Abstract: An embodiment presents a rifle including an upper receiver, a barrel assembly connected to the upper receiver and a forend with an integrated barrel nut. The integrated barrel nut is connected to the barrel assembly such that the forend is directly connected to and aligned with the upper receiver. Another embodiment provides a method for assembling a firearm. The method includes inserting a barrel assembly into an upper receiver. The method also includes threading a forend with an integrated barrel nut over the outer surface of the barrel assembly. The method also includes checking an alignment between the upper receiver and the forend.

Abstract: An ambidextrous bolt catch device, apparatus, system and methods for using are provided. Four main components include a bolt catch finger, lever system and plunger rod assembly with torsion spring. The lever system includes a right release lever and a left release lever; the left lever is an integral part of the bolt catch finger. The plunger rod assembly abuts and connects the right and left levers; a torsion spring on the rod creates tension causing rotation of the bolt catch finger in a downward or upward position. In an upward position, the bolt catch finger engages the bolt, retains the bolt in a rearward position, and signals the operator that the magazine is empty. The bolt engaged by the finger is held rearward in a safe, reliable manner to allow an unobstructed view of the firearm chamber until manually released using either the right or left release lever.

Abstract: An in-line night-day boresight with an adjustable wedge-prism assembly is disclosed. The adjustable wedge-prism assembly includes two opposing wedge prisms that are axially rotatable relative to each other. The assembly is arranged in the optical path between the night optics and the day optics. The adjustable wedge-prism assembly allows for compensation of image shift errors introduced by the night optics due to manufacturing errors in the night optics. This in turn allows for a cost-effective and easily aligned in-line night-day boresight.

Abstract: Automatic and semi-automatic firearms of remarkably reduced mass yet capable of long-range accuracy because of unique recoil reduction are characterized by (A) a temporary combination of a barrel, an integral breech and a separable chamber that in operation of the firearm is moved by a compressed spring distally before and while a chambered cartridge is fired, (B) run-out of such temporary operative combination diminishes firearm recoil, (C) recoil of the temporary operative combination recompresses the spring and (D) the separable chamber is loaded with a round while spatially separated from the breech and barrel.

Abstract: Gas-operated automatic and semi-automatic guns are improved by providing their barrels with unique exterior surface configurations to reduce the weight of their barrels while retaining the barrels' original stiffness and to cause the barrels to dissipate heat faster.

Abstract: Grenade launchers for attachment to gas-operated service rifles and carbines such as the M16 and M4 are improved by providing them with a trigger assembly that enables the shooter to deliver repeated hammer strikes to the primer of the loaded grenade without having to open the breach to reset the hammer and signals final aim indication via added trigger pull force.

Abstract: New and improved bolt assemblies for M4/M16 firearms capable of firing a remarkably greater number of rounds than previously available M4/M16 firearms are, disclosed that have right and left compression springs that are parallel to each other, straddle the firing pin bore and are retained in partial bores that have proximal and distal ramps descending from their open ends. Additionally, these bolt assemblies advantageously (A) have the extractor pivot pin receiving lug is positioned at the longitudinal center of the mass of the extractor, (B) walls of bolt lugs on the firearm bolt are angled tangent to full radius fillets joining adjacent bolt lugs, (C) the extractor contains a ceramic ball and a captive rubber spring to bias such ball against the extractor pivot pin to retain it in the receiving lug and (D) lugs on the barrel extension are angled tangent to substantial radius fillets joining them.

Abstract: Detachable ammunition magazines for firearms, particularly conversions of M16/M4 series rifles to utilize AK47 magazines, are provided with improved bolt catch actuators. These new bolt catch actuators have an elliptical opening though the upper end of the proximal wall that extends into the rectangular cross-section passage within the firearm magazine. A wire spring defined by an upper free-end and a lower fixed-end is cantilevered by its fixed-end to the right side plate of the magazine follower for movement with the follower in a manner that enables the free-end of such wire spring to project through the opening when the follower reaches its apogee. As the wire's free-end passes through the opening it engages the bolt catch of the firearm causing the bolt to be retained in its open position after all the ammunition in the magazine has been fired.

Abstract: A firearm safety device for a magazine type firearm structured for insertion into the cavity opened in said firearm when the magazine of said firearm is removed has a lock base, a locking bar and a pair of locking rods. The lock base is formed of a first half and a second half fastened together defining therebetween a quadrilateral space and the locking bar is moveably retained in that quadrilateral space with its proximal end extending outside the lock base to enable it to be reciprocated relative to the lock base and the locking rods are moveably retained in the lock base to be moved by the distal end of the locking bar between a latching position to lock the safety device in the firearm cavity and an unlatching position to allow the safety device to be removed from such cavity.

Abstract: Cable and wire cutters of new design have an outside cutter member containing an arcuate cavity within which an inside cylinderical cutter member rotates about a common pivot axis so separate cutting slots in the outside and inside cutter members cross during the cutting operation within the circumference of the inside cutter thereby remarkably improving the mechanical advantage in these new cutters as compared to the prior art because cutting of the work piece occurs closer to the common pivot axis of the cutting slots than has been possible with prior known cable and wire cutters. A variety of specific embodiments of the new cutter design are disclosed.

Abstract: Improved rail adapter systems which enable firearms, including M16 type rifles and carbines, without any changes to the weapon except the handguard, to support accessory devices effectively even under combat conditions are provided via the invention by modification of the top semicylinderical part of the rifle's handguard attachment to include an elongated leaf spring arrangement in the front end and a unique rear clamp arrangement at the back end thereof so the leaf spring and rear clamp combination operate to compensate for thermal dimensional changes and combat abuse problems to maintain proper alignment of accessory devices attached to the weapon.