Pistol

Abstract

A slide action pistol including a frame; a barrel supported on said frame and having a bore on an axis of the barrel; a handgrip portion of the frame provided with a cavity therein for receiving a magazine; a firing assembly including a trigger, hammer and firing pin arranged in operative relationship; and, a slide having one end engaged with the barrel and an opposite end pivotally connected to the handgrip portion, the slide arranged to pivot upwardly and rearwardly when the pistol is fired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A slide action pistol including a frame; a barrel supported on said frame and having a bore on an axis of the barrel; a handgrip portion of the frame provided with a cavity therein for receiving a magazine; a firing assembly including a trigger, hammer and firing pin arranged in operative relationship; and, a slide having one end engaged with the barrel and an opposite end pivotally connected to said handgrip portion, said slide arranged to pivot upwardly and rearwardly when the pistol is fired.  
     
     
         2 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    and further comprising a laser aiming device at least partially enclosed within said frame below said barrel.  
     
     
         3 . The slide action pistol of    claim 2    including a button actuator operatively connected to said laser aiming device, said button actuator located within a guard ring surrounding said trigger.  
     
     
         4 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    including a locking assembly for said barrel, said locking assembly comprising a rotatable lock operatively connected to a barrel release lever, said rotatable lock freeing the barrel and locking the trigger in one position, and freeing the trigger and locking the barrel in another position.  
     
     
         5 . The slide action pistol of    claim 4    wherein said rotatable lock has an axis of rotation parallel to said bore.  
     
     
         6 . The slide action pistol of    claim 4    wherein said rotatable lock has an axis of rotation perpendicular to said bore.  
     
     
         7 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    including an empty cartridge ejector mounted on the slide, said ejector extending partially out of said slide when a cartridge is chambered within the barrel.  
     
     
         8 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    wherein said bore in said barrel expands in diameter in a region adjacent a forward edge of the barrel.  
     
     
         9 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    wherein a field stripping lever is pivotally mounted to the handgrip portion of the frame, said field stripping lever incorporating a transverse pin by which said slide is pivotally connected to the handgrip portion of said frame.  
     
     
         10 . The slide action pistol of    claim 9    wherein said field stripping lever is movable between locked and unlocked positions, and wherein said field stripping lever is mounted adjacent the magazine such that the lever cannot be moved to the unlocked position without first removing the magazine.  
     
     
         11 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    wherein said barrel and said slide are removable from said frame independently of each other.  
     
     
         12 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    wherein said slide includes a pair of forward extending sides locatable on opposite sides of said barrel, and a pair of rearward sides locatable on opposite sides of the grip portion of the frame.  
     
     
         13 . The slide action pistol of    claim 12    wherein said slide includes a yoke region where said forward and rearward sides join, said yoke including a body portion having an axial bore for receiving the firing pin, and a groove along a top surface thereof, pivotally mounting a cartridge extractor.  
     
     
         14 . The slide action pistol of    claim 13    wherein said extractor is spring biased at one end to a position where a forward end of the ejector is substantially flush with the frame when no cartridge is chambered; but stands proud of the frame when a cartridge is chambered.  
     
     
         15 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    and further comprising a recoil spring biasing said slide to a closed, forward position, said recoil spring telescoped over a hollow recoil spring guide.  
     
     
         16 . The slide action pistol of    claim 12    and further comprising a recoil spring biasing said slide to a closed, forward position, said recoil spring telescoped over a hollow recoil spring guide.  
     
     
         17 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    and further including a hammer spring biasing said hammer toward a firing position, said hammer spring telescoped over a hammer spring guide slidably received within said hollow recoil spring guide.  
     
     
         18 . The slide action pistol of    claim 15    wherein said recoil spring is located within the grip portion of the frame.  
     
     
         19 . The slide action pistol of    claim 16    wherein said recoil spring includes a cap having laterally extending projections engaged by said rearward sides of said slide.  
     
     
         20 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    including non-metal inserts on said frame to cushion said slide at extreme limits of motion of said slide.  
     
     
         21 . A slide action pistol including a frame; a barrel supported on said frame and having a bore on an axis of the barrel; a movable slide mounted in said frame; a handgrip portion of the frame provided with a chamber therein for receiving a magazine; a firing assembly including a trigger, hammer and firing pin arranged in operative relationship; and a safety lever comprising two operatively connected lever arms extending along opposite sides of said pistol, said lever arms connected by a pivot pin extending transversely through said frame.  
     
     
         22 . The slide action pistol of    claim 21    wherein said lever arms are simultaneously movable between full safety, semi-automatic and full automatic positions.  
     
     
         23 . The slide action pistol of    claim 22    wherein one of said lever arms is formed with detents for each of said positions, said detents cooperating with a spring loaded ball on said frame.  
     
     
         24 . The slide action pistol of    claim 23    and further comprising a trigger bar operatively connected between the hammer and the trigger, and wherein said one of said lever arms is formed with stop surfaces engageable with a forward end of said trigger bar, said stop surfaces corresponding to said full safety and semi-automatic positions of said lever arms.  
     
     
         25 . The slide action pistol of    claim 21    including a barrel lock and wherein said barrel is provided with a longitudinally discontinuous key and said frame is provided with a cooperating, discontinuous keyway such that said barrel is slidably received on said frame, said barrel lock having at least one actuator arm for moving said lock between lock and release positions.  
     
     
         26 . The slide action pistol of    claim 25    wherein a first recess in said key is vertically alignable with a second recess in said keyway, and wherein a rotatable locking member is mounted in said second recess in said keyway, and is movable into said first recess in said key to thereby lock said barrel to said frame.  
     
     
         27 . The slide action pistol of    claim 26    wherein said rotatable locking member comprises a part cylinder rotatable about an axis parallel to said barrel.  
     
     
         28 . The slide action pistol of    claim 27    wherein said rotatable locking member comprises a part cylinder rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said barrel.  
     
     
         29 . The slide action pistol of    claim 21    including a field stripping lever pivotally mounted on said handgrip portion of said frame, arranged to permit removal of said magazine and said slide.  
     
     
         30 . The slide action pistol of    claim 21    wherein said slide mounts a cartridge extractor which cooperates with an ejector fixed to said frame, said ejector located offset from a longitudinal axis of said barrel to thereby cause ejection of cartridges forwardly and to one side of the pistol.  
     
     
         31 . The slide action pistol of    claim 30    wherein said extractor is pivotally mounted on said slide for movement between retracted and extended positions, said extractor extended when a cartridge is present within a firing chamber in said barrel.  
     
     
         32 . A slide action pistol including a frame; a barrel supported on said frame and having a bore on an axis of the barrel; a handgrip portion of the fame provided with a cavity therein for receiving a magazine; a firing assembly including a trigger, hammer and firing pin arranged in operative relationship; and a locking assembly for said barrel, said locking assembly comprising a rotatable lock operatively connected to a barrel release lever, said rotatable lock freeing the barrel and locking the trigger in one position, and freeing the trigger and locking the barrel in another position.  
     
     
         33 . The slide action pistol of    claim 32    wherein said barrel is spaced in part above said frame, creating an air space therebetween for cooling said barrel.  
     
     
         34 . A slide action pistol including a frame; a barrel supported on said frame and having a bore on an axis of the barrel; a handgrip portion of the frame provided with a cavity therein for receiving a magazine; a firing assembly including a trigger, hammer and firing pin arranged in operative relationship, and a sear element pivotally mounted in said frame, said sear element having a tooth engageable with said hammer; a trigger bar operatively connected at one end to said hammer and at an opposite end to said trigger; and a sear bar connected at one end to said sear element, an opposite end of said sear extending forwardly to said trigger.  
     
     
         35 . The slide action pistol of    claim 34    wherein, in a semi-automatic firing mode, said sear bar is inoperative.  
     
     
         36 . The slide action pistol of    claim 34    and further comprising a slide pivotally mounted on said frame, said slide movable from a normal position upwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame where a shot is fired to compensate for recoil forces, said slide having a rear face engageable with said hammer to cock said hammer during upward and rearward movement of said slide.  
     
     
         37 . The slide action pistol of    claim 36    wherein, in an automatic firing mode, said sear bar is moved by said trigger to a location such that said sear bar is engaged by said slide as it returns to its normal position to thereby move said sear bar forwardly to disengage said sear element tooth from said hammer.  
     
     
         38 . The slide action pistol of    claim 37    wherein, in said automatic firing mode, said trigger bar is operative only to cause firing of a first shot, said sear bar operative to cause firing of shots after said first shot.  
     
     
         39 . The slide action pistol of    claim 34    and including a hammer spring seated on a hammer spring guide, and a recoil spring seated on a recoil spring guide, said hammer spring guide axially movable within said recoil spring guide in telescoping relationship.  
     
     
         40 . The slide action pistol of    claim 39    wherein said recoil spring guide includes a transverse arm engageable at opposite ends thereof with respective surfaces on said slide.  
     
     
         41 . A slide action pistol including a frame; a barrel supported on said frame and having a bore on an axis of the barrel; a handgrip portion of the frame provided with a cavity therein for receiving a magazine; a firing assembly including a trigger, hammer and firing pin arranged in operative relationship; a slide having one end engaged with the barrel and an opposite end pivotally connected to said handgrip portion, said slide arranged to pivot upwardly and rearwardly when the pistol is fired; and means for firing said pistol, selectively, in semi-automatic or automatic modes.  
     
     
         42 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    and further comprising a laser aiming device at least partially enclosed within said frame below said barrel.  
     
     
         43 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    including a locking assembly for said barrel, said locking assembly comprising a rotatable lock operatively connected to a barrel release lever, said rotatable lock freeing the barrel and locking the trigger in one position, and freeing the trigger and locking the barrel in another position.  
     
     
         44 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    including an empty cartridge extractor mounted on the slide, said extractor extending partially out of said slide when a cartridge is chambered within the barrel.  
     
     
         45 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    wherein a field stripping lever is pivotally mounted to the handgrip portion of the frame, said field stripping lever incorporating a transverse pin by which said slide is pivotally connected to the handgrip portion of said frame.  
     
     
         46 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    wherein said field stripping lever is movable between locked and unlocked positions, and wherein said field stripping lever is mounted adjacent the magazine such that the lever cannot be moved to the unlocked position without first removing the magazine.  
     
     
         47 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    and including a safety lever comprising two operatively connected lever arms extending along opposite sides of said pistol, said lever arm connected by a pivot pin extending transversely through said frame.  
     
     
         48 . The slide action pistol of    claim 47    wherein said lever arms are simultaneously movable between full safety, semi-automatic and full automatic positions.  
     
     
         49 . The slide action pistol of    claim 48    wherein one of said lever arms is formed with detents for each of said positions, said detents cooperating with a spring loaded ball on said frame.  
     
     
         50 . The slide action pistol of    claim 49    and further comprising a trigger bar operatively connected between the hammer and the trigger, and wherein said one of said lever arms is formed with stop surfaces engageable with a forward end of said trigger bar, said stop surfaces corresponding to said full safety and semiautomatic positions of said lever arms.  
     
     
         51 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    and further comprising a laser aiming device substantially fully enclosed within said frame below said barrel.  
     
     
         52 . The slide action pistol of    claim 41    and further comprising a laser aiming device substantially fully enclosed within said frame below said barrel.  
     
     
         53 . The slide action pistol of    claim 1    wherein said bore is expanded by a taper at the forward end of the barrel.