Folding pistol

Abstract

A folding pistol has a frame having slide rails adapted to receive a slide, a grip defining a magazine passage pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot and having a free end extending away from the first pivot, the grip being movable between an extended position in which the pistol is operable, and a stowed position in which the free end of the grip is adjacent the frame, a forward trigger guard element pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot, a lower trigger guard element connected to the forward trigger guard element at a third pivot, and the lower trigger guard element connected to the grip at a fourth pivot. The first, second, third, and fourth pivots may be at different locations. There may be a trigger connected to the frame at a selected one of the first, second, third, and fourth pivots.

1 . A folding pistol comprising:
 a frame having slide rails adapted to receive a slide;   a grip defining a magazine passage pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot and having a free end extending away from the first pivot;   the grip being movable between an extended position in which the pistol is operable, and a stowed position in which the free end of the grip is adjacent the frame;   a forward trigger guard element pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot;   a lower trigger guard element connected to the forward trigger guard element at a third pivot;   the lower trigger guard element connected to the grip at a fourth pivot; and   the four pivots forming a four-bar linkage having non-parallel sides.