US2976638A

US2976638A - Subcaliber conversion assembly for revolvers

Info

Publication number: US2976638A
Application number: US741801A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Owens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-06-13
Filing date: 1958-06-13
Publication date: 1961-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-03-28

Description

March 28, 1961 J. G. OWENS SUBCALIBER` CONVERSION ASSEMBLY FOR REVOLVERS Filed June l5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @HSW 0MM .Summum www @w INVENTOR:

gzohn 6.0;96225, BY MMM] 0a/1,9 v' Maan.

ATTORNEYS.

March 28, 1961 .1. G. OWENS 2,976,638

` SUBCALIBER CONVERSION ASSEMBLY FOR REvoLvERs Filed June 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SUBCALIBER CONVERSON ASSEMBLY FOR REVOLVERS John G. Uwens, 540 N. Louisa, Shawnee, kla.

Filed June 13, 1958, Ser. No. 741,801

11 Claims. (Cl. 42-77) This invention relates to revolvers, and, more particularly, to an assembly or kit for converting a revolver of a larger caliber to use sub-caliber ammunition, such as the smaller and more economical .22 caliber cartridges.

Although such conversion kits are known, they have thusfar possessed numerous disadvantages. For example, certain types of such kits are relatively complicated and, consequently, expensive. Other types of such kits render the converted revolver usable as a single shot weapon only, i.e., the kit dispenses with the usual magazine. In other types of such kits the conversion cannot be made with any degree of facility, and, once converted, it is relatively diiicult, if not impossible, to recouvert the revolver to use ammunition for which it Was originally designed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a conversion kit of the type under consideration which can be applied to a revolver with ease and, after application, the revolver can be reconverted quickly and Without the use of any tools, to use the ammunition for which it originally was designed. Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide such a kit that, after it has once been applied to a revolver, the revolver can quickly and easily be converted to use sub-caliber, or its usual caliber, ammunition without the use of any tools.

It is another object of this invention to provide a conversion kit of the type under consideration wherein the revolver to which the kit is applied is not altered mechanically in any way, so that any original parts, which were removed and replaced by conversion kit parts, can be replaced.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a conversion kit of the type under consideration which embodies a minimum of parts and which is designed to replace a minimum of parts on the revolver.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a conversion kit of the type under consideration that embodies a sub-caliber barrel insertable in the usual barrel of the revolver to be converted, and wherein the subcaliber barrel, when inserted in the original barrel, does not contact the riliing of the latter.

It is another object of this invention to provide a conversion kit of the type under consideration which employs a sub-caliber cylinder so that the converted revolver will have a magazine.

It is a further obiect of this invention to provide a conversion kit of the type under consideration wherein the revolver, once the kit isapplied thereto, can be used with either its original caliber center-tire ammunition or subcaliber rim-fire ammunition, by a simple selective manipulation of the firing mechanism without any mechanical alteration thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of a revolver of the single-action solid frame ejector-rod type having a conversion assembly embodying this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the sub-caliber cylinder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical, sectional view of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7Yisran enlarged vertical sectional view of the replacement tiring pin assembly shown in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the firing pin assembly shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the tiring pin assembly shown in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View of the recoil plate shown in Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a front View of the recoil plate shown in Figure 2.

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the revolver shown in Figure' 1.

Figure 13 is a view of the larger caliber cylinder of the revolver shown in Figure l, which cylinder was replaced in the latter figure by certain parts of the conversion kit embodying this invention.

Referring now-to the drawings there is shown a revolver of the single-action, solid frame, ejector-rod type having the usual barrel 20 adapted for use with larger caliber center-tire cartridges. Coaxiarly disposed within the barrel 20 is a sub-caliber tube or barrel 22 of slightly smaller diameter than the interior of the barrel 20. The sub-caliber barrel 22 has an exteriorly threaded rear end 24 that projects out of the rear end of the barrel 20 and is engaged within a threaded opening 26 in a barrel support 28. The barrel support 2S, together with a subcaliber cylinder 30, as shown in Figure 1, substantially fill the space normally occupied by the larger caliber usual cylinder 32 (Figure 13) of the revolver. The subcaliber cylinder 3) has chambers 34 to receive sub-caliber ammunition (not shown), such as .22 caliber rim-fire ammunition, and is provided with both conventional register stops 36 spaced about its periphery, to align the cylinder chambers 34 with the sub-caliber barrel 22, and a conventional ratchet 3S (Figures 3 and 4) engageable by the usual pawl 40 (Figure 12) of the cylinder-revolving mechanism of the revolver. Both the barrel support 28 and the sub-caliber cylinder 30 are mounted on the usual cylinder pin or spindle 42 of the revolver having the usual bushing 44.

Preferably, the barrel support 28 is cylindrical and of the same diameter as the sub-caliber cylinder 30, and both are provided with alignable thumbing recesses 46 to preserve, as nearly as possible, the original appearance of the revolver. To this same end the support 28 is i provided with chamber-like holes 48 alignable with the chambers 34 in the cylinder 30, and through one of which holes the usual ejector-rod (not shown), which is mounted in the usual tubular housing 49 on the revolver, passes to project into the chambers 34 in succession to eject cartridge cases therefrom. It will be noted, however, that the rear of the barrel support 28 may be cut away or hollowed out, as at 50, to reduce its weight, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

As shown in Figure 1, the muzzle end of the subcaliber barrel 22 is provided with a circumferential ange or enlargement 52 having a concave rear face 54 designed to contact the muzzle 56 of the usual barrel 20 only at the outer edges thereof. Consequently, the coniiguration of the rear face 54 of the enlargement 52 Patented Mar. 2S, 1961 antenas f serves not only to center the sub-caliber barrel 22 in the barrel 20 of the revolver but 'also to maintain the sub-caliber barrel out of engagement with the rifling in the barrel Ztl. In this connection, it willbe noted that the barrel support 28 is designedto serve the same function adjacent the rear end of the barrel 20, as'will be seen in Figure 5. Y Y

. Theconversion kit also includes a recoil plate S dea one of its two positions. Additionally, it will be seen that the provision of the recoil plate 58 minimizes swel-ling of the cartridge case of either a center-fire or a rimlire cartridge on the tiring thereof, which swelling might signed to take the place of the usual recoil plate (not Y shown) of the revolver which usually has a press lit in an opening 6l) in the frame 62 tof the revolver in alignment with the Vbarrel 20, as shown in Figures 2 and l2. Such usual recoil plate has only a central opening therein through W-hich the usual ring pin (not shown) ofthe revolver projects to impactproperly upon a larger caliber central fire cartridge (not'shown). The recoil plate 5S, however, hastwo tiring` pin uopenings, a central opening 64 for center-lire'cartridges and spaced therebelow a lower opening 66 for rim-lire cartridges in the sub-caliber cylinder 30, as best shown in Figure 2. Y

The conversion kit also includes a ring pin assembly 68 comprising a generallyy cylindrical supporting member 70 adapted to be mounted in a corresponding recess 7,2 in the hammer 74, and retained in position by a pin 76 (Figures 2 and 12) extending transversely through the hammer inengagement within a transverse groove 78 (Figures 7 and 9) in the under side of the member 70. At its forward end, the member 7i? is provided with a vertical slot 80 within which is mounted, on a transverse pivot pin 82 (Figure 7) the attened rear end of a iiring pin 84. The pin 84 is movable, on its pivot pin 82, betweenv an 'upper and a lower position, as best shown in Figure 7, which positions correspond, respectively, withthe central and lower-openings 64 and 66 in the recoil plate 58. From an inspection of Figure 7 it will be noted that when the firing pin 84 is in its lower position, the rear end of such pin engages with a surface at the bottom of the slot k80 to prevent further lowering movement of the pin. Likewise, when the pin 84 is in its upper position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, the rear end of the pin substantially engages with another surface at the bottom of the slot 86 to prevent further upward movement of the ring pin. The upper rear end of the tiring pin 84 is of generally right-angled configuration, as bt shown in Figure 7, for cooperation with a spring detent S6. The detent 86 is in the form of a generally straight spring wire, secured at its rear end in a longitudinal' groove in the top of the member 70. When the iiring pin 84 is in its upper or center firing position, the forward end of the spring 36 overlies the top of the rear end of the firing pin in order to yieldingly restrain movement of Vthe pin out of such position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. Likewise, when thering pin 84 is in its lower or rimring position, the forward end of the spring 86 engages against the rear end of the ring pin to yieldingly restrain movement of the pin out of such position, as shown in Figure 7.

. Fre-rn the foregoing, it will be seen that the only mechanical alteration of the revolver occasioned by the application of a kit embodying this invention thereto resides in the replacement of the original iirin.CY pin of the revolver by the firing pin assembly 68 embodying this invention. Such assembly 68, however, renders the revolver usable with the center-lire larger caliber ammunition for which it was originally designed, and also with sub-caliber rim-lire ammunition when converted for use therewith by the kit embodying this invention. It will be seen that selective adaptation for rimor center-lire operation can readily be made by flipping the tiring pin 84V between its two positions by hand. Likewise, it will be seen that the provision of a recoil plate 58 having two tiring pin openings 64 and 66 therein provides a positive guide for the tiring pin 84 in either of its Vtwo positions. Consequently, the ring'pin 84 will not tire unless it is in interfere with the proper rotation of either the usual larger caliber cylinder 32 or the sub-caliber cylinder 30. p

Once the tiring pin assembly 68 and the recoil plate 5S embodying this invention have replaced the usual ring pin (not shown) and recoil plate (not shown) of the revolver, ythe latter can 'be converted'for use with either sub-caliber rim-fire cartridges or larger caliber centerfire cartridges with great ease and facility. In order to convert therevolver for use with the larger caliber arnmunition, it is only necessary to unscrew the sub-caliber barrel Z2, which usually can be accomplished by hand but lfor which purpose the enlargement S2 is provided with a radial aperture 88 for engagement by va Spanner Wrench (not shown). Thereafter, the cylinder spindle 42 can be pulled out, afterV being unlocked by its conventional sliding transverse locking pin 90, the conventional cylinder lock 92 swungout, and the sub-caliber cylinder Si? and barrel support 28 removed together with the bushing '44. The bushing 24 can then be inserted into the usual larger caliber cylinder 32, and both replaced in their usual position in the revolver and supported therein by the cylinder spindle 42. The firing pin S4 is then moved from its lower to its upper position. Thereupon, the revolver is ready` for use with its standard larger caliber ammunition. lt is only necessary to reverse the foregoing steps to again convert the revolver for use with sub-caliber ammunition.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been i'ully and effectively accomplished. lt -will be realized, however, that the foregoing specic embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. For example, kits embodying this invention are likewise applicable to double-action revolvers or to revolvers of the solid frame swing-out-cylinder type. For this latter purpose, it obviously would be necessary to provide a sub-caliber ejector designed to cooperate with the subcaliber cylinder, and also to modify the barrel support so that it will not be engaged by the cylinder spindle of such a revolver. Additionally, it will be seen that the invention also is applicable to a break-open type of revolver, it being only necessary to provide an appropriate sub-caliber ejector for cooperation with the sub-caliber cylinder in order to make such application. Therefore, this invention includes all'modiiicationsV encompassed within the spirit and scope of the yfollowing claims:

I claim:

`l.V An assembly for converting a revolver to use subcaliber ammunition comprising: a sub-caliber cylinder having a barrel support at its discharge end, said cylinder and support being adapted to replace the larger caliber cylinder of the revolver, said sub-caliber cylinder and said support having aligned central apertures adapted to snugly receive the cylinder spindle of the revolver, and said support having Va threaded opening with which the chambers in said sub-caliber cylinder are successively alignabie on rotation of said sub-caliber cylinder; and a sub-caliber barrel insertable in the barrel of the revolver and having a threaded rear end engageable in said threaded opening in said support, said sub-caliber barrel having an enlargement at its forward end engageable against the muzzle end of the barrel of th-e revolver when said sub-caliber barrel is threadedly engaged with said support, said sub-caliber barrel, rearwardly of said enlargement, being of smaller outer diameter than the minimum interior diameter of the revolver barrel to provide clearance between the rifling in the revolver barrel arld'saigu sub-caliber barrel, and said threaded opening in said subcaliber cylinder being located therein to center said rear end `of said sub-caliber barrel within the revolver barrel and said enlargement having an inclined rear surface adapted to engage the muzzle end of the revolver barrel and to center therein said forward end of said sub-caliber barrel to thereby maintain said clearance.

2. The structure deiined in claim 1 wherein the enlargement on the sub-caliber barrel has a concave rear face engageable only with the outer portions of the muzzle of the revolver barrel to center therein the muzzle end of said sub-caliber barrel.

3. An assembly for converting a revolver to use sub-- caliber ammunition comprising: a sub-caliber cylinder having a barrel support at its discharge end, said cylinder and support being adapted to replace the larger caliber cylinder of the revolver, said sub-caliber cylinder having a central aperture adapted to receive the cylinder spindle of the revolver and said support having "a threaded opening with which the chambers in said subcaliber cylinder are successively alignable on rotation of said sub-caliber cylinder; `a sub-caliber barrel insertable in the barrel of the revolver and having a threaded rear end engageable in said threaded opening of said support, said sub-caliber barrel having an enlargement at its forward end engageable against the muzzle end of the barrel of the revolver when said sub-caliber barrel is threadedly engaged with said support; a recoil plate adapted to replace the recoil plate of :the revolver and having spaced firing pin openings adapted to be aligned, respectively, with the center and an edge of a chamber in said sub-caliber cylinder when said chamber is aligned with said sub-caliber barrel; and a firing pin assembly adapted to replace the tiring pin of the revolver and having a pivotally mounted firing pin movable between two positions corresponding to said tiring pin openings.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein the ring pin assembly includes detent means engageable with the replacement firing pin to yieldingly retain the latter in either of its two positions.

5. An assembly for converting a revolver to use subcaliber ammunition comprising: a sub-caliber cylinder having a barrel support at its discharge end, said cylinder and support being adapted to replace the larger caliber cylinder of the revolver with said sub-caliber cylinder having a central aperture to receive the cylinder spindle of the revolver and said support having a threaded opening adapted to receive the threaded rear end of a sub-caliber barrel insertable in the revolver barrel; a recoil plate adapted to replace the recoil plate of the revolver and having a central tiring pin opening and an oit-center tiring pin opening adapted, respectively, for use with center-tire and rim-tire cartridges; and a firing 'pin assembly adapted to replace the tiring pin of the firing pin for yieldingly retaining the latter in either of its two positions.

7. The combination, with a revolver having the usual barrel and spindle means for supporting therebehind the usual cylinder, of a sub-caliber barrel arranged in said usual barrel with clearance therebetween, a barrel support and a sub-caliber cylinder taking the place of the usual cylinder and mounted on said spindle means, said support having a threaded aperture alignable in succession with the chambers in said sub-caliber cylinder, said sub-caliber barrel having a threaded rear end engaged within said threaded support aperture and the latter being located to center said rear end within the rear end of said revolver barrel to maintain said clearance, and said sub-caliber barrel having an enlargement at its muzzle end provided with an inclined rear surface engaged with the muzzle end of said revolver barrel to center therein said muzzle end of said sub-caliber barrel to thereby maintain said clearance.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 in which the enlargement on the muzzle end of the sub-caliber barrel has a concave rear face engaging only the outer edge portion of the muzzle of the usual barrel.

9. The combination with a revolver having the usual barrel, means for supporting therebehind the usual cylinder, and a hammer for carrying the usual firing pin, of a sub-caliber barrel arranged in said usual barrel, a sub-caliber cylinder mounted on said supporting means between said sub-caliber barrel and said hammer, and a tiring pin assembly carried by said hammer in place of the usual firing pin, said assembly including a iiring pin pivoted to move between two positions corresponding respectively to impact positions necessary to tire center-rire and rim-tire cartridges.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, in which the assembly includes detent means for yieldably' retaining the firing pin in either of its two positions.

11. The structure deiined in claim 9 in which the revolver has means for carrying the usual recoil plate between the usual cylinder and the hammer and including a replacement recoil plate carried by said means, said latter plate having two tiring pin openings therein corresponding respectively to the two ring pin positions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,592 Marlin Feb. 8, 1875 172,716 Dimock a Jan. 25, 1876 1,092,763 Bourdelles Apr. 7, 1914 1,599,651 Corson Sept. 14, 1926 1,898,566 Noel Feb 21, 1933 2,150,914 Gaidos Mar. 2l, 1939 2,329,273 Kelly Sept. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,545 France Mar. 19, 1929 384,058 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1932