US2667712A - Luger conversion - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1954 M. J. HUNTING ETAL LUGER CONVERSION Filed Oct. 10, 1950 INVENToRs Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNTELDE ST Td FTNT LUGER CONVERSION Plainfield, N. J.

Application. October 10, 1950, Serial No. 189,452

(Cl. 4t2-77) d Claims.

The present invention relates. generally, to side arms and more particularly to means and mechanism by the aid of which the standard Lugar pistol may be converted to fire the more popular .22 caliber short or long-riile cartridge, a primary,7 aim being to retain substantially all of the desirable characteristics of the renowned Luger pistol in the adaptation thereof to the .22 long or short cartridge commonly used in this country.

A further aim of the invention is to render available an interchangeable Luger conversion assembly, which utilizes a minimum number of new parts designed and adapted to cooperate effectively with basic and unchanged elements of the Luger pistol. takes to render available a Luger conversion in which the sights do not move and which embodies a straight-line blow-back instituted by the nre-power of either the .22 short or .22 long-rie cartridge.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a way to convert the conventional Luger pistol in a manner avoiding the use of loose pins, that may be accidently dropped or lost, and in a way that involves merely an interchange of parts so that an assembled gun may be used to fire the Luger 9 mm. semi-rimmed cartridge or reassembled to nre the conventional .22 cartridge.

Still another objective of the invention is to construct a Luger conversion for the .22 rimmed cartridge in a manner whereby the characteristic toggle action of the Lugerand the consequent interference with the sighting of the gun is eliminated. As a further refinement, the invention undertakes to render available a Luger conversion wherein the bolt return mechanism, firing pin mechanism and guides remain covered and fully enclosed during the normal use and handling of the gun.

further of the invention is to ,provide a conversion unit combination having the foregoing attributes in combination with means operable to eject the spent or empty .22 rimmed case after each shot and to reload and condition the parts for successive ring automatically-and effectively whereby also to retain the automatic features of the Luger pistol as Well as its balance, accuracy, and general appearance.

in carrying out the aims of the invention it is proposed partially to disassemble the Luger pistol by removing the cartridge magazine case, and also the bolt action and iiring pin as a unit. into the basic elements rem ining a barrel liner is inserted, and a bolt action and ining pin assembly constructed in accordance with this invention. A

The invention further under.-

2 single lock pin is inserted to retain all the parts in assembled relation. Thereafter a new magazine externally of the size and shape oi the `Luger magazine but internally constructed to Carry a quantity of ,22 cartridges, is next inserted and the gun is ready for use.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the Same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as parts of this disclosure and., in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the vieWS.. of which: v

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of a Luger conversion model embodying this invenF tion.

Figure 2 is a view of parts of the conversion unit illustrated partly in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view Of a portion of the conversion unit with the bolt mechanism in its blown back position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the conversion units rear sight, detached from its normal environment.

Figure 5 is a rear view of Figure 4 with the connecting pin reassembled.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawing, the numeral lll indicates the conventional Luger stock which encloses a removable cartridge magazine i I adapted to be released from the handle by pressing the release button l2. The stock carries the Luger trigger i3 and its guard,v and is also fashioned to receive between its upper extending sides, the bolt receiver and barrel elements lll and I5 retlpec tively. Normally the barrel and receiver assembly is locked in operative relation with the stock le by means of the extension lock lever I6. This lever i6 also locks the removable trigger plate l l in place. The trigger plate l1 carries portions of the trigger sear actuating mechanism indicated in dotted lines l in Figures l and 3. Lever l5 is the safety catch lever of the gun. The above mentioned parte are the original Inger parts and their relations and coacting features are retained in the present conversion unit without modiication.

The conversion elements of the present levenltion include, essentially, a barrel insert a adapted to be fitted within the 9 mm. bore of the Luger barrel, and an improved bolt and rear sight element 2 I. The barrel insert is fashioned with a headed portion 2|a at the breech end thereof within which an enlarged bore 2lby is formed. The enlarged bore 2lb extends forward a distance approximately equal to the length of the case of a .22 caliber short cartridge, and contains therein a sleeve member 23. The sleeve 23 is constructed for endwise movement within the enlarged bore of the barrel insert, and the extremes of its movement are limited by a pin 24 that coacts with a closed ended slot 25 in the exterior surface of the sleeve member. The external diameter of the sleeve member 23 is such that when a .22 short is fired in the gun, the expanding gases react not only upon the case but against the inner annular end wall of the movable sleeve. The explosive power against the case augmented by the power against the sleeve has been predetermined to be adequate to repel the breech block, eject the spent case, reload and condition the gun for the next shot. However, the sleeve member 23 is inactive when a .22 long cartridge is in the barrel for the reason that the case of the .22 long extends well past the inner end of the inserted sleeve and seals off the chamber. It will be seen that a Luger conversion constructed in accordance with the invention embodies a floating chamber principle effective when using .22 shorts, and which is automatically ineiective when using .22 longs.

The conversion unit also includes a reciprocable breech block or bolt 20 having ribs 201' and groove 20s along its sides adapted to interiit guides my of the receiver l0, and a spaced but normally fixed rear sight piece 2 I. The rear sight piece is fitted between the rear ears ma of the receiver and locked in position by the usual connecting pin 26. The parts are constructed so that when the bolt is in its forward position, adequate recoil space is provided between its rear end and the forward end of the rear sight piece, to allow the bolt to recede after the gun is fired to effect shell rejection, resetting of the firing pin and reloading. Normally the bolt is urged to its forward closed position by a compression spring 2l tensioned to hold the breech closed when the gun is fired but to yield when the expanding gases build up pressure required for shell ejecting and reloading.

The bolt piece 20 also is longitudinally bored offset from the axis of the barrel, to receive a rim-iiring firing pin 28. The firing pin is actuated by a spring 29 interposed between its rear end and the rear sight piece. A pilot bar 30 secured to the firing pin extends through the rear sight piece 2| when the gun is cocked and ready Vto fire, but which receded out of sight when the gun is fired. The projecting bar thus serves to give visual indication that the gun is cocked and ready to re.

The firing pin is constructed to be latched in prelocked position upon the rearward movement of the bolt by the conventional Luger sear 3i as will be understood. The forward end of the conversion bolt, is recessed as at 32 to receive the base of a .22 case as it is forced upwardly from the magazine, but unlike the Luger bolt, the recess is open at its bottom region so as not to interfere or impede upward movement of the small .22 cartridge. The necessity for an open bottom recess, as concerns the .22 cartridge, perforce renders the top extractor of the Luger design impractical and useless. Accordingly We haveY so designed the bolt piece of the conversion unit that the shell extractor 32a is on the side, that is, approximately away from the position occupied in the Luger pistol. Thus in normal operation, the cartridge that is advanced from the magazine, slips properly into the recess in the bolt and is clamped by the extractor hook 32a against the face and one of the closed sides of the recess and thereby securely held as it is carried forward and into the barrel chamber. It may be explained here that a Luger 9 mm. cartridge has a base equal in diameter to its medial region, whereas in a .22 cartridge the base is enlarged and flanged f relative to its medial region and the extractor prong tends to shift the cartridge laterally. 33 indicates the ejector, which in accordance with this invention is formed by an upwardly projecting rear lip on the magazine case.

The bolt piece 20 of the instant conversion unit is also formed with a pair of rearwardly extending arms 20c spaced from one another. The arms 20c project from the rear of the gun and preferably are united by a grip handle 35. The rear sight piece 2l is formed with a pair of guides 26a for the arms 20c and with a forwardly extending tongue member 2| c that partially overlays the arms of the bolt and covers the gap therebetween. With this form of construction the recoil space between the bolt and xed rear sight is continually covered and the mechanism therein completely enclosed at all times. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the projecting arms of the bolt pass by flattened portions 26a of the pivot pin which prevents the latter from turning and from possibly working out of place.l A further function of the extended guide arms is to supplement the guides on the main part of the bolt. The extending arms, particularly when furnished with the pull handle 35, serve also as convenient means for withdrawing the bolt manually when the first cartridge of a new magazine is to be moved into ring position.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that a standard Luger pistol may by the provision of a few new parts constructed as herein explained, be converted from its large caliber to a small .22 caliber in but a few moments time with the result that the piston is rendered useful for practice work, indoor target shooting, etc. at a minimum expense, and capable of reconversion at will of the owner.

Operation A loaded clip or magazine is inserted in the loading slot in the stock of the gun. The pull handle is pulled to the rear and there released whereupon the bolt removes a cartridge from the magazine and forces it into the chamber of the barrel. As the bolt is removing the cartridge from the magazine, etc. the ring pin comes in contact with the rear of the original Luger sear, so that when the bolt is completely closed, the ring pin is in the cocked position. When the trigger is pulled the firing pin is released from the sear and allowed to re the cartridge. The expanding gases on the head of the cartridge case force the bolt to the rear. The fired cartridge case is gripped by the extractor and removed from the barrel. The ejector lip 33 is on the underside of the .22 caliber bolt and comes in contact with the fired case when the bolt has almost reached its most rearward position. The ejector forces the red case out of the opened action. When the gun has r'ecoiled its full length, it compresses the buffer plunger 40 andY disconnects the gun until a new cartridge is removed from the magazine and forced into the chamber oi the barrel. After the last cartridge in the is ired, the follower of the magazine comes in Contact with the face of the bolt and the bolt remains open until a freshly loaded clip is inserted.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specinc aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A conversion unit for a Luger pistol having conventional barrel and receiver members, comprising a barrel insert member adapted for insertion in the bore of the pistol barrel member of the Luger for reducing the gauge thereof to the caliber shot to be used, a rectilinearly movable bolt member having guide means compleinenting the conventional spaced bolt guides on the Luger receiver member for coacticn therewith, said bolt member having a firing pin assembled therein and also a cartridge case extractor so located as operatively to engage the side of an inserted cartridge shell rim, a normally fixed rear sight member carried by the receiver member of the Luger in spaced relation from the said bolt member when the latter is in its normal operative position whereby to provide space for bolt movement when the pistol is iired, recoil spring means in the space between the bolt and the rear sight member, a cartridge magazine constructed and arranged to place an unfired cartridge in position to be advanced into the bo-re of the barrel insert member on the forward movement of the bolt in response to therecoil spring means, and means enclosing the recoil space between the bolt and the rear sight member comprising a pair of rearwardly extending spaced apart arm members carried by the movable bolt member and overlying the recoil space and a forward extending tongue element carried by said rear sight member and also overlying the recoil space, said arm members and tongue member together with the sides of the conventional Luger receiver effectively closing the recoil space against entry of foreign matter during normal use of the pistol.

2. The combination of claim l in which the said barrel insert member is bored to receive .22 caliber cartridges, said bore being enlarged at its breech end an axial distance substantially equalling the length of the shell case of a .22 short cartridge, a floating piston movable in the enlarged portion cf the sleeve bore for increasing the effect oi the blow-back energy of the expanding gases on the movable bolt member, said piston member being effectively sealed oi from operation as a power amplifier when a .22 long cartridge is inserted in the sleeve bore.

3. The combination of claim l in which the rear sight member is provided with arm guides along its sides and is retained in the receiver by a cross pin, said pin having flattened portions, and in which the rearwardly extending arms of the bolt member are guided by the arm guides formed in the rear sight member and overlay the nattened portions of the cross pin whereby to lock the latter in place and to function as supplementary guide means for the bolt.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the rearwardly extending arms of the bolt extend beyond the rear sight member for manual actuation of the bolt on the initial shell loading cycle.

MELVIN J. HUNTING. GEORGE L. MACK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,990,657 Williams Aug. 24, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 497,683 Germany May 12, 1930 565,370 Germany Nov. 29, 1932

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