US3768190A

US3768190A - Loading gate arrangement for single action revolver

Info

Publication number: US3768190A
Application number: US00215127A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Ruger; L Larson
Original assignee: Sturm Ruger and Co Inc
Current assignee: Sturm Ruger and Co Inc
Priority date: 1972-01-03
Filing date: 1972-01-03
Publication date: 1973-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-30
Also published as: AU475709B2; AU5121273A

Abstract

The loading gate arrangement for a single action revolver comprises a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame of the revolver by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, the loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion that is disposed in front of the pivot stud and is formed with retaining flange and detent surfaces. A trigger interlock element connected to and movable with the trigger and a loading gate interlock element located on the loading gate pivot stud cooperate to prevent the trigger from being moved and the hammer from being cocked when the loading gate is open and to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the hammer is cocked. A spring loaded gate retainer and detent member having a horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a vertically disposed finger portion extending upwardly adjacent the loading gate cooperates with the retaining flange and detent surfaces of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open. A laterally extending lug portion of the cylinder latch cooperates with the detent surfaces of the loading gate and with the loading gate retainer and detent member to withdraw the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

Description

[ 51 Oct. 30, 1973 te Sates Patt [1 1 LOADING GATE ARRANGEMENT FOR volver comprises a loading gate pivotally mounted on SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER the frame of the revolver by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, the loading [75] Inventors: William B. Ruger, Southport;

gate having an integrally formed hub portion that is Lawrence L. Larson, Bethany, both of Conn.

disposed in front of the pivot stud and is formed with [73] Assignee: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., lock element connected to and movable with the trig- Southport, Conn. get and a loading gate interlock element located on Jan. 1972 the loading gate pivot stud cooperate to prevent the [22] Filed:

trigger from being moved and the hammer from being Appl. No.: 215,127 cocked when the loading gate is open and to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the hammer U S Cl 42/66 42/59 42/65 is cocked. A spring loaded gate retainer and detent member having a horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a verti- Int. Cl...... F4lc 17/08, F41c 17/00, F4lc 1/00 cally disposed finger portion extending upwardly adja- {581 Field of Search cent the loading gate cooperates with the retaining flange and detent surfaces of the loading gate to retain [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS the loading gate in position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when 336,894 3/1886 565,692 8/1896 Richardson 2,863,249 12/1958 Koucky et al...

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS the loading gate retainer and detent member to with- 62 657 0/1892 Germany 42/67 draw the of the cylind" latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerC. T. Jordan AttorneyDean S. Edmonds et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The loading gate arrangement for a single action re- 29 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures Siili PATENTEDUCI 30 I973 INVENTORS WILLIAM B. RUGER LAWRENCE L. LARSON h b /%M ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDnm 30 ms SHEET 38? 6 INVENTORS WILLIAM B. RUGER LAWRENCE L.LARSON BY m, fi l/ ATTORNEYS PAIENIEUucI 30 I973 768.190 SIIEEI IBF 6 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

FIG. 7

FIG. 6

N S 0 MS mam W N w 5m E 0 M I lwT 18 PATENTEuom 30 Ian 3.768.190

INVENTORS WILLIAM B. RUGER LAWRENCE L.LARSON ATTO RN E YS P IENIEnnm 30 I975 3. 768. l 90. sum 5 CF 6 INVENTO WILLIAMRBJRUG LAWRENCEL ARSON ATTORNEYS LOADING GATE ARRANGEMENT FOR SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to revolvers, and more particularly to an improved loading gate arrangement for single action revolvers.

2. Prior Art The principal components of a conventional single action revolver include the revolver frame, a barrel, a cylinder and cylinder ratchet, a hammer, a trigger, a cylinder pawl, a cylinder latch and a loading gate. As is well known in the art, these revolvers have certain structural limitations and require certain operating procedures (for example, when loading, cocking and firing the revolver) that are uniquely characteristic of this type of firearm. By way of example, unlike most other firearms the hammer of a conventional single action revolver may be placed in anyone of four positions namely, in its firing position with the hammer resting against the firing pin, in its safety position at which the trigger engages the safety notch formed in the hammer, in its loading position at which the trigger engages the loading notch formed in the hammer, and in its fully cocked position at which the trigger sear engages the sear notch of the hammer.

The revolver is loaded by manually rotating the hammer to its loading position at which the loading notch is engaged by the trigger and the cylinder latch is withdrawn from engagement with the cylinder notches of the cylinder. The loading gate is then opened, and the cylinder is rotated to align one of the chambers of the cylinder with the loading gate opening of the frame to permit the insertion of a cartridge in this chamber. After all of the chambers are loaded, the hammer is then cocked by rotating the hammer manually to its cocked position; it cannot be cocked by rotating or pulling the trigger as in a double action revolver. When the hammer is thus cocked the trigger is rotated by the hammer to its ready-to-fire position at which the sear of the trigger engages the sear notch of the hammer, the cylinder latch being momentarily withdrawn from engagement with the cylinder and the cylinder pawl engaging the cylinder ratchet and rotating the cylinder to a new firing position as the hammer is rotated to its cocked position.

As noted, when the revolver is being loaded, the hammer is in its loading position with the loading notch of the hammer wngaged by the trigger. If not immediately cocked and fired, the loaded revolver is normally carried about with the hammer in its safe position at which the safety notch of the hammer is'engaged by the trigger. Both the safety notch and the loading notch are points of mechanical weakness and possible failure in conventional single action revolver. Moreover, there is nothing in a conventional revolver to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the revolver is cocked or to prevent the revolver from being cocked when the loading gate is open, both of which situations are potentially dangerous.

After an intensive investigation of the limitations and potential dangers inherent conventional single action revolver mechanisms, we have devised a new loading gate arrangement for such revolvers that prevents the trigger from being moved and the hammer from being cocked when the loading gate is open and that prevents the loading gate from being opened when the hammer is in its cocked position. In addition, the loading gate arrangement is provided with new retainer and detent means that retains the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and that releasably detains the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open. Other features of the improved loading gate arrangement of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved loading gate arrangement of the invention is applicable to single action revolvers having a frame, a cylinder, a hammer, a trigger, a cylinder latch having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, and a loading gate mounted on the' frame adjacent a loading gate opening formed in the frame. The loading gate is pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, the loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud. Loading gate and trigger interlock means are provided, said means having a trigger interlock element operatively connected to and movable with the trigger and a loading gate interlock element located on the pivot stud of the loading gate. The loading gate interlock element blocks movement of the trigger interlock element to prevent the trigger from being moved and the hammer from being cocked when theloading gate is open, and the trigger interlock element blocks movement of the loading gate interlock element to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the hammer is in its cocked position. Loading gate retainer and detent means are also advantageously provided, said means having retaining flange and detent surfaces located on the hub of the loading gate and a spring loaded retainer and detent member located in front of the loading gate. The retaining flange and detent surfaces and the retainer and detent member contact each other to retain the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open. Cylinder latch operating means are provided, said means including a portion of the cylinder latch that is operatively connected to and moved-by the detent surfaces of the loading gate to withdraw the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

The loading gate and trigger interlock means advantageously comprises a trigger interlock element connected to and movable with the trigger, a trigger interlock receiving recess formed in the rearwardly extending loading gate pivot stud, and a trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate studfThe-trigger interlock receiving recess is adapted to receive the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is in its closed position so that move ment of said trigger interlock element and said trigger to their ready-to-fire positions are permitted. When the trigger interlock element is received in the trigger interlock receiving recess it engages and prevents movement of the loading gate from its closed position to its open position. When the loading gate is open the trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud engages and prevents movement of the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger, thereby preventing movement of the trigger and cocking of the hammer.

The loading gate retainer and detent means advantageously comprises a generally vertically disposed retaining flange formed in the hub portion of the loading gate and, generally perpendicular thereto, gate closed and gate open detent surfaces are also formed in the hub. The retainer and detent member has an arm portion that extends forwardly from the loading gate and a finger portion that extends upwardly adjacent the loading gate. The finger portion has a rearward facing loading gate retaining surface and an upper detent surface that contact, respectively, the retaining flange and the detent surfaces of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame of the revolver and to detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open. A retainer and detent spring urges the retainer and detent member into contact with the retaining and detent surfaces of the loading gate. The cylinder latch operating means advantageously comprises a laterally extending lug portion of the cylinder latch that underlies the arm portion of the retainer and detent member so that, when the loading gate is opened, the detent surfaces thereof depress the arm of the retainer and detent member which, in turn, depresses the cylinder latch to disenage it from the aforementioned notches of the cylinder. Additional new or improved features of the loading gate arrangement will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The improved loading gate arrangement of the invention will be better understood from the following description thereofin conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. I is an enlarged right hand side elevation, partly broken away, ofa single action revolver embodying the loading gate arrangement of the invention and showing the firing mechanism of the revolver in its rest position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary left hand side elevation of the evolver of FIG. 1 showing the revolver mechanism in its cocked position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded view of the principal components of the firing mechanism of the revolver of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views along

line

4,5 4,5 of FIG. 1 showing the loading gate in its closed position and its open position, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 66 of FIG. 1 showing the trigger bar and the pivot stud of the loading gate of one embodiment of the loading gate and trigger interlock means of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line 77 of FIG. 2 which shows the firing mechanism in its cocked position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary left hand side elevation similar to FIG. 2 showing the cylinder ratchet and pawl in their rest positions;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line 99-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary left hand side elevation similar to FIGS. 2 and 8 showing the cylinder ratchet and pawl in their loading positions;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary right hand side sectional view showing an advantageous modification of the loading gate retainer and detent member;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along line 1313 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary right hand side sectional view showing the relative positions of the retainer and detent member and the cylinder latch when the loading gate is open, and also showing an advantageous alterna tive embodiment of the loading gate and trigger interlock means of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view along line l515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary left hand side sectional view showing the alternative loading gate and trigger interlock means of FIG. 14 with the firing mechanism in its cocked position; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trigger and loading gate pivot stud showing the alternative loading gate and trigger interlock means with the loading gate in its open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the major components of the single action revolver embodying the improved loading gate arrangement of the invention include a frame 1, a barrel 2 secured to the frame, a cylinder 3 rotatably mounted on the frame by means of the cylinder pivot shaft 4, a hammer 5 pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a hammer pivot pin 6, a trigger 7 pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a trigger pivot pin 8, a trigger spring and trigger spring plunger 10, a trigger guard 11, a hammer spring and hammer spring strut 13, and hand grips 14. A spring loaded firing pin 15 is mounted on the frame in position to strike a cartridge contained in the uppermost chamber of the cylinder 3 when the revolver is fired. A loading gate 16 (shown best in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing) is pivotally mounted in the frame in the manner hereinafter described. An ejector rod 17 is provided for ejecting spent cartridges from the chambers of the cylinder 3, the ejector rod being contained in an ejector rod housing 18 mounted on one side of the barrel 2.

The cylinder 3 is formed with a plurality of cartridge receiving chambers 20 and with a like number of cylinder notches 21 on the outer surface thereof, and it is provided with a cylinder ratchet 22 at the rearward end thereof. A cylinder latch 23 is pivotally mounted on the frame underneath the cylinder 3, the cylinder latch having a nose 24 that is adapted to engage the cylinder notches 21 formed in the cylinder 3. A spring loaded cylinder latch plunger 25 urges the nose 24 of the cylinder latch into engagement with the lowermost notch 21 of the cylinder 3 so that each chamber 20 of the cylinder is successively held in alignment with the bore of the barrel 2 when the nose 24 of the cylinder latch successively engages the cylinder ntoches 21 formed in the cylinder 3.

As shown best in FIG. 3, the hammer 5 is formed with a cam surface 27 that is adapted to contact the rearward surface 28 of the upwardly extending arm 29 of the trigger 7 when the hammer is being cocked and with a sear notch 30 that is adapted to engage the sear 31 of the trigger 7 when the hammer is cocked. A spring loaded hammer latch plunger 33 is mounted on the hammer 5 in position to momentarily contact the rearward arm portion 34 of the cylinder latch 23 when the hammer is being cocked. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylinder pawl 36 is pivotally mounted on the hammer 5 by means of the pin or stud 37. The upper end of the cylinder pawl 36 is formed with two vertically spaced

ratchet engaging lugs

38 and 39. The lowermost lug 38 is adapted to engage the teeth of the cylinder ratchet 22 when the hammer is being cocked, and

the uppermost lug 39 is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 22 when the cylinder is being loaded in the manner hereinafter described.

As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3, the trigger 7 is provided with the aforementioned upward extending arm 29 having the rearward surface 28 and the sear 31, and it is also provided with a rearwardly extending trigger bar lifting arm 40. A vertically disposed trigger bar 41 is pivotally connected by a pin or stud 42 to the trigger bar lifting arm 40, the trigger bar 41 being movable from its lower position shown in FIG. 1 to its upper position shown in FIG. 2 when the trigger 7 is rotated from its rest position to its ready-to fire position as hereinafter described. The upper end of the trigger bar 41 is received in a trigger bar notch 44 formed in the forward surface of the hammer 5 when the hammer and trigger are at rest with the trigger bar in its lower position, the upper end of the trigger bar 41 being urged into engagement with the trigger bar notch 44 by means of the spring loaded plunger 45 located in the rearward end of the cylinder pivot shaft 4. When the trigger bar 41 is received in and engaged by the trigger bar notch 44 upward movement of the trigger bar is prevented, and this, in turn, prevents rotation of the trigger 7 and the hammer 5 from their rest positions to their cocked and ready-to-fire position. Moreover, when the hammer 5 is at rest as shown in FIG. 1, the striking surface 47 of the hammer is advantageously held out of impacting contact against the firing pin by means of the forwardly extending nose portion 48 of the hammer which rests against the rearwardly facing surface 49 of the frame 1.

The revolver is cocked by manually rotating the hammer 5 from its rest position shown in FIG. 1 to its cocked position shown in FIG. 2. When the hammer is thus rotated the hammer latch plunger 33 momentarily contacts and rotates the arm 34 of the cylinder latch 23 which, in turn, momentarily withdraws the nose 24 of the cylinder latch from engagement with the lowermost notch 21 of the cylinder 3, and the trigger bar notch 44 is moved rearwardly out of engagement with the trigger bar 41. The cam surface 27 of the hammer contacts the rearward surface 28 of the arm 29 of the trigger 7, thereby causing the trigger to rotate from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position at which position the sear 31 of the trigger engages the sear notch 30 of the hammer as shown in FIG. 2. When the hammer is rotated to its cocked position as described, the lowermost lug 38 of the cylinder pawl 36 engages a tooth of the cylinder ratchet 22 to rotate the cylinder 3 a distance equal to the angular distance between the chambers of the cylinder as to position a new chamber in alignment with the bore of the barrel 2. When the trigger 7 is rotated to its ready-to-fire position as described, the trigger bar 41 moves upwardly so that the upper end thereof is disposed directly in back of the spring loaded firing pin 15 as also shown in FIG. 2. When the trigger 7 is pulled to disengage the sear 31 and thereby release the hammer 5, the hammer springs forwardly under the pressure of the hammer spring and strut 13 to strike the upper end of the trigger bar 41. The impact of the striking surface 47 of the hammer against the trigger bar 41 is transferred to the firing pin 15 which, in turn, strikes and fires the cartridge contained in the upper chamber 20 of the cylinder.

As previously noted, the improved loading gate arrangement of the invention includes loading gate and trigger interlock means which prevent the trigger from being moved to its ready-to-fire position when the loading gate is open and which prevent the loading gate from being opened when the trigger is at its ready-tofire position, loading gate retainer and detent means which retain the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and which releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open, and cylinder latch operating means which withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with the lowermost notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open. In conjunction therewith, an improved cylinder pawl is provided which positions the cylinder so that a chamber of the cylinder is in alignment with the gate opening of the frame when the loading gate is open.

As shown best in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the loading gate 16 provided with an integrally formed hub portion 51 and rearwardly extending pivot stud 52. The loading gate 16 is pivotally mounted on the frame 1 by means of the longitudinally disposed pivot stud 52 so that the loading gate can be rotated laterally from its closed position as shown in FIG. 4 to its open position as shown in FIG. 5. When the loading gate 16 is closed it is received in the gate opening 53 formed in the frame 1 so as to prevent cartridges received in the chambers 20 of the cylinder 3 from escaping therefrom. When the loading gate 16 is open the chambers 20 of the cylinder can be loaded or unloaded by bringing the chambers successively into alignment with the gate opening 53 in the manner hereinafter described. As also hereinafter more fully described, the pivot stud 52 is provided with a loading gate interlock element that comprises a part of the loading gate and trigger interlock means, and .the hub portion 51 is formed'with a retaining flange and with detent surfaces that comprises a part of the loading gate retainer and detent means of the improved loading gate arrangement of the invention.

Referring now to the loading gate and trigger interlock means of -our new loading gate arrangement, the pivot stud 52 of the loading gate 16 is provided with a loading gate interlock element 55 that cooperates with atrigger interlock element 56 operatively connected to and movable with. the trigger 7, the loading gate interlock element 55 blocking movement of the trigger interlock element 56 to prevent the trigger 7 from being moved to its ready-to-fire position when the loading gate 16 is open and the trigger interlock element 56 blocking movement of the loading gate interlock element 55 to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the trigger is in its ready-to-fire position. More particularly, the loading gate interlock element 55 advantageously comprises a trigger interlock receiving recess formed in the loading gate pivot stud 52 and a trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud. The trigger interlock receiving recess is adapted to receive the trigger interlock element 56 when the loading gate 16 is in its closed position so that movement of the trigger interlock element and the trigger 7 to its ready-to-fire position are permitted. The trigger interlock element 56 engages and prevents movement of the loading gate 16 from its closed positon to its open position when the trigger 7 is at its ready-to-fire position and the trigger interlock element 56 is received in the trigger interlock receiving recess. The trigger interlock blocking portion engages and prevents movement of the trigger interlock element 56 when the loading gate 16 is open.

In the embodiment of the loading gate and interlock means shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the loading gate interlock element 55 of the loading gate 16 comprises the trigger interlock receiving recess 58a and the trigger interlock blocking portion 59a of the pivot stud 52, and the trigger interlock element 56 associated with the trigger 7 comprises the trigger interlock shoulder portion 60a of the trigger bar 41 (which, as previously explained, is pivotally connected to and movable with the trigger 7). As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trigger bar 41 is located immediately in back of the pivot stud 52 of the loading gate 16 with the trigger interlock shoulder portion 60a in position to be received in or to be blocked by the loading gate interlock element 55, as the case may be. When the hammer and trigger 7 are at rest with the trigger bar 41 in its lower position as shown in FIG. 1, the loading gate 16 can be rotated laterally about the longitudinal axis of the pivot stud 52 from its closed position shown in FIG. 4 to its open position shown in FIG. 5. When the loading gate 16 is rotated to its open position the trigger interlock blocking portion 59a of the pivot stud 52 is rotated or moved into position directly above the trigger interlock shoulder portion 60a, thereby blocking upward movement of the trigger bar 41 and preventing movement of the trigger 7 to its ready-to-fire position. The relative positions of the blocking portion 59a of the pivot stud 52 and the shoulder portion 60a of the trigger bar 41 are clearly shown in FIG. 6, the blocking portion 59a being shown in section in its gate closed position and in outline in its gate open position. When the loading gate is closed the trigger interlock receiving recess 58a of the pivot stud 52 is in position to receive the trigger interlock shoulder portion 60a of the trigger bar 41 so that the trigger bar is free to move upwardly when the hammer 5 is cocked and trigger 7 is moved to its ready-to-fire positions, as shown in FIG. 2. WI-Ien the hammer and trigger are thus cocked and ready-tofire, the shoulder portion 60a of the trigger bar 41 is received in the recess 58a of the pivot stud 52 where it engages the blocking portion 59a of the pivot stud, thereby preventing rotation of the loading gate 16 to its open position.

In the embodiment of the loading gate and interlock means shown in FIGS. 14 through 17 of the drawings, the loading gate interlock element 55 of the loading gate 16 comprises the trigger interlock receiving recess 58b and the trigger interlock blocking portion 59b of the pivot stud 52, and the trigger interlock element 56 associated with the trigger 7 comprises the trigger interlock lug 60b of the upstanding arm 29 of the trigger. As shown best in FIGS. 14 and 17, the trigger interlock lug 60b is located immediately in back of the pivot stud 52 of the loading gate 16 in position to be received in or to be blocked by the loading gate interlock element 55, as the case may be. When the hammer 5 and trigger 7 are at rest with the trigger interlock lug 60b in its rearwardmost position the loading gate 16 can be rotated laterally about the longitudinal axis of the pivot stud 52 from its closed position to its open position shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 17. When the loading gate 16 is rotated to its open position the trigger interlock blocking portion 59b of the pivot stud 52 is rotated or moved into position directly in front of the trigger interlock lug 60b, thereby blocking movement of the trigger 7. The relative positions of the blocking portion 59b of the pivot stud 52 and the lug 60b of the trigger 7 when the loading gate 16 is open are clearly shown in FIG. 17. When the loading gate is closed the trigger interlock receiving recess 58b of the pivot stud 52 is in position to receive the trigger interlock lug 60b of the trigger 7 so that the trigger lug is free to move forwardly into the recess 5812 when the hammer 5 is cocked and trigger 7 is ready-to-fire as shown in FIG. 16. When the hammer and trigger are thus cocked and ready-to-fire, the trigger interlock lug 60b of the trigger 7 is received in the recess 58b of the pivot stud 52 where it engages the blocking portion 59b of the pivot stud, thereby preventing rotation of the loading gate 16 to its open position.

Referring now to the loading gate retainer and detent means of the loading gate arrangement, the hub portion 51 of the loading gate 16 is formed with a generally vertically oriented retaining flange 63 and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface 64 and a gate open detent surface 65. A loading gate retainer and detent member 66 is mounted in the frame in front of the loading gate 16 and below the cylinder 3. The retainer and detent member 66 has a generally horizontally disposed arm portion 67 extending forwardly from the hub of the loading gate 16 and a generally vertically disposed finger portion 68 extending upwardly adjacent the loading gate. The finger portion 68 of the retainer and detent member 66 has a rearward facing retainer flange surface 69 that bears against the retaining flange 63 of the loading gate 16 to retain the loading gate in position on the frame, and it has an upper detent surface 70 that bears against the gate closed detent surface 64 of the loading gate 16 when the gate is closed as shown in FIG. 4 and against the gate open detent surface 65 of the loading gate when the gate is open as shown in FIG. 5.

A detent spring urges the finger portion 68 of the retainer and detent member 66 upwardly against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, the finger and

arm portions

68 and 67 of the retainer and detent member 66 being moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the gate is rotated from its closed position to its open position as shown in FIG. 5. The detent spring may be an integrally formed part of the retainer and detent member 66 as exemplified by the hairpin spring portion 72 of the retainer and detent member shown in FIG. 1 through 5 of the drawing. Al ternatively, the detent spring may be a separate spring part that bears against the pivoted arm portion 67 of the retainer and detent member 66 as exemplified by the coil spring 73 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawing.

When the hammer 5 and trigger 7 are at rest as shown in FIG. 1 and the loading gate is closed as shown in FIG. 4, the detent surface 70 of the finger portion 68 of the retainer and detent member 66 bears against the gate closed detent surface 64 of the loading gate 16, thereby releasably detaining the loading gate in its closed position. Moreover, when the detent surface 70 of the retainer and detent member bears against the gate closed detent surface 64, the arm portion 67 and the finger portion 68 are at their uppermost positions as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 4. When the loading gate 16 is open the detent surface 70 of the finger portion 68 bears against the gate open detent surface 65 of the loading gate, thereby releasably detaining the loading gate in its open position. Moreover, when the detent surface 70 of the retainer and detent member bears against the gate open detent surface 65, the arm portion 67 and the finger portion 68 are at their lowermost positions as shown best in FIG. 5.

The cylinder latch operating means of the loading gate arrangement comprises a lug or other portion of the cylinder latch 23 that is operatively connected to and moved by the detent surfaces 64 and 65 of the loading gate 16 so as to withdraw the nose 24 of the cylinder latch from engagement with the lowermost cylinder latch notch 21 of the cylinder 3 when the loading gate is rotated to its open position. In the embodiment of the cylinder latch operating means shown in the drawings the cylinder latch 23 is provided with a laterally extending lug 75 which underlies the arm portion 67 of the retainer and detent member 66. When the hammer 5 and trigger 7 are at rest as shown in FIG. 1 and the loading gate is closed as shown in FIG. 4, the finger portion 68 and the arm portion 67 of the retainer and detent member 66 are in their uppermost position. When in its uppermost position the arm portion 67 does not contact the lug 75 of the cylinder latch 23, thereby allowing the nose 24 of the cylinder latch to enter the lowermost notch 21 of the cylinder 3 as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings. When the loading gate 16 is open as shown in FIGS. 5 and 14, the finger portion 68 and the arm portion 67 of the retainer and detent member are in their lowermost position. When in its lowermost position the arm portion 67 bears against and depresses the lug 75 of the cylinder latch 23, thereby withdrawing the nose 24 of the cylinder latch from engagement with the lowermost notch 21 of the cylinder 3 as also shown in FIGS. 5 and 14. As a result, when the loading gate is open, the cylinder 3 can be freely rotated in a counter-clockwise direction or rotated a short distance in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the front, as in FIGS. 7,9 and 11) to facilitate loading and unloading of the chambers of the cylinder.

It will be noted that, when the nose 24 of the cylinder latch 23 is received in the lowermost notch 21 of the cylinder 3 as shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 9, the uppermost chamber 20 of the cylinder is aligned with the bore of the barrel 2 and with the firing pin 15, but no chamber 20 is in alignment with the gate opening 53 formed in the frame 1. Therefore, when a chamber (for example, the chamber 20a) of the cylinder is to be loaded or unloaded, the loading gate 16 is rotated sideways to open the gate and withdraw the cylinder latch nose 24 from engagement with the lowermost cylinder notch 21 as shown in FIG. 5, and the cylinder 3 is rotated to bring the chamber 20a into alignment with the gate opening 53 as shown in FIG. 11. Alignment of the chamber 20a with the gate opening 53 would normally be a matter of trial and error. However, the revolver of the invention is advantageously provided with an improved cylinder pawl arrangement that automatically aligns the chamber 20a with the gate opening 53 when the loading gate 16 is open and the cylinder is rotated clockwise (as view from the front) until it comes to a stop against the uppermost lug 39 of the cylinder pawl 36.

As previously noted, the cylinder pawl 36 is provided with two vertically spaced ratchet engaging lugs namely, the lowermost lug 38 and the uppermost lug 39. When the hammer 5 is rotated from its rest'position as shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 to its cocked position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the lowermost lug 38 of the pawl 36 engages a tooth of the cylinder ratchet 22 and rotates the cylinder 3 a distance sufficient to position anew chamber 20 in alignment with the bore of the barrel 2. When the hammer 5 is at rest and the loading gate 16 is rotated from its closed position as shown in FIG. 4 to its open position as shown in FIG. 5, the nose 24 of the cylinder latch is lowered and the cylinder 3 is free to rotate. If rotated in a counterclockwise direction, any chamber 20 may be brought into alignment with the gate opening 53 by trial and error. If the cylinder 3 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the tooth 22a of the cylinder ratchet 22 is rotated to and comes to rest against the uppermost lug 39 of the cylinder pawl 36 as shown in FIG. 10, thereby automatically aligning the chamber 20a with the gate opening 53 as shown in FIG. 11. The chamber 20a can thenbe loaded or unloaded in the usual manner.

We claim:

1. In a single action revolver having a frame; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder;

the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposedpivot stud, said loading gate having an inte-' grally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud; loading gate and trigger interlock means having a trigger interlock element operatively connected to and movable with the trigger and a loading gate interlock element located on the pivot stud of the loading gate, said loading-gate interlock element blocking movement of said trigger interlock element to prevent the trigger from being moved to its ready-to-fire position when the loading gate is open and said trigger interlock element blocking movement of said loading gate interlock element to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the trigger is in its ready-to-fire position; loading gate retainer and detent means having retaining flange and detent surfaces located onthe hub of the loading gate and a spring loaded retainer and detent member located in front of the loading gate, said retaining flange and detent surfaces and said retainer and detent member contacting each other to retain the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open; and cylinder latch operating means having a lug portion of the cylinder latch that is operatively connected to and moved by the detent surface of the loading gate to withdraw the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

2. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the loading gate interlock element of the loading gate and trigger interlock means comprises a trigger interlock receiving recess formed in the rearwardly extending loading gate pivot stud, and a trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud; the trigger interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud being adapted to receive the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is in its closed position whereby movement of said trigger interlock element and movement of the trigger are permitted; the trigger interlock element, when received in the trigger interlock receiving recess, engaging and preventing movement of the loading gate from its closed position to its open position when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position; the trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud engaging and preventing movement of the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is open.

3. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the loading gate retainer and detent means comprises a generally vertically oriented loading gate retaining flange and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface and a gate open detent surface all formed in the hub; a loading gate retainer and detent member having a generally horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a generally vertically disposed finger portion extending upwardly adjacent the loading'gate, the finger portion of the retainer and detent member having a rearward retainer flange surface which bears against the retainer flange of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and an upper detent surface which bears against the gate closed detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is closed and against the gate open detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is open; and a detent spring which urges the finger portion of the retainer and detent member against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, said retainer and detent member ebing moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the loading gate is rotated from its closed to its open position.

4. The revolver according to claim 3 in which the loading gate cylinder latch operating means comprises in combination with the gate open detent surface of the loading gate and the spring loaded loading gate retainer and detent member, a laterally extending lug portion of the pivoted cylinder latch which underlies the arm portion of the retainer and detent member whereby the pivoted cylinder latch is depressed to effect withdrawal of the nose portion thereof from engagement with the cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

5. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the loading gate retainer and detent means comprises a generally vertically oriented loading gate retaining flange and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface and a gate open detent surface all formed in the hub, a loading gate retainer and detent member having a generally horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a generally vertically disposed finger portion extending upwardly adjacent the loading gate, the finger portion of the retainer and detent member'having a rearward retainer flange surface which bears against the retainer flange of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and an upper detent surface which bears against the gate closed detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is closed and against the gate open detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is open, and a detent spring which urges the finger portion of the retainer and detent member against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, said retainer and detent member being moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the loading gate is rotated from its closed to its open position.

6. The revolver according to claim 5 in which the loading gate cylinder latch operating means comprises, in combination with the gate open detent surface of the loading gate and the spring loaded loading gate retainer and detent member, a laterally extending lug portion of the pivoted cylinder latch which underlies the arm portion of the retainer and detent member whereby the pivoted cylinder latch is depressed to effect withdrawal of the nose portion thereof from engagement with the cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

7. The revolver according to laim 2 in which a vertically disposed trigger bar is pivotally mounted on the trigger, the upper end portion of the trigger bar being disposed in front of the hammer and being moved vertically from its lower position to its upper position when the trigger is moved from its rest position to its readyto-fire position, said trigger bar being formed with an interlock shoulder portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the upward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position.

8. The revolver according to claim 7 in which the forward surface of the hammer is formed with a trigger bar notch and in which the upper end of the trigger bar is received in and is engaged by said trigger bar notch when the hammer and trigger are at rest with the trigger bar in its lower position.

9. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the trigger is formed with an upwardly extending arm having an interlock lug portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the forward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position.

10. The revolver according to claim 3 in which the detent spring is an integrally formed portion of the loading gate retainer and detent member.

11. The revolver according to claim 10 in which the detent spring is an integrally formed hairpin spring.

12. The revolver according to claim 3 in which the detent spring is a separate coil spring that urges the loading gate retainer and detent member upwardly into contact with the detent surfaces of the loading gate.

13. The revolver according to claim 5 in which the detent spring is an integrally formed portion of the loading gate retainer and detent member.

14. The revolver according to claim 13 in which the detent spring is an integrally formed hairpin spring.

15. The revolver according to claim in which the detent spring is a separate coil spring that urges the loading gate retainer and detent member upwardly into contact with the detent surfaces of the loading gate.

16. The revolver according to claim 1 in which a vertically disposed pawl is pivotally mounted on the hammer, the upper end of said pawl being adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet provided at the rearward end of the cylinder, and in which the upper end of the pawl is provided with two vertically spaced ratchet engaging lugs, one of said lugs engaging a tooth of the ratchet and rotating the cylinder a distance equal to the radial angle between the chambers of the cylinder when the hammer is cocked, and the other of said lugs engaging a tooth of the ratchet to position a chamber of the cylinder in front of the loading gate opening of the frame when the loading gate is open.

17. In a single action revolver having a frame; a chambered cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame and having a cylinder ratchet secured to the rearward end thereof; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire positon by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a vertically disposed pawl pivotally mounted on the hammer the upper end of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the cylinder ratchet; a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder;

the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud; loading gate cylinder latch operating means that withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open; and a pawl the upper end of which is provided with two vertically spaced ratchet engaging lugs, one of said lugs engaging a tooth of the ratchet and rotating the cylinder a distance equal to the radial angle between the chambers of the cylinder when the hammer is cocked, and the other of said lugs engaging a tooth of the ratchet to position a chamber in front of the loading gate opening of the frmae when the loading gate is open.

18. The revolver according to claim 17 in which loading gate retainer and detent means are provided, said retainer and detent means comprising a generally vertically oriented loading gate retaining flange formed in the hub of the loading gate and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface and a gate open detent surface also formed in said hub, a loading gate retainer and detent member having a generally horizontally disposed arm portion and a generally vertically disposed finger portion, the finger portion of the retainer and detent member having a rearward retainer flange surface which bears against the retainer flange of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and an upper detent surface which bears against the gate closed detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is closed and against the gate open detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is open, and a detent spring which urges the finger portion of the retainer and detent member against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, said retainer and detent member being moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the loading gate is rotated from its closed to its open position; and in which the loading gate cylinder latch operating means comprises a laterally extending lug portion of the pivoted cylinder latch which underlies the arm portion of the retainer and detent member whereby the pivoted cylinder latch is depressed to effect withdrawal of the nose portion thereof from engagement with the cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

19. In a single action revolver having a frame; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder.

the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, said loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud; loading gate and trigger interlock means having a trigger interlock element operatively connected to the trigger and a loading gate interlock element located on the pivot stud of the loading gate that contact each other and operate to prevent the trigger from being moved to its ready-to-fire position when the loading gate is open and to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the trigger is in its ready-to-fire position; and cylinder latch operating means that withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

20. The revolver according to claim 19 in which the loading gate and trigger interlock means comprises a trigger interlock element connected to and movable with the trigger, a trigger interlock receiving recess formed in the rearwardly extending loading gate pivot stud, and a trigger interlock blocking portion of the. loading gate pivot stud, the trigger interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud being adapted to receive the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is in its closed position whereby movement of said trigger interlock element and movement of the trigger are permitted, the trigger interlock element received in the trigger interlock receiving recess engaging and preventing movement of the loading gate from its closed position to its open position when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position, the trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud engaging and preventing movement of the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is open.

21. The revolver according to claim 20 in which a vertically disposed trigger bar is pivotally mounted on the trigger, the upper end portion of the trigger bar being disposed in front of the hammer and being moved vertically from its lower position to its upper position when the trigger is moved from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position, said trigger bar being formed with an interlock shoulder portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the upward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its readyto-fire position.

22. The revolver according to claim 21 in which the forward surface of the hammer is formed with a trigger bar notch and in which the upper end of the trigger bar is received in and is engaged by said trigger bar notch when the hammer and trigger are at rest with the trigger bar in its lower position.

23. The revolver according to claim in which the trigger is formed with an upwardly extending arm having an interlock lug portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the forward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position.

24. In a single action revolver having a frame; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a leading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder:

the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, said loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud; loading gate retainer and detent means having retaining flange and detent surfaces located on the hub of the loading gate and a spring loaded retainer and detent member located in front of the loading gate that contact each other and operate to retain the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open; and cylinder latch operating means that withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

25. The revolver according to claim 24 in which the loading gate retainer and detent means comprises a generally vertically oriented loading gate retaining flange and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface and a gate open detent surface all formed in the hub; a loading gate retainer and detent member having a generally horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a generally vertically disposed finger portion extending upwardly adjacent the loading gate, the finger portion of the retainer and detent member having a rearward retainer flange surface which bears against the retainer flange of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and an upper detent surface which bears against the gate closed detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is closed and against the gate open detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is open; and a detent spring which urges the finger portion of the retainer and detent member against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, said retainer and detent member being moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the loading gate is rotated from its closed to its open position.

26. The revolver according to claim 25 in which the loading gate cylinder latch operating means comprises, in combination with the gate open detent surface of the leading gate and the spring loaded loading gate retainer and detent member, a laterally extending lug portion of the pivoted cylinder latch which underlies the arm portion of the retainer and detent member whereby the pivoted cylinder latch is depressed to effect withdrawal of the nose portion thereof from engagement with the cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

27. The revolver according to claim 25 in which the detent spring is an integrally formed portion of the loading gate retainer and detent member.

28. The revolver according to claim 25 in which the detent spring is an integrally formed hairpin spring.

29. The revolver according to claim 25 in which the detent spring is a separate coil spring that urges the loading gate retainer and detent member upwardly into contact with the detent surfaces of the loading gate.

Claims

1. In a single action revolver having a frame; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder; the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, said loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud; loading gate and trigger interlock means having a trigger interlock element operatively connected to and movable with the trigger and a loading gate interlock element located on the pivot stud of the loading gate, said loading gate interlock element blocking movement of said trigger interlock element to prevent the trigger from being moved to its ready-to-fire position when the loading gate is open and said trigger interlock element blocking movement of said loading gate interlock elemenT to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the trigger is in its ready-to-fire position; loading gate retainer and detent means having retaining flange and detent surfaces located on the hub of the loading gate and a spring loaded retainer and detent member located in front of the loading gate, said retaining flange and detent surfaces and said retainer and detent member contacting each other to retain the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open; and cylinder latch operating means having a lug portion of the cylinder latch that is operatively connected to and moved by the detent surfaces of the loading gate to withdraw the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

3. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the loading gate retainer and detent means comprises a generally vertically oriented loading gate retaining flange and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface and a gate open detent surface all formed in the hub; a loading gate retainer and detent member having a generally horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a generally vertically disposed finger portion extending upwardly adjacent the loading gate, the finger portion of the retainer and detent member having a rearward retainer flange surface which bears against the retainer flange of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and an upper detent surface which bears against the gate closed detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is closed and against the gate open detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is open; and a detent spring which urges the finger portion of the retainer and detent member against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, said retainer and detent member being moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the loading gate is rotated from its closed to its open position.

4. The revolver according to claim 3 in which the loading gate cylinder latch operating means comprises, in combination with the gate open detent surface of the loading gate and the spring loaded loading gate retainer and detent member, a laterally extending lug portion of the pivoted cylinder latch which underlies the arm portion of the retainer and detent member whereby the pivoted cylinder latch is depressed to effect withdrawal of the nose portion thereof from engagement with the cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

5. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the loading gate retainer and detent means comprises a generally vertically oriented loading gate retaining flange and, generally perpendicular thereto, a gate closed detent surface and a gate open detent surface all formed in the hub, a loading gate retainer and detent member havIng a generally horizontally disposed arm portion extending forwardly from the loading gate and a generally vertically disposed finger portion extending upwardly adjacent the loading gate, the finger portion of the retainer and detent member having a rearward retainer flange surface which bears against the retainer flange of the loading gate to retain the loading gate in position on the frame and an upper detent surface which bears against the gate closed detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is closed and against the gate open detent surface of the loading gate when the gate is open, and a detent spring which urges the finger portion of the retainer and detent member against the detent surfaces of the loading gate, said retainer and detent member being moved downwardly against the pressure of the detent spring when the loading gate is rotated from its closed to its open position.

7. The revolver according to claim 2 in which a vertically disposed trigger bar is pivotally mounted on the trigger, the upper end portion of the trigger bar being disposed in front of the hammer and being moved vertically from its lower position to its upper position when the trigger is moved from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position, said trigger bar being formed with an interlock shoulder portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the upward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position.

15. The revolver according to claim 5 in which the detent spring is a separate coil spring that urges the loading gate retainer and detent member upwardly into contact with the detent surfaces of the loading gate.

17. In a single action revolver having a frame; a chambered cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame and having a cylinder ratchet secured to the rearward end thereof; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a vertically disposed pawl pivotally mounted on the hammer the upper end of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the cylinder ratchet; a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder; the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud; loading gate cylinder latch operating means that withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open; and a pawl the upper end of which is provided with two vertically spaced ratchet engaging lugs, one of said lugs engaging a tooth of the ratchet and rotating the cylinder a distance equal to the radial angle between the chambers of the cylinder when the hammer is cocked, and the other of said lugs engaging a tooth of the ratchet to position a chamber in front of the loading gate opening of the frame when the loading gate is open.

19. In a single action revolver having a frame; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch notch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder. the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, said loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud; loading gate and trigger interlock means having a trigger interlock element operatively connected to the trigger and a loading gate interlock element located on the pivot stud of the loading gate that contact each other and operate to prevent the trigger from being moved to its ready-to-fire position when the loading gate is open and to prevent the loading gate from being opened when the trigger is in its ready-to-fire position; and cylinder latch operating means that withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.

20. The revolver according to claim 19 in which the loading gate and trigger interlock means comprises a trigger interlock element connected to and movable with the trigger, a trigger interlock receiving recess formed in the rearwardly extending loading gate pivot stud, and a trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud, the trigger interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud being adapted to receive the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is in its closed position whereby movement of said trigger interlock element and movement of the trigger are permitted, the trigger interlock element received in the trigger interlock receiving recess engaging and preventing movement of the loading gate from its closed position to its open position when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position, the trigger interlock blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud engaging and preventing movement of the trigger interlock element associated with the trigger when the loading gate is open.

21. The revolver according to claim 20 in which a vertically disposed trigger bar is pivotally mounted on the trigger, the upper end portion of the trigger bar being disposed in front of the hammer and being moved vertically from its lower position to its upper position when the trigger is moved from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position, said trigger bar being formed with an interlock shoulder portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the upward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position.

23. The revolver according to claim 20 in which the trigger is formed with an upwardly extending arm having an interlock lug portion that comprises the said trigger interlock element the forward movement of which is prevented by the blocking portion of the loading gate pivot stud when the loading gate is open and that is received in the interlock receiving recess of the loading gate pivot stud when the trigger is at its ready-to-fire position.

24. In a single action revolver having a frame; a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame; a hammer pivotally mounted on the frame; a trigger pivotally mounted on the frame, the trigger being rotated from its rest position to its ready-to-fire position by the hammer when the hammer is manually cocked; a leading gate pivotally mounted on the frame; and a cylinder latch pivotally mounted on the frame having a nose portion adapted to releasably engage a cylinder latch noTch formed in the outer surface of the cylinder: the improved loading gate arrangement comprising a loading gate pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a rearwardly extending longitudinally disposed pivot stud, said loading gate having an integrally formed hub portion disposed in front of said pivot stud; loading gate retainer and detent means having retaining flange and detent surfaces located on the hub of the loading gate and a spring loaded retainer and detent member located in front of the loading gate that contact each other and operate to retain the loading gate in its pivotally mounted position on the frame and to releasably detain the loading gate in its closed position when closed and in its open position when open; and cylinder latch operating means that withdraws the nose of the cylinder latch from engagement with a cylinder latch notch of the cylinder when the loading gate is open.