Abstract: A firing pin stop disengagement mechanism is provided to aid in removal of the firing pin stop for a pistol. The mechanism includes a firing pin mechanism having a plunger having a groove and a rear end, and a pivoting lever having a first end having a pawl to engage the radial groove and rear end and a second end. The second end has an exposed surface to receive a force to raise the pawl from away from the plunger. When the disengagement mechanism is in a locked position, the pawl is engaged in the radial groove and the plunger is seated in an aperture in the stop. When the disengagement mechanism is in an unlocked position, the pawl is engaged on the rear end of the plunger, and the plunger is displaced toward the firing pin such that the plunger is disengaged from the aperture in the stop.

Abstract: A slide for a semi-automatic pistol is provided where the pistol has a frame, a slide mounted on the frame, a barrel mounted between the slide and the frame, and a magazine for feeding cartridges into the chamber of the barrel. The slide includes a front portion for receiving the barrel where the front portion has a breech face end, a block having an elongate passage for receiving a firing pin mechanism, and a cam surface extending from a lower surface of the block adjacent to the breech face end which functions as a feed ramp for feeding cartridges from the magazine to the chamber. The cam surface is a truncated hemispherical protuberance having a flat surface where the flat surface extends at an angle from the breech face. Positive contact between the breech face and the topmost cartridge is ensured during forward movement of the slide.

Abstract: A mode selection mechanism for a firearm is provided including a lever having an exposed surface and an inner surface and a pivot pin and a detent pin depending from the inner surface, the pivot pin extending through a orifice in the frame, the detent pin extending generally parallel to the pivot pin. The lever is pivotable from a first position to a second position about the pivot pin, wherein the detent pin moves in an arc-shaped aperture in the frame. A flexible stop includes an open ring of spring metal and is disposed in a ring orifice in the frame. The detent pin is disposed against the flexible stop wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position, the flexible stop compresses and then uncompresses thereby creating a detent.

Abstract: An ambidextrous magazine catch mechanism for a pistol includes a button in the pistol frame. The button has a W-shaped camming surface. A magazine has a catch aperture. A catch includes two upwardly disposed legs connected to one another. A first leg has a tooth to mate with the catch aperture. The first and second legs form a spring having an equilibrium position. When the first leg is pressed toward the second leg, an outward force on the first leg biases the catch toward the equilibrium position. The first leg has a W-shaped camming surface to mate with the camming surface of the button. The button has a neutral position, and a first and second depressed position. In the neutral position, the camming surface of the button mates with the camming surface of the first leg and the tooth is engaged in the aperture to secure the magazine.

Abstract: A firing pin system for a firearm, including a breech block, a firing pin slidably disposed in the breech block and a single firing pin coil spring adapted to both urge the firing pin toward a cartridge in a barrel of the firearm when the firearm is fired and, subsequent to firing, to urge the firing pin back away from the cartridge such that the firing pin does not protrude through a breach face of a breach block of the firearm subsequent to firing.

Abstract: A firing pin system for a firearm, including a breech block, a firing pin slidably disposed in the breech block and a single firing pin coil spring adapted to both urge the firing pin toward a cartridge in a barrel of the firearm when the firearm is fired and, subsequent to firing, to urge the firing pin back away from the cartridge such that the firing pin does not protrude through a breach face of a breach block of the firearm subsequent to firing.

Abstract: A firearm integral locking system includes a cocking piece lock in a housing slot. The lock has a blade and a key aperture. The slot allows rotational movement. The cocking piece and lock each have an aperture. A plunger is slidably received in the cocking piece aperture. A spring urges the plunger towards the lock. The spring abuts the plunger and the cocking piece aperture. A key is insertable into the lock aperture and abuts the plunger to urge the plunger into the cocking piece. When the plunger is inserted, the lock is free to rotate. When the key is removed and the plunger is urged into the lock aperture, the lock is secured. The cocking piece has a groove to receive the blade of the lock and allows the blade and cocking piece to move rotationally. Longitudinal movement of the cocking piece is precluded when the lock is locked.

Abstract: A firearm is provided including a frame having a magazine receptacle, a trigger, and a magazine. A safety device to lock the trigger when the magazine is removed is provided that includes a trigger bow having leaf spring receiver. A leaf spring extends from the frame and has an end that is free to flex perpendicularly to the trigger. The leaf spring flexes based on position of the magazine, from a lock position when the magazine is in the released position to an unlock position when the magazine is in the installed position. The second end of the leaf spring is engaged to the leaf spring receiver to prevent movement of the trigger when the leaf spring is in the lock position and disengaged from the leaf spring receiver to allow movement of the trigger when the leaf spring is in the unlock position.

Abstract: A three-position safety for a firearm is provided that includes a lever that is rotatable from a first position wherein the bolt and the firing pin are unlocked, to a second position wherein the bolt is unlocked and the firing pin is locked, to a third position wherein the bolt and the firing pin are locked. A detent member has a detent surface to mate with detent apertures on the end of the bolt. When the safety lever is in a first position or a second position, a gap exists between the shaft of the plunger and the detent member allowing for rotational movement of the bolt relative to a cocking piece housing. When the safety lever is in a third position, the shaft of the plunger contacts the detent member such that no rotational movement of the bolt is provided.