US3016646A

US3016646A - Hammer assembly for a pistol

Info

Publication number: US3016646A
Application number: US856750A
Authority: US
Inventors: Katherine B Groves
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-12-02
Filing date: 1959-12-02
Publication date: 1962-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1979-01-16

Description

Jan. 16, 1962 w. H. B. SMITH 3,016,646

HAMMER ASSEMBLY FOR A PISTOL Filed Dec. 2, 1959 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 w. H. B. SMITH 3,016,646

HAMMER ASSEMBLY FOR A PISTOL Filed Dc. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS This invention relates to iirearms and more particularly relates to automatic weapons which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Conventional rifles and pistols are normally designed and constructed as integral units with the result that it is generally necessary to perform a multiplicity of manufacturing operations upon each piece which is involved.

According to the present invention there is provided an automatic pistol wherein the hammer and its associated parts form a sub-assembly which is demountable as a unit. The remainder ofthe pistol is designed in such a way as to permit manufacture at a minimum cost while retaining all of the advantageous features of much more expensive weapons. As an example, the frame or receiver of the pistol of this invention is designed to per.- mit simplified low cost manufacture by casting, cold forging (pressing), coining or by powder metallurgy techniques. The design permits the maintenance of reasonable standards by the foregoing methods with a minimum of tooling and secondary operations and incorporates a series of novel and advantageous features.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present in vention to provide an improved automatic firearm which may be manufactured at low cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic pistol having a readily removable hammer sub-assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic pistol fabricated from a relatively small number of inexpensive and easily assembled parts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic pistol having a removable hammer subassembly which is secured within the piece by a conventional slide and which may be readily removed when the slide is removed from the pistol.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a slide and receiver for automatic pistols which may readily accept barrels and bolts of different calibers and wherein the bolts and barrels of diiferent calibers may be readily interchanged.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded View of the various subassemblies of the apparatus of the present invention and their relative positions;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the slide of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the trigger assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the hammer assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation showing the inside of the left side plate of the pistol;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section along the longitudinal axis of a pistol constructed according to the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation of the frame of the pistol of FIGURES 1-6 as seen from the rear or grip end;

.FIGURE 8 is a and plan view of the hammer assembly;

3,016,645 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 FIGURE 9 is a vertical section of the hammer assembly taken along the line 9--9 of FIGURE 8 and showing the disconnector.

Referring particularly to the exploded view of the pistol of the present invention illustrated in FIGURE il, the left side plate has been removed from the frame or receiver, so that the interior of the pistol gripl section of the receiver may be seen. The frame or receiver is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a hand grip section 2 and a barrel section 3. The hand grip section 2. is of conventional shape, as is the barrel section 3, and is provided with a vertically extending opening 4 for receiving a magazine or clip.

The opening 4 is defined by a front vertical wall 6 and a rear vertical wall 7 each of which is integrally attached to a right side wall comprising a plate 14. The left side wall comprising a plate 8 is received on the front and rear

vertical walls

6 and 7 and also upon a bridge or support 11, which also extends integrally from the right side wall 14. The

walls

6 and 7 and the bridge 11 provide support for the removable left side plate 8 which may be secured to the frame by means of screws adapted to threadedly engage

apertures

12 and 13 in the

walls

6 and 7 and bridge 11 respectively.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the barrel section 3 has a semi-cylindrical -top 3a and depending

parallel sides

3b and 3c. The left parallel side 3b is recessed adjacent the grip as shown at 4a in order to receive the upper left corner of the left side plate 8 as seen in FIGURE l.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the handle section Zhas in the right side plate 14 a horizontally extending recess or slot 16 for receiving a trigger bar from the trigger assembly. The trigger assembly shown generally at 18 consists of a pair of parallel bars or arms '17 which are joined at their rear or .right ends in FIGURE l by a cross-bar 2l) and at their forward or left ends by a cr0ss bar 25. The cross-bar 2S is secured to a linger portion 19 which is adapted to slide in the trigger guard 9. The right or lower trigger bar 17 (FIGURE 1) is received in the horizontal slot 16 in side wall 14 while the left or upper trigger bar 17 is received in a recess 98 in the left side plate shown in FIGURE 5. The vertical wall 6 contains an opening 6a through which bars 17 pass. It is to be noted that the recess or slot 16 in the right side plate 14 is of a greater width at its right end thereby permitting some pivotal movement of the trigger assembly about the left end of the slot or recess. The right side plate 14 is also provided with a vertical groove or slot 21 extending to its upper edge 22 immediately forward of the bridge 11. The groove or slot Z1 is adapted to receive a key in the form of a vertical rib 23 on the right side of a hammer assembly 24 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4. Referring to these figures, the hammer assembly comprises a body portion or housing 24a having smooth

parallel side walls

81 and 82. The vertical rib 23 is received in the slot 21, while the

horizontal shoulders

26 and 27 abut the upper edges 22 of the frame to position the hammer assembly.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the vertically extending space Z8 between the bridge 11 and rear vertical wall 7 is adapted to receive a pressure bar 29 of a grip-type safety generally indicated at 31. The pressure bar 29 is pivotally supported in the frame 1 by means of a pivot pin 32 which is received in an aperture 33 in the right side plate 14 and an aperture 34 in the left side plate S. The bar 29 is biased rearwardly Vor in a clockwise direction by means of a compression spring 36 which is received in an aperture in the bar and which bears against a reduced thickness section 36a of the vertical wall 7.

Attached to the pressure bar 29 is a forwardly extend- Y ing bar 37 which is lG-shaped in plan view. The bar 37 has a rear leg 37a extending away from the viewer in FIGURES l and 6, and this is attached to the pressure bar 29. The opposite end of the bar 37 is also provided with an inwardly directed bar 38 which also extends away from the viewer in FIGURE 1. The bar 37 is received in the recess 9S in the left side plate 3 as seen in FIGURE 5. Referring to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that the bar 37 extends past the forward vertical wall 6 in the recess 9.3 in left side plate 3 and the inwardly extending bar 33 1s received adjacent a shoulder 39 in a recess 41. The recess 41 is in communication with the space enclosed by the trigger guard and is formed by the vertical wall 6 and extensions of the forward edges of right and left side plates.

The vertical wall 7 of the handle grip assembly 2 includes a clip retaining apparatus 42 of conventional desi n.

gReferring to FIGURES l, 6 and 7, the barrel portion 3 has a longitudinal bore 47 in which is disposed an insented barrel 48. Below this bar-rel there is a longitudinally extending slot 49' which extends `across the width of the forward end of the barrel section. This slot 49 communicates with a central bore 51 whcih extends intor the frame 1 almost to the vertical wall 6 of the grip portion 2- The bore 5-1 isv adapted to receive a slide return spring -2 which, inA its extendedv condition, as illustrated in PIG- URE 1, extends to approximately the forward edge of the frame 1'. The thickness of the barrel section immediately-v below the slot 49 is increased as Vshown at 51a in FIGURE 1'. This increased width sectionSla provides on either side of the barrel 3 shoulders 51b, which abut the lower edges of the slide as will presently become apparent.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 7, each. side plate is provided at the outer surface of its upper edge with a reduced thickness portion 8a. At the trailing upper edge of each such side plate, a ridge or guide 8b is provided so as to d'eine a narrow groove 8c. These guides 8b and grooves 8c cooperate to guide the slide as shall presently be described in further detail. Referring to FIGURES l and 7, the inner surface ofthe right side plate 14 is provided with a vertical slot or recess43a which receives a leaf spring 44 which may be attached thereto by means of a rivet 44a. The upper edge ofthe right side plate 14 has; arectangular cut-away the width of the leaf-spring 44Iv to receive a head 46 attached to. thel top of the leaf spring and extending out over lthe upper edge of the right, side plate 14. This head 46 is of the same width as the ridge 8b and forms a forward extension thereof. A button 45a is also attached' to they leaf spring 44 and extends out through an aperture in the side pla-te 14 to form a means for exing the leaf spring inwardly to release the slide in a manner presently to become apparent.

The slide is generally indicated' at 50 at FIGURES I, 2 and 6I and comprises a rear section 61 having an inverted U-shaped cross-section which receives a bolt indicated generally `at 62. TheI rear portion 61 ofthe slide has de pending legs or side walls 61aL and these are longitudinally recessed on the inner surfaces thereof to form grooves at 61b to leave guides 71 is is best seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2. The guide, 71 0n the walls 61a in FIG.

URE 2 is broken away at 72 in. FIGURE 1 for a distance equal to the length of one of the guides Sb on the side plates to permitV removal of the slide.

The slide further compirses aforwardly extending portion 53 consistingof` two parallel arms` 54 and 56 which extend` from theI dependingv walls 61a. These forwardly extending arms 54 and 56: arev bridged atr their front end by a bar S7 having a semi-circular downwardly depending rib. 58. Thebar 57 is adapted to: ride in the, slot 49 in the from. end of the frame 1, while the semi-circular rib 58. of the bar 57 is adapted to. ride in the bottom, 59 of the bore 49. The slide is removed by rst pulling it to the right ini FIGURE.Y 6 to compress the spring` 49. The

slide is-pulled in-this direction until the broken` away portion 720i` the shoulders 71. are. opposite the shoulders Sib on the side plates. At this` time the leaf spnng, 44 1s depressed by the button 45a, so that the head 46 clears the shoulder 71 on the right wall 61a of the slide. At this time the slide may be pivoted counterclockwise a suilicient distance to allow the bolt to clear the barrel portion 3 so that the slide may then be moved to the left and removed from the frame. For this purpose, the cross bar 57 at the forward edge of the parallel arms 53 is inclined, -as shown at 57a in FIGURE 6.

The bolt 62 has a semi-circular cross-section so as to be received matingly within the rear portion 61 of the slide and has a ridge 63 extending downwardly from its bottom horizontal surface. The forward right side of the bolt is provided with -a slot 64 in which is disposed an extractor 66 of conventional design. The trailing edge of the bolt is yarcuate in side elevation in order to conform to the shape of the rear edge of the slide 50 as indicated at 67. The trailing edge of the bolt is also vertically and centrally slotted -at 63 to form rearwardly extending legs 6&1 Ibetween which the hammer 69 is received. Referring to FIGURE 6, the bolt assembly is centrally bored as shown at 73 and a firing pin 7 4 is received within this bore. The bore 73 has` a forward portion of reduced diameter to define a shoulder 75 against which is seated a firing pin return spring '76, the other end of which is seated against an enlarged section 77 ofthe tiring pin 74.

The bore 47 in the barrel section 3 is suiiiciently large to receive -a barrel 48 capable of handling a 32 caliber shell, while the internal dimensions of the U-shaped portion of the slide are suiiiciently large to receive a bolt 62 of the same caliber. The barrel 48 and bolt 62 are retained in the barrel' section md slide respectively by means of drive pins 78 and 79. These drive pins may be readily removed, so that the barrel and bolt may be replaced by diiferent caliber units. Obviously, the external dimensions of the bolt and barrel must always be the same regardless of the caliber of the shells which they are adapted to handle.

Referring to FIGURES 4, 8 and 9, the hammer assembly 24 comprises two

sidewalls

81 and 82 which are spaced apart a predeterminedl distance and. bridged only at the forward edge of the assembly by a web of metal 83. The vertical rib or guide 23 is formed on wall 81 and the shoulders 27 and 2.6 define the upper edges of walls 8d and 82,. respectively. The upper edge of the web 83' is recessed as `at 84, so that when the slide is retracted the downwardly extending rib 63 of they bolt 62 may pass therethrough. The hammer 69 is supported between the

side walls

81 and 82 by means of a pivot pin 86 and its forward motion is restricted by the web 83. The hammer 69 includes a vertical bore 87 in which is disposed a hammer spring 88. The side walls of the hammer 69 defining the borey 8.7 are provided with arcuate slots, one of which is indicated at 819, opening into bore 87 and extending. along the circumference of a circle having a point on the axis of pivot pin 86 Vas its` center. A cross pin 91v is secured between the side walls 811 and 82 of the hammer assembly 24 and serves as one stop for the spring 8'8. When. the hammer is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 6, the hammer rotatesy with. respect to the pin 91 such that the pin enters the slots 89 and compresses the spring 88.

Referring` particularly to FIGURE 6, the hammer assembly 24V is provided with a sear 92 pivoted between the

side walls

81 and 82 by means of a pivot pin 93. Clamped in the forward edge of the sear 92 s a. leafspring 94 which extends upwardly `and enters a slot 83a in the web 83 and is adapted to bias the Sear intoy the position illustrated in FIGURE 6.. The lower forward edge of the hammer 69 isl provided with` two scar` engaging

hooks

96 and 97 which permit a cocked and half-cocked position of the hammer 69.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 9., the hammer assembly 24 is also provided with a disconnector 120 which consists of a, cylindrical upper portion 122 which passes through the web 83 at the left-hand side thereof as seenv in FIGURE 4. The upper portion 123 of the disconnector 120 is cut away as shown at 124 in FIGURE 4, andthe lower portion comprises a flat blade 126 which rides against the side wall 31 of the hammer assembly. The disconnector is held in position by the same pin 93 which mounts the sear 92. As is seen in FIGURE 9 the pin 93 passes .through a slot 123l in the blade 126. The

hooks

96 and 97 on the Sear 92 dot not extend across the full width of .the sear but terminate at the blade 126, as is seen in FIGURE 4.

The upper end of the disconnector 128 is adapted to cooperate with a diagonal surface 128 formed in the bottom of the block. As the slide recoils the diagonal surface 128 forces the disconnector 120 downwardly, so as to make it necessary to release the trigger in order to tire the pistol again. The disconnector 120 accomplishes this by engaging .the -bar 26 in the trigger assembly and forcing the rearwardly extending bars 17 counterclockwise and downwardly, so .that as the hammer is cocked, the lower end of the sear 92 snaps -above the bar 2). In order to again fire the pistol, the trigger must be released to allow the bar to move forwardly of the sear 92 whereupon it springs upwardly into a position ready to again move the lower end of the sear 92 to the rear or right to fire the pistol.

Referring now to the side plate 8 illustrated in FIG- URE 5, there is provided on the inner surface thereof a recessed or machinedout section 98 adapted to receive the arm 17 of the trigger assembly 18 and the single arm 37 of the pistol grip safety mechanism 31. It will be noted that the recess 98 is considerably larger in the vertical plane than the corresponding recess in the right side plate 14 of the frame 1 and this results from the fact that the forwardly extending portion of .the grip safety 31 has a single arm 37 which is adapted to ride in the recess 98, there being no corresponding arm which needs to be guided bythe recess 16 in the right side plate 14. A safety mechanism is attached to the side plate 8 and comprises -a rotatable lever 99 carrying a finger 101 which extends through -an elongated slot 102 in the side plate 8. The elongated slot 102 extends into the recess 98 on the interior surface of the side plate 8 and when rotated fully counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 5 depresses the adjacent arm 17 of the trigger assembly 18 and pushes it below the region of the sear 92 of the hammer assembly 24, as will be apparent upon consideration of the assembly view of FIGURE 6.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 6 of the accompanying drawing, the hammer assembly 24 is arranged with the vertical rib 23 disposed in the vertical slot 21 in the right side plate 14 of the housing with the lower surfaces of the

shoulders

26 and 27 resting on the upper edge 22 of the side plate 14 and the upper edge of the side plate 8. The upper surfaces of the

shoulders

26 and 27 of the hammer assembly 24 are engaged by flat

horizontal surfaces

103 and 104 of the bolt 62 disposed on either side ofthe downwardly-extending rib 63 and therefore when the slide 50 is assembled with the frame 1, the hammer assembly 24 is positively retained in the weapon.

The trigger assembly 18 is disposed with 4the portion 19 Within the region defined by the trigger guard 9 and wall 6 and with its rearwardly extending arms 17 disposed within the recess 16 of the right side plate 14. The cross member is disposed adjacentthe forward edge 16a of the slot 16 (FIGURE l) and limits forward motion of the trigger. The trigger assembly is biased into this forward position by a trigger spring 106 which is received in a bore in the finger portion 19.

AThe trigger spring 106 tends to rotate the trigger assembly 18 about the point of contact between the wall if the slot 16 and the bar 25 so that the upper surface of the rearwardly-extending portion 17 engages the upper surface of the slot 16. In this position the rear cross bar 20 of the trigger assembly is disposed immediately forward of the sear 92 so that when the trigger, is pressed rearwardly a sutcient distance, the sear is rotated counterclockwise out-of-engagement with the hook 97 on the hammer 69 when the hammer assembly 24 is in the cocked position thereby releasing the hammer 'and permitting it to strike the firing pin 74.

With the grip safety 31 assembled within the frame 1 in the manner shown in FIGURE 6 its normal position is determined by the spring 36 and which urges the front har 38 into engagement with the trigger assembly 18. At this time the bar 38 is disposed'immediately forward of the shoulder 39 of the vertical wall 6. Therefore, with the elements in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 6, the trigger assembly 18 cannot be pressed rearwardly a sufficient distance to move the sear 92 out of engagement with the hook 97 because the shoulder 30 on the trigger engages the bar 39. However, when the pistol is gripped and the grip mechanism 31 is rotated counterclockwise, to its maximum degree as dened by the lower surface of the groove 41 in the frame 1, the bar 39 is disposed in the dotted line position illustrated in FIG- URE 6 and the trigger 18 may be depressed sufficiently to cause the sear 92 to be moved out of engagement with the hook 97.

The hammer may be cocked manually by merely pulling back on the hammer, that is, by rotating it clockwise by engaging the finger portion, or may be cocked by retracting the slide 50 so that the rear wall of the bolt 62 contacts the forward surface of the hammer causes it to rotate ino a position in which the hook 97 engages the sear 92. The downwardly extending rib 63 of the bolt 62, when it moves forward, extracts the next cartridge from a clip as its forward edge passes through the groove 84 in the web 83 of the hamer assembly 24. The top of the clip is illustrated by broken lines 107 in FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURE 6, the operation of the pistol is as follows:

The safety lever 99 must be moved clockwise in FIG- URE 5 in order to have its end 101 clear the trigger bars 17 to permit them to move upward so that the cross bar 20 may engage the lower end of the sear 92. The hammer 69 may be moved to the half-cocked position whereupon the upper edge of the sear 92 engages the hook 96. This is a safety position, since the shape of the hook 96 prevents the trigger bar from releasing the hammer 69. The hammer 69 may be moved to a cocked position by rotating it further in a clockwise direction until the upper edge of the sear 92 engages the secondl hook 97. When the pistol is in this condition, it may be red by depressing the grip safety bar 29 to move the front cross bar 38 downwardly into the dotted position shown in FIGURE 6. The trigger assembly may then be moved to the right to release the sear from the hook 97, allowing the spring 87 to rotate the hammer 69 counterclockwise to strike the firing pin and fire the pistol. Recoil drives the slide to the right in FIGURE 6 forcing hammer 69 in a clockwise direction. Disconnector forces the trigger bar 20 downwardly soV that the lower edge of the sear 92 slips thereover as it moves into engagement with the ghtmost hook 97 in FIGURE 6. The slide returns forward and the disconnector 120 isgheld loosely in position by the pin 93 in the slot 123. The pistol may again be fired lin a similar manner.

While this invention has been discussed in connection with a specific illustration of a pistol, the principles involved are equally applicable to ries. That is to say, rifles may also be constructed with a hammer sub-assembly of the same type as described in detail herein.

It is apparent that the apparatus of the invention proi vides Aa readily assembled and disassembled pistol fab* ricated from relatively few, easily fabricated elements. rlhe hammer assembly 24 may be readily removed by removing the slide 50 andpthen merely lifting it out. When mounted it is 'securely heldin position bythe clamping action on the

shoulders

26 and 27 provided by the surfaces '3 and 104 of the bolt 62 and the

side plates

14 and 8. Engagement between the bar 20 and the sear 92 is assured by the guiding action of the groove 16 in wall 14 and the trigger spring 106 which maintains the arm 17 of the trigger assembly in contact with the upper wall of the groove 16. The grip section Z is adapted to receive newly commercially available clipswhich may carry 22 or 32 caliber shells so that the only modification necessary to adapt the pistol to operate with different size shells is the provision of the proper size barrel and bolt.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended. to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a firearmv having a frame carrying a recoilable slide having a bolt therein and having a trigger assembly; a hammer assembly mountable and demountable in said frame as an integral unit, said hammer assembly including a` housing, a hammer pivotally mounted in said housing, a hammer spring applying tension to said hammer, and a Sear for holding said hammer in a cocked position, said sear being mounted to engage said trigger vassembly for firing said firearm.

2. A iirearm as set out in claim l including a sear spring and a disconnector mounted in said housing, said sear spring tensioning said sear, and said disconnector disconnecting said trigger assembly from said sear after each recoil.

3'. A firearm as set out in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a pair of parallel side walls, and a Web extending therebetween, said hammer being pivotally mounted: between said side walls on a pin extending between said Walls, said sear comprising a lever mounted between said side walls on a pin extending therebetween, and said disconnector slidably passing through said web.

4. A firearm as set out kin claim 3 wherein said hammer spring comprises a coil spring mounted inl a bore in said hammer and engaging a pin extending between said side walls, said sear spring comprising a leaf spring engaging saidsear and saidI web.

5. A firearm as set out in claim 4 including av vertical rib on the outer surface ofl one of said housing side walls, said riby being received in a= mating groove in said frame toposition said hammer assembly therein.

6. A firearm as set out in claim 5 including a pair of outwardly extending shoulders at the upper edges of said side walls, said shoulders engaging upper edges of side wallsin saidframe to position said hammer assembly therein-1 7. YA hammer assemblycomprising a housing including a pair of spaced parallel side walls joined by a web, a hammer pivotally mounted between said side walls, spring means in said assembly' urging said hammer into engagement with said web, a sear pivotally mounted between said side walls and resiliently urged into engagement with said hammer, and key means on the outside of said housing forv positioning said hammer assembly in the frame of a firearm.

8.. A hammer assembly comprising a housing including apair of spaced parallel sideV walls joined by a transverse web, -a hammer pivotally mounted between said sidel walls, Ia coil spring mounted in a bore in said hammer and urging said hammer into engagement withA said web, -a sear pivotally mounted betweensaid side walls, a sear spring engaging said: scar and said web and urging said scar into engagement with said hammer, and a rib on the outer surface of one of said side walls for positioning said hammer assembly in the frame of a iirearm.

9. A pistol comprising a pistol grip section having a fixed side wall and a removable side wall, each of said side walls having an upper horizontal edge, a removable slide, a bolt positioned in said slide and having flat bottom surfaces, a hammer assembly having a body portion of a width approximately equal to the distance between said side walls, and apair of'opposed, outwardly-extending shoulders at the upper edge of said body portion, a vertical rib on said body portion, a vertical slot in one of said side walls for receiving said rib of said hammer assembly with each of said opposed shoulders disposed against the upper edge of a different one of said side walls.

l0. A pistol comprising a pistol grip section having a fixed side Wall and `a removable side Wall, each of said side walls having an upper horizontal edge, a hammer assembly having a body portion of a width approximately equal to the distance between said side walls, a pair of opposed, outwardly-extending shoulders adjacent the upper edge of said body portion, a vertical rib on said body portion, and a vertical slot in one of said side walls for receiving said rib of said hammer assembly with each of said opposed shoulders overlying any upper edge of a diiferent one of said side walls.

ll. The combination according to claim l0, further comprising a trigger assembly having a rearwardly-extending arm, a recess formed in said xed wall of said pistol grip section for receiving said arm of said trigger assembly, and having a pair of rearwardly extending edges, said `hammer assembly having' a scar, ione' of said edges `of said recess lying in a plane intersecting said Sear, and a spring for maintaining said arm of said trigger Iassernbly against said one edge of said recess. l

l2. The combination according to claim l1, further comprising a safety mechanism including an arm rotatable between two extreme positions and terminating in a linger disposed adjacent said arm of said trigger assembly, said finger being out of contact with said arm of said trigger assembly in one extreme position and contacting said arm in its second extreme position to move it away from said sear and into contact with the other edge of said recess.

13. A pistol comprising a pistol grip section having a fixed side wall and a removable Vside wall, each of said side walls having an upper horizontal edge, a hammer assembly having a body portion of a width approximately equal to the distances between said side walls, a pair of opposed, outwardly-extending shoulders adjacent the upper edge of said body portion, a vertical rib on said body portion, a vertical slot in one of said side walls for receiving said rib of said hammer assembly with each of said opposed shoulders overlying an upper edge of a different one of said side walls, a removable slide, a bolt secured in said slide and having horizontal bottom surfaces, yand cooperating guides and grooves on said slide andV said pistol grip section for removably securing said slide to said pistol for reciprocating motion with respect to said pistol grip section, said guides and grooves maintaining said horizontal surfaces of said bolt over'- lying, and in close proximity to said opposed shoulders of said hammer assembly.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said bolt has a horizontally-extending, downwardly-depending ridge and wherein said hammer assembly has a front Wall, said front wall being recessed to accept said ridge of said bolt.

l5. The combination according to claim 13, further comprising a barrel portion including a longitudinallyextending aperture, a barrel, said aperture in said barrel portion snuggly receiving said barrel and means for removably securing said barrel in said aperture.

1'6. The combination according to claim l5, wherein said bolt is removably secured to said slide.

17. A` self-contained hammer assembly for pistols comprising a pair of at side Walls and a Web interconnecting the upper portion of the front edges of said at side walls, a sear rotatably supported between said flat side walls below said web, a hammer rotatably supported between said flat side walls and having a forward surface with at least one Sear-engaging hook lformed thereon, a spring for biasing said sear into engagement with said hook, each of said flat side walls having an outwardly-extending shoulder, the top surface of each shoulder being coplanar with the upper edges of said at side walls and a key member disposed generally perpendicular to said shoulders on the outer surface of one of said at side walls and terminating in one of said shoulders.

18. The combination according to claim 17, wherein References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reising May 29, 1917 Obregon Apr. 26, 1938