Abstract: Removal of a hammer from a trigger housing of a shotgun and subsequent replacement of the same or another hammer is facilitated by designing the firing mechanism such that, when the hammer is in its released position, neither the hammer nor the pivot pin mounting the hammer in the trigger housing is subjected to any biasing forces. The hammer can thus be removed, without interference from any other components of the firing mechanism, simply by removing the pivot pin. Such removal is made possible by providing a mainspring assembly which seats on the hammer when the hammer is cocked and unseats from the hammer and seats on another element, such as a seat formed on a sidewall of the trigger housing, when the hammer moves from its cocked to its released position. The removal process can be adapted for use in either a single barrel or a double barrel shotgun, and permits quick and easy conversion from pull firing to release firing.

Abstract: A double barrel break-action shotgun includes a breech and a mating breech housing. The breech and breech housing include a bifurcated lug which absorbs recoil forces which would otherwise be imposed on the pivot pin via which the breech is connected to the breech housing. A portion of the lug can be replaced by replacing a shoulder insertable in a socket of a portion of the lug, thus maintaining close tolerances between the breech and breech housing.

Abstract: A double barrel break-action shotgun includes a firing mechanism having a rebound system in which the hammers rebound after firing into a position permitting opening of the gun and are not stressed by the associated mainsprings after the gun is fired. Because the hammers are not stressed in their released positions, they can be easily replaced with different hammers, thus rendering the gun easily convertible for different uses. A simple selector switch is also provided behind the trigger and does not require any wire or complex connections between the switch and the acorn. The bolt actuator includes a simple cam actuator which is detachable from the lever and which is simple to assemble and to replace. Compensation for bolt wear can be achieved by replacing the actuator with one having a surface of a different shape. The breech and breech housing include a bifurcated lug which absorbs recoil forces which would otherwise be imposed on the pivot pin.

Abstract: The trap gun stock has a projection which mates snugly with a complementary-shaped depression in the rear end of the receiver and is secured therein by a spring-loaded stock bolt which extends through the stock and screws into a stud on the receiver. A latch on the fore-end iron engages a barrel lug to releasably secure the barrel to the fore-end iron. An adjustment shoe at the edge of a latch-hole in the fore-end iron engages the barrel lug to ensure precise barrel positioning. A plastic, resilient, low-friction, heat-resistant stabilizing insert fixed to the fore-end wood engages the barrel to facilitate fitting the barrel in non-contacting relationship in a groove in the fore-end wood handgrip. An extractor/ejector mechanism on the barrel and on the fore-end iron operates when the gun is opened to partially extend an unfired shell or to fully eject an empty shell casing. The fire control mechanism is cocked by opening the gun after the action has been unlocked.