connecting the trigger with the sear, said trigger and said trigger-bar each being seated in an open recess in the side of the frame, a trigger spring seated in the frame and holding the trigger in inoperative position and holding the trigger-bar in operative position, a side plate mounted upon the frame and by a stud on the frame and a hole in said side plate, and a slide lock pivotally mounted on the side of the frame for manual operation, said slide lock extending under said side plate, whereby said side plate yieldingly keeps said slide lock in position.

12. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a barrel rigidly supported by the frame, the frame having an open top in rear of the barrel, a breech-slide mounted from the rear upon the frame and vertically locked to reciprocate thereon, and comprising a breech-bolt for opening and closing the barrel, and having a recess in rear of the breech-bolt and an imperforate Wall closing said recess, a butt piece removably mounted in the frame and projecting above the top thereof into said recess in the breech-slide, whereby said butt piece limits the rearward movement of the breech-slide and confines the same upon the frame, and a re-action spring seated in the breech-bolt and carrying a guide rod extending rearward through said recess to the butt piece, said breech-slide provided with a transverse aperture for the insertion of means for locking said re-action spring and said guide rod in their compressed position in said breech-bolt, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

This specification signed and witnessed this twentieth day of March, A. D. 1917.

JOHN M. BROWNING. In the presence of:

' C. J. Emsn'rs,

A. L. ULRICH.

kept in place thereon