Abstract: A barrel for a semiautomatic firearm operating under the short recoil system has one or more cam followers projecting outwardly to engage one or more cams positioned on an inner surface of a slide surrounding the barrel. Interaction between the cams and the cam followers controls the angle between the longitudinal axis of the barrel and the axis of motion of the slide to prevent the breech end of the barrel from moving too far as the barrel tilts as it unlocks from the slide, ensuring that the extractor will engage the rim of a spent casing and extract it from the chamber during recoil.

Abstract: A barrel for a semiautomatic firearm operating under the short recoil system has one or more cam followers projecting outwardly to engage one or more cams positioned on an inner surface of a slide surrounding the barrel. Interaction between the cams and the cam followers controls the angle between the longitudinal axis of the barrel and the axis of motion of the slide to prevent the breech end of the barrel from moving too far as the barrel tilts as it unlocks from the slide, ensuring that the extractor will engage the rim of a spent casing and extract it from the chamber during recoil.

Abstract: To prevent inertial forces from inadvertently releasing the slide of a semi-automatic pistol into battery, a slide stop retention mechanism is mounted on the frame. A finger extends from the mechanism and pivots under the force of a biasing spring into engagement with the slide stop when the slide is in the open position. The finger supports the slide stop. A force applied to the slide stop, either manually or via a cam on the slide when the slide is pulled back and released, will move the finger out of its supporting position and allow the slide to move to battery.

Abstract: A magazine for a firearm is formed by a plurality of sidewalls that define a space for holding ammunition cartridges. An opening between two of the walls provides access to the space. Feed lips are positioned on opposite sides of the opening. The feed lips contact and retain the cartridges within the space. Feed ramp surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the opening. The feed ramp surfaces are angularly oriented to tilt a cartridge so that it may be fed into the chamber of a barrel as it is pushed out of the opening along the feed ramp surfaces. Guide surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the opening between the feed lips and the feed ramp surfaces. The guide surfaces guide the cartridge as it disengages from the feed lips and moves up along the feed ramp surfaces.

Abstract: To prevent inertial forces from inadvertently releasing the slide of a semi-automatic pistol into battery, a slide stop retention mechanism is mounted on the frame. A finger extends from the mechanism and pivots under the force of a biasing spring into engagement with the slide stop when the slide is in the open position. The finger supports the slide stop. A force applied to the slide stop, either manually or via a cam on the slide when the slide is pulled back and released, will move the finger out of its supporting position and allow the slide to move to battery.

Abstract: To prevent inertial forces from inadvertently releasing the slide of a semi-automatic pistol into battery, a slide stop retention mechanism is mounted on the frame. A finger extends from the mechanism and pivots under the force of a biasing spring into engagement with the slide stop when the slide is in the open position. The finger supports the slide stop. A force applied to the slide stop, either manually or via a cam on the slide when the slide is pulled back and released, will move the finger out of its supporting position and allow the slide to move to battery.

Abstract: A firearm includes a frame having at least one interior receptacle defined by opposed interior walls and having opposed guide rails extending from the opposed interior walls, and at least one modular housing disposed in the receptacle and accommodating at least one operational component of the firearm. The modular housing is defined by opposed sidewalls having opposed guide channels formed therein, the guide channels being configured to selectively engage the guide rails to facilitate the aligning of the modular housing with respect to the interior receptacle. The at least one operational component and the modular housing are pre-assembled together as an integrated unit for drop-in insertion into the receptacle during assembly of the firearm.

Abstract: An extractor is mounted on a slide of an auto-loading firearm. The extractor is capable of rotational and translational motion relative to the slide resulting in improved functioning through an increase in flag distance and reduced friction between the extractor and cartridge when the slide moves into battery. The extractor has a cam follower which cooperates with a cam on the slide to maintain the extractor hook in engagement with the rim of the cartridge during extraction. The extractor is biased into engagement with the cam, and a second cam follower on the extractor is engageable with the barrel face when the slide moves into battery.

Abstract: A revolver has a spring biased rod that extends from the cylinder, the rod having a tip that engages a portion of the frame to retain the cylinder within the aperture of the frame during firing. The rod is movable out of engagement with the frame portion to release the cylinder and allow it to pivot on a yoke for ejection of spent shells and reloading. A pin is mounted in the yoke so as to engage a recess in the frame when the cylinder is within the aperture of the frame. The pin retains the cylinder within the aperture and is spring loaded and movable out of engagement with the recess to permit the cylinder to pivot on the yoke for ejection of spent shells and reloading.

Abstract: A firearm includes a frame having at least one interior receptacle defined by opposed interior walls and having opposed guide rails extending from the opposed interior walls, and at least one modular housing disposed in the receptacle and accommodating at least one operational component of the firearm. The modular housing is defined by opposed sidewalls having opposed guide channels formed therein, the guide channels being configured to selectively engage the guide rails to facilitate the aligning of the modular housing with respect to the interior receptacle. The at least one operational component and the modular housing are pre-assembled together as an integrated unit for drop-in insertion into the receptacle during assembly of the firearm.

Abstract: A safety for a firearm includes a blocking member that has a relieved portion adjacent to a relieved portion of a firing pin of the firearm. The blocking member is movable between a safe position wherein the relieved portions are not in registration and a fire position wherein the relieved portions are in registration. The blocking member moves from the safe to the fire position in response to a pull of the firearm's trigger. Movement of the blocking member is rotational in response to a pawl as would also be used to rotate the cylinder of a revolver.

Abstract: An extractor mechanism for a firearm includes a firearm slide having a pocket, the pocket extending in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to a firing axis of a firearm and having an opening proximate to a breech face of the slide, and an extractor arm having a body portion and a hook portion, the body portion being disposed at least partially within the pocket and the hook portion extending at least partially out of the opening and having a distal edge sized to engage a cartridge rim, wherein the extractor arm is pivotally and slidably mounted to the slide such that the hook portion is capable of being pivoted toward and away from the firing axis and the extractor arm is capable of translational movement with respect to the slide in a direction substantially parallel to the firing axis.

Abstract: A firearm includes a frame having at least one interior receptacle defined by opposed interior walls and having opposed guide rails extending from the opposed interior walls, and at least one modular housing disposed in the receptacle and accommodating at least one operational component of the firearm. The modular housing is defined by opposed sidewalls having opposed guide channels formed therein, the guide channels being configured to selectively engage the guide rails to facilitate the aligning of the modular housing with respect to the interior receptacle. The at least one operational component and the modular housing are pre-assembled together as an integrated unit for drop-in insertion into the receptacle during assembly of the firearm.

Abstract: A safety for a firearm includes a blocking member that has a relieved portion adjacent to a relieved portion of a firing pin of the firearm. The blocking member is movable between a safe position wherein the relieved portions are not in registration and a fire position wherein the relieved portions are in registration. The blocking member moves from the safe to the fire position in response to a pull of the firearm's trigger. Movement of the blocking member is rotational in response to a pawl as would also be used to rotate the cylinder of a revolver.

Abstract: A firearm comprising a frame, a barrel with a firing axis connected to the frame, a cylinder pivotally attached to the frame and positioned within an opening in the frame and having a plurality of firing chambers sized to receive a cartridge, and a firing mechanism including a trigger attached to the frame to actuate the firing mechanism, wherein the frame is substantially nonmetallic and includes at least one metal insert having a polymer over-molding. A cylinder retaining mechanism selectively retains the cylinder in a first position within a window in the frame and comprises a biasing pin operatively attached to a yoke and which is oriented in a direction substantially transverse to the bore axis when the cylinder is in the first position.

Abstract: A firearm has a firing mechanism that includes a firing pin, a drop safety, a spring mounted to the drop safety and a trigger in mechanical communication with the firing pin and the drop safety. The drop safety includes a roller portion having an outer circumferential surface and an inner opposing wall. When the trigger is actuated, the opposing wall of the drop safety abuts and engages the firing pin in the forward-most axial position thereof, thereby allowing the firing pin to strike a primer of a chambered round of ammunition. In all other configurations, the spring rotationally biases the drop safety so that the outer circumferential surface of the roller portion of the drop safety blocks the forward axial reciprocation of the firing pin, preventing the firing pin from engaging the primer of a chambered round of ammunition.

Abstract: A firearm has a firing mechanism that includes a firing pin, a drop safety, a spring mounted to the drop safety and a trigger in mechanical communication with the firing pin and the drop safety. The drop safety includes a roller portion having an outer circumferential surface and an inner opposing wall. When the trigger is actuated, the opposing wall of the drop safety abuts and engages the firing pin in the forward-most axial position thereof, thereby allowing the firing pin to strike a primer of a chambered round of ammunition. In all other configurations, the spring rotationally biases the drop safety so that the outer circumferential surface of the roller portion of the drop safety blocks the forward axial reciprocation of the firing pin, preventing the firing pin from engaging the primer of a chambered round of ammunition.

Abstract: A barrel for a firearm is formed of a tube surrounded by a shroud. The shroud is formed of a thixotropic alloy injection molded over the tube using a thixotropic molding process. The tube defines the firearm's bore and may be rifled.

Abstract: A firearm has a frame, a slide mounted to the frame, and a configurable sight that is removably connected to the slide using a combined transverse dovetail- and longitudinal lap-shaped protrusion and slot engagement. The configurable sight can be quickly and easily installed by hand without the use of tools.

Abstract: A firearm includes a frame having at least one interior receptacle defined by opposed interior walls and having opposed guide rails extending from the opposed interior walls, and at least one modular housing disposed in the receptacle and accommodating at least one operational component of the firearm. The modular housing is defined by opposed sidewalls having opposed guide channels formed therein, the guide channels being configured to selectively engage the guide rails to facilitate the aligning of the modular housing with respect to the interior receptacle. The at least one operational component and the modular housing are pre-assembled together as an integrated unit for drop-in insertion into the receptacle during assembly of the firearm.