Abstract: A removable blast shield for a firearm is presented. The firearm comprises a frame, a barrel affixed to the frame, a receiver having a chamber for receiving a cartridge therein, and the blast shield. The receiver aligns the chamber with the barrel and has a forward end, which is spaced from a rear end of the barrel to provide a gap through which propellant gases from the cartridge pass. The blast shield has a forward portion and a bridging portion. The forward portion of the blast shield engages against a surface of the barrel and a surface of the frame such that the barrel secures the blast shield to the frame. The bridging portion extends rearwardly from the forward portion to bridge the gap. The bridging portion is formed substantially harder than the frame for resisting erosion by the propellant gases.

Abstract: A front sight assembly releasably secured to a handgun has a sight body including an integral, resilient, axially elongated and radially expandable anchor pin slideably received within an outwardly open anchor pin retaining bore formed in the muzzle end of the gun barrel. A set screw threadably engaged within the sight body radially expands the anchor pin and maintains it in expanded condition within the retaining anchor pin bore in frictionally gripping engagement with the wall of the retaining bore. An alignment pin projecting form the sight body and slideably received within an outwardly open alignment bore formed in the gun barrel cooperates with the anchor pin to maintain the sight body in a predetermined position of alignment with the gun barrel.