US2491218A - Action-locking means for self-loading firearms - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1949 H. H. sEFRlED, l1

ACTION-LOCKING MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING FIREARMS iii...Si.......

2,Sheetsr'-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1947 Dec. 13, 1949 H. H. sEFRlED, l| 2,491,218

ACTION-LOCKING MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING FIREAHMS Filed Jan. 17, 1947 2 sheets/Sheet 2 M www Patented Dec. 13, 1949 ACTION-LOCKING MEANS FOR SELF- LOADING FIREARMS Harry H. Sefried, II, New Haven, Conn., assgnor to Olin Industries, Inc., vNew Haven, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application January 17, 1947, Serial No. 722,675

(Cl. l2- 21) 9 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to firearms and more especially to that class of repeating rearms the breechblock and cartridge-loading mechanism of which are actuated automatically by gas-operated means supported beneath the barrel, the invention relating particularly to improved means for automatically locking the action open after the last cartridge in the magazine has been red.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved action-locking means for rearms which is simple, convenient and reliable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a superior action-locking means which is capable of being readily applied to automatic self-loading firearms of the class referred to and which functions automatically to lock the action open after the last cartridge has been fired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide superior action-locking means for automatic self-loading firearms wherein a unitary carrier-latch member cooperatively engages a relatively-fixed abutment to automatically lock the action open when the last cartridge has been red, the carrier-latch member being operable manually also for unlocking the action.

A still further object is to provide an improved carrier-latch for permitting one-hand loading.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposesz" Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a rearm embodying' the present invention and which, for the purposes of illustration, is a gas-operated self-loading rearm having the compound-movement type of breechblock;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken View of a side elevation in section of the rearm shown in Fig. 1, the breechblock being locked in breech-closing position, and the hammer released for firing a cartridge in the chamber of the barrel;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 2 but with the action open, the breechblock being slightly forward of its rearmost position in the receiver and the hammer held thereby in its overcocked position. In this view, the magazine is empty and no cartridge is supported on the carrier;

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 except that a cartridge is shown supported on the cartridge-carrier, as a consequence of which the carrier-latch has been displaced out of engagement with the hammer;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the firearm on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing the position of the carrier-latch in the carrier;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cartridge-car` rier, including the improved carrier-latch of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the carrier and carrier-V latch shown in Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carrier-latch; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hammer showing the latch-engaging tooth thereof.

For the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention, an automatic self-loading fire? arm of the class having the so-called compound movement breechblock is used, the firearm, as shown in Fig. 1, comprising a receiver I0 having a stock I I secured to its rear end, and a barrel `l2 and tubular magazine I3,V furnished with the usual spring-loaded follower (not shown), secured to the forward end of the receiver, the tubular magazine I3 being suitably supported on the underside of the barrel together with gas-operated mechanism indicated generally at I4, which is connected by an action-slide I5 to the breech-,1

ceiver and for raising and lowering the lockingf nose I9 on the rear end of the breechblock into and from locking engagement with a lockingnotch 29 formed in the solid top wall 2| of the receiver. A more complete disclosure of the above-described mechanism may be found inthe Johnson Patent No. 958,407, dated May 1'7, 1910.

An ejection-port 22 is provided in the right-hand side of the receiver for electing spent cartridges therefrom, while the underside or bottom of the receiver comprises an openslot 23 closed at its rear end by a trigger-plate 24, the forward end zine I3.

The trigger-plate constitutes supporting-meansv for the ming-mechanism which comprises a ham- .mer 25 mounted on a transverse pivot 26 and formed with a cockingor Sear-shoulder 2'I adapted to be engaged by the forward end or nose 28) of a Sear 2S, the latter being operatively associated with the trigger 29 Which is pivotally mounted on the sear pivot-pin 30 in the triggerplate. A small helical spring 3 I, suitably mounted in the trigger-plate 24, engages the rear end of the trigger `2.9 urgingthe forwr-irdr end thereof to pivot upwardly. Mounted in the .forward end of the trigger in cooperative engagement with the rear end of the sear 28, is a spring-loaded pilot'- 3I0 which urges the nose 280 of the sear upwardly for engagement with the Sear-shoulder'ZTvofthepivoted hammer 25. The latter is providedj as" usual, with a rearwardly-extending ,strutvBZwGon-v stituting a guide-rod for a helieaflfl'iarnmer-spring 33 which is carried thereon and which provides the striking force of the The firing-mechanism may'also embody suitable slide-action-bar locking-means and..a-.ham mer-engaging hoo-k, as described more fully in the ,lohnson Patent-No. 960,646, dated-June 7,1910', for preventing premature openingor ringof the gun,.butY inasmuch as. these` elements Iare nonessential toa full and clear disclosure. .of vthe present invention, a -detaileddescription thereof` is. unnecessary here.

The` hammer is. Aadapted to. beV swungV rear;- wardly vto its cooked or hammer-spring loaded position the .breech-bolt. I8 as the latter is moved rearwardly by the nation-slide I5, the upper forward edge 3A-lof. the hammer being slidingly engaged by the underside 35 of the breech-- blockduring the rearwardrexeursion thereof. It is a characteristic of guns o fthi-sfelass that whenv thebreechblock is atv-,theuendof: its rearward excursionth ehammer -is -rotatedrearwardly in. av .eounterclock-wise direction to a positionI such that .its ,Sear-shoulder 21 is-,carried forwardly. out o fengagementwith thefnosell of -thge'sear I28;. as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and A, the distancebetween the nose of the. Vsea/rk and the Sear-- shoulder of the hammerbeing known as the" fover.. travel Aof,'thefhainrrier. For' purposes of-A thek present description; thisposition ofthe hammer shallbezhereinafter referredto as its dover-f cocked position and shall be understood to Qccuronly when thebreechblockfis atoradjacent the l,end of itsV rearward' excursion.

In addition to its function of cooking theharm Iner of the firearm, the Areciprocating'breeohblock I8:is adapted to actuateV a cartridge-carrier, indicated generally at 35. Referring to Figs. `6A and '7., the carrierl comprises a lever-member 31 pivotally supported in the receiver on av transverse pin 3.8 and having a forwardly-extending reach or spoon llliior the reception of cartridges-Which. areadapted to'be fed successfully thereon fromV they: rear Vend of; the tubular magazine i3 in the well `known manner.- The vrear end' of'thefl'ever'- memberVA 31 has an upwardly-and-rearwardly-` extending arm `llproyided at itseXtremityw-itll a.. Spring-loaded inwardly-projecting camz-follower or'plungery 4I', thelatter being adapted. to cooperatively engage a suitable'carn-surfaceindicated generally at lil. on the inside wall of` thel breechblock for actuating.-4 the cartridge-carrier during the forward excursion of the breechblock; Agmore. .detailed description of" these features of this; class :of rearm 4may 19e-found inthe Johnson PatenttNo. 959,016', dated' May-24, 1910', but for purposes of this disclosure it will sufce to say that the cam-surface 42 oi" the l-breechblock coacts with the cam-follower 4| of the carrier in what is known by mechanics as island moveu", as shown" in Fig. 6, the'v other leg 54 of the ,springV ment, whereby as the breechblook moves rearwardly from breech-closing position, the camfollower 4| is depressed by engagement with the adjacent side Wall of the breechblock out of the path of travel of the latter so that it may move rearwardly freely Without actuating the carrier. However, when/the breechblock reaches the end of` its rearward excursion, the cam-follower 4I snaps into engagement with the cam-surface 42 of the breechblock and more particularly a dgwnwardly-and-rearwardly-extending shoulder `Sfatljiereof," -so that on the forward movement of the 'vbreechblock, the arm 4i) of the carrier will be positively depressed and its forwardly-extending .fl-spoon'. liluelevated, whereby a cartridge thereon wllfbeflifted-into position to be pushed into the breech- .or cartridgerchamber alii of the barrel by the forward' end oftlie breechblock, the spoon of the-carrier being maintained in its upper position until the cartridge has been sufficiently enteredtinto the chamber to prov-ide for full controlgthereof. Afteri'the cam-follower 4l has lbeen disengaged,.fromitheunderside of the forwardlymoving'-breechblocka1carrier-spring d5, in engagement with. rthecarrier-arm it, rotatesV the carrierfclockvvise sonas tolower its spoon (i9 into itsnoriginalf cartridge-receiving. position.

Aspointedfoutabove andas shown in the draw.- ings, the ooaction of the downwardly-and-rearwardly-extending cam-shoulder 43 of the breechblojckandthecam-followerd I tof the p'ivoted carrier is such that -t-h-,eyspoon'SB- of: the latterr is cammedupwardly positively.V as the breechblock begins its forward: excursion from breech-open position. C-Ionversely, ifv thecarrier-spoon 3Q is positivelyheld-from `swingingupwardly, the co- I The: presentv inventionv relates to improved ibreechblockl-locking means carriedrby theY cartridgefcarrier andadapted 'to 'er-igagefa relativelyfixed abutment toprevent the upward swinging movement. of: the.l ,carrier-'spoon when there is nofvcartridge thereon, ,and to thereby lock. the breechblock initsretracted or breech-open posi- 'tgion leach timethe magazine of. the firearm isi' emptied.`

Referringto Figs. y6,17 and 8, the breechbloeklocking means of the invention comprises ay carriers-latch indicated generally at d', pivotally supported by a transversepin' 'l :in areetangular. slot 48 intersectingthe rear end of the carrierspoon` and forwardly the pivot 38 thereof,` the latch 'being ,disposed in a vertical plane coinci-v dent with. tl'ieverticalk plane of the hammer 25 and extendingsubstantially along thexlo-ngitudinal axis of the carrier-spoon 39, as shown in Figs. 5,..6.and17. Thezupperend of the latch is formed withv an integral upwardly-and-forwardly-proy jeotngflug which is slotted vertically to .provide twospaced parallel ngers 4S, the tips dofwhich are adapted=normally to be held forwardly resil-- iently inithe path-of a cartridge being delivered' ontozthezcarrier-spoon 39 from the magazine I3 l ibyztheforce-ofa latch-spring 5 i The latter comprises a coil-spring supported on the latch-pivot pin-4T in the slot between the spaced fingers 9, the leg 52' of the spring extending downwardly into ,a yr ecess.53,in the forward face4 of the latch,

in breech-open bearing against the underside of the carrierspoon as, for instance, after the last cartridge in the magazine has been fired, the fingers 49 of the latch are free to swing forwardly and are resiliently held in a forward position by the force of the latch-spring 5l, the forward position of the fingers 49 being hereinafter referred to as the operating position of the latch If, on the other hand, a cartridge is delivered from the magazine onto the spoon of the carrier, the rearwardly-moving head of the cartridge is adapted to engage the tips 50 of the latch-ngers 49 and rotate the latter rearwardly in a counterclockwies direction, the rearward position of the ngers beink hereinafter referred to as the inop- 1 erative position of the latch.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, the lower end of the pivoted latch 46 extends downwardly below the underside of the carrier and is provided with a rearwardly-extending tooth 55 which is adapted, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, to engage a tooth 56 formed on the hubportion of the hammer 25. To this end, the hammer-tooth 56 is located on the hub of the hammer forwardly of the Sear-shoulder 2l, so that when the latch-fingers 49 are in their forward latch-operating position and the hammer 25 has been swung counterclockwise to its overcocked position, the tooth 56 of the hammer will be moved above the latch-tooth 55 and substantially in line with the path of movement thereof. Moreover, it will be apparent that when the hammer 25 is in its over-cocked position, pivotal movement thereof in a clockwise direction is positively prevented by engagement of the forward edge 34 of the hammer with the underside 35 of the breech-bolt, which, as shown, is at the end of its rearward excursion. The tooth 56 of the hammer constitutes, in effect, therefore, a relatively-fixed abutment. l Consequently, breech-block begins to move forwardly from its rearmost position in the receiver, the downwardly-and-rearwardly-sloping cam-shoulder 43 of the breechblock engages the cam-follower 4I of the carrier and starts to depress the rearwardly-extending arm 4!) and hence to elevate the carrier-spoon 39 and latch 46. In so doing, however, the latch-tooth 55 is brought up into locking engagement with the hammer-tooth 55 whereby further upward swinging movement of the carrier is prevented; and since the carrier is thus positively held from further movement upwardly, the cam-shoulder 43 of the breechblock jams against the immovable cam-follower 4l of the carrier-arm 40. whereby the breechblock is effectively locked in breech-open position.

It may also be pointed out that the provision of the carrier-latch tooth on the hammer serves not only to lock the action open each time the magazine is emptied, as hereinafter described, but also insures disengagement of the carrierlatch from the hammer-tooth whenever the hammer is in any position other than its overcocked position. That is to say, when the action is closed and the hammer is in either its cocked or firing position, the carrier is unlatched and free to swing upwardly so that the magazine may be loaded with one hand and with ease.

The breechblock is adapted to be unlocked manually and to this end, the lower end of the latch is provided with a finger-piece 5l for pivoting the latch-tooth 55 out of engagement with the tooth 56 of the hammer, so as to free the carrier and permit the latter to rotate upwardly about its pivot, thereby releasing the breechblock and permitting it to be moved forwardly by the force of the compressed action-operating spring 58, see Figi, to breech-closing position.

In the normal operation of the rearm, cartridges will be delivered successively from the magazine onto the spoon 39 of the cartridgecarrier, the head of each cartridge moving rearwardly into engagement with the fingers 49 of the latch so as to hold the latch in its inoperative position and thus permit the carrier to be rotated freely about its pivot by coaction with the forwardly-moving breechblock and to elevate the cartridge on the carrier into the breech of the barrel. After the last cartridge has been delivered from the magazine and fired, the breechblock will be moved rearwardly by the gasoperated action-slide mechanism I4 to eject the red cartridge. As the breechblock approaches the end of its rearward excursion, the hammer 25 is pivoted counterclockwise to its over-cocked position, thereby moving its tooth 56 into position for engagement with the carrier-latch tooth 55, which is now in its operative position, as the carrier starts to swing upwardly, as a consequence of which the carrier is positively held from further movement and the cam-shoulder 43 of the breechblock jams against the immovable camfollower 4l, the breechblock being held thereby in its retracted breech-open position.

Although the invention is incorporated in a firearm having a gas-operated slide-action operating-mechanism, it will be understood that the invention may be used on firearms having mechanical and other equivalent means for automatically operating the breechblock. Moreover, the improved breechblock-locking means is of simple but rugged construction, of relatively-few parts and conveniently accessible for both automatic and manual operation.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present enibodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by said receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver; means to move said breechblock to and from breechclosing position; a relatively-fixed abutment in said receiver; cartridge-feed means including a movable cartridge-carrier for delivering a cartridge into the breech of said barrel, said carrier and breechblock having mutually-engageable surfaces constructed and arranged to coa-ct so as to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely with respect to said carrier into breechclosing position when said carrier is free to move and to hold said breechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursion in said receiver when said carrier is held from moving; and cartridge-actuated breechblock-locking means mounted on said cartridge-carrier forwardly of said relatively-fixed abutment, vsaid lockingmeans being constructed and arranged to engage said relatively-xed abutment in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier to hold said carrier in breech-open position.

metals 2; A firearm, vincludingV in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by said receiver; a breechblock movablymounted inzsai'd receiver; means to move saidbreechblock. to and: from breech-closing position;` a relatively-fixed abutment in said receiver; cartridge-feed means including a movable cartridgecarrier for' elevating a cartridge into the breech of. said barrel, said carrier and breechblock having mutually-engageable surfaces constructed and arranged to permit said breechblock to move forwardlyA freely with respect to said' carrier into breech-closing position when said carrier is free to move and to hold said breechblock immobile" at the end of itsrearward excursion in said'receiverwhen said carrier is held from moving; and cartridge-actuated breechblock-lockingmeans comprising a latch pivotally mounted on said cartridge-carrier forwardly of said' relatively-xed abutment and a resilient member arranged normally to engage and urge said latch in-to'nosition for engagement with said relatively-xed abutment in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to hold said carrier` from moving and lock said breechblook in breech-open position 3. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel-carried -by said receiver; a breechblock movably mounted: in said receiver; means to move saidY breechblock to and from breechclosing position; a-relati-vely fixed abutment in said receiver; cartridge-feed means including a movable cartridge-carrier. for delivering a cartridge into the breech of said barrel, said carrier and-breechblock having mutually-engageable surfaces constructed andA arranged to permit'said breechblock to move forwardly freely with respect to said carrier into breech-closing position when said carrier is free to move and to hold said breechblock immobile at the endof its rearward excursion in said receiver when said carrier is held from moving; a cartridge-actuated breechblock-locking means comprising a latch pivotally mounted on said cartridge-carrier forwardly ofsaid relatively-xed abutment and a spring carried by said carrier and arranged normally to coact therewith and withY said latch to urge said latch into position for engagement with said relatively-Xed abutment in the absence of a Vcartridge on saidl carriercthereby to hold said carrier from moving and'lock said breechblock in breechopen position; and a iinger on said latch arranged to Abe engaged by a cartridge on said carrier automatically to rendersaid'latch inoperative.

4. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by saidreceiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver; means to move said breechblock to and vfrom breech-closing position; firing-mechanism comprising a hammer having a projection thereon; cartridge-feed means including ak movable cartridge-carrier for 5 elevating a cartridge into the breech of said'barrel, said carrier andbreechblock having mutuallyengageable surfaces constructed and arranged to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely with respect to said carrier into breech-closing position when said carrier is free to move and' to hold said breechblock immobile at. the end of its rearward excursion when said 4carrier is-heldv from moving; and' breechblock-locking means. comprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and a spring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagement with the projection of said hammerl in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to hold said.

8:. carrierA Afrom moving and lock said `breechblock in breech-open position.

5. A rearm,rincluding in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by said receiver; a breech-V block movably mounted in said receiver; means`Y to move -saidl breechblock to and from breechclosing position; firing-mechanism comprising apivoted hammer' having a projecting tooth, said hammer being arranged to befmoved and heldY in over-cocked position by the rearward excursion of said breechblock cartridge-feed means includ'- ing a pivoted cartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breechof said' barrel, said carrier and'breechblock` having mutually-engageable surfaces constructed and' arranged, tol permit said breechblock to move forwardly freelyV with rev-- spect to saidf carrier into Abreech-closing position whensaid carrier isvfree'to move and to hold said` breechblock immobilerat the end of its rearward excursion when said carrieris held from moving;` and: breechblock,-'locking'means comprisingV a pivoted latch oarriednbysaid: cartridge-carrier, and' a spring arrangednormally to urge said latch into' position for engagement lwith the tooth ofV said pivoted hammer when4 said hammer is held in'y its over-cocked position; and in the absence of a cartridge; on saidfcarrier thereby to hold said carrier from moving and, lock saidY breech'block in breech-open position.

6. A firearm, including Vin combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by Asaid'receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver; said breechblock having. a cam-shoulder; automatic,

cartridge into the breechofsaid barrel, said carrier having-a rearwardly-extending.arm provided with acam-follower adaptedto engage the camshoulder of. said breechblock, said cam-follower and cam-shoulder being :arranged to coact sovas to permit said breechblockvto move forwardly free-- ly into breech-closing position .whenk saidY car-rier is free to pivot upwardly but to hold said breechblock immobile at .the end of its rearward excursion when said carrier is .held from pivoting upwardly; and breechbloek-iocking means comprising a pivoted'latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and a spring arranged' normally to urge said latch into position for engagement with the tooth of said pivoted' hammer when said hammer is` held in its Vover-cocked'position and in the absence of a cartridge von* said. carrier thereby to hold' said carrier from moving and lock said breechblock in breech-openV position.

7. A nrearm, including in combination: a receiver, a barrelfcarriedlby said receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver, said breechblock having al cam-shoulder; automatic means to move said breechblock to and :from breech-closing position;l firing-mechanism comprising a pivoted hammer having va tootirsaid' hammer being arranged to be moved and held in over-cocked'position by the rearward excursion of said breechblock; cartridge-feed means including avpivoted cartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breech of said barrel, said carrier having a rearwardly-extending arm provided with ak cam-follower adapted to lengage ythe cam-shoulder of saidbreechblock, said cam-frol- '15` lower'. andcam-shoulder being arranged to coact so as to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely into breech-closing position when said carrier is free to pivot upwardly but to hold said breechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursion when said carrier is held from pivoting upwardly; breechblock-locking means comprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and a spring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagement with the tooth of said pivoted hammer when said hammer is held in its over-cocked position and in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to hold said carrier from moving and lock said breechlock in breech-open position; and a finger on said latch projecting upwardly in said carrier and arranged to be engaged by a cartridge thereon automatically to pivot said latch out of its position for engagement with the said hammer-tooth to enable said carrier to pivot upwardly and hence permit forward excursion of said breechblock.

8. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by said receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver, said breechblock having a cam-shoulder; automatic means to move said breechblock to and from breech-closing position; firing-mechanism comprising a pivoted hammer having a tooth, said hammer being arranged to be moved and held in over-cocked position by the rearward eX- cursion of said breechblock; cartridge-feed means including a pivoted cartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breech of said barrel, said carrier having a rearwardly-extending arm provided with a cam-follower adapted to engage the cam-shoulder of said breechblock, said cam-follower and cam-shoulder being arranged to coact so as to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely into breech-closing position when said carrier is free to pivot upwardly but to hold said breechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursion when said carrier is held from pivoting upwardly; breechblock-locking means comprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and a spring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagement with the tooth of said pivoted hammer when said hammer is held in its over-cocked position and in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to hold said carrier from moving and lock said breechblock in breech-open position; and a linger-piece pro- 10 jecting downwardly from said latch for manually disengaging said latch from said hammer.

9. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried by said receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver, said breechblock having a cam-shoulder; gasoperated means to move said breechblock to and from breech-closing position; firing-mechanism comprising a pivoted hammer having a toothI said hammer being arranged to be moved and held in over-cocked position by the rearward excursion of said breechblock; cartridge-feed means including a pivoted cartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breech of said barrel, said carrier having a rearwardly-extending arm provided with a cam-follower arranged to engage the cam-shoulder of said breechblock, said cam-follower and cam-shoulder being arranged to coact so as to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely into breech-closing position when said carrier is free to pivot upwardly but to hold said breechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursion when said carrier is held from pivoting upwardly; breech- 1 block-locking means comprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and a spring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagement with the tooth of said pivoted hammer when said hammer is held in its over-cocked position and in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to hold said carrier from moving and lock said breechblock in breech-open position; a nger on said latch projecting upwardly in said carrier and arranged to be engaged by a cartridge thereon automatically to pivot said latch out of its position for engagement with the said hammer-tooth to enable said carrier to pivot upwardly and hence permit forward excursion of said breechblock; and a finger-piece projecting downwardly from said latch for manually disengaging said latch from said hammer.

HARRY H. SEFRIED, II.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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