Patents Assigned to Smith & Wesson Corp.
  • DROP SAFETY FOR A FIRING PIN OF A FIREARM
    Publication number: 20130074391
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventor: BRETT CURRY
  • Muzzleloading rifle with breech plug having gas seal facility
    Patent number: 8397413
    Abstract: A muzzleloading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and the barrel has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore. The seal element may be a set of piston rings that are received in a circumferential groove about a forward end of the plug, or may be a cup at the forward end, with a forward rim that flares under pressure to provide a gas seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Mark C. Laney, Gene L. Garland
  • Multi-caliber bolt-action rifle and components
    Patent number: 8397416
    Abstract: A multi-caliber firearm has a breech sleeve connecting a barrel to a receiver and a stock. The stock includes a forward V-block and a rearward V-block. Each of the V-blocks defines a V-cut along a top portion and a through hole substantially aligned with the cross-sectional center of the V-block. The forward V-block extends through a cutout portion of the receiver and into the breech sleeve. The breech sleeve is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the forward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the stock and the breech sleeve. The receiver is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the rearward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the receiver and the stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Mark C. Laney, Matthew Zglobicki, Gregory Eldridge
  • Multi-caliber bolt-action rifle and components
    Patent number: 8397415
    Abstract: A multi-caliber firearm has a breech sleeve connecting a barrel to a receiver and a stock. The stock includes a forward V-block and a rearward V-block. Each of the V-blocks defines a V-cut along a top portion and a through hole substantially aligned with the cross-sectional center of the V-block. The forward V-block extends through a cutout portion of the receiver and into the breech sleeve. The breech sleeve is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the forward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the stock and the breech sleeve. The receiver is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the rearward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the receiver and the stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Mark C. Laney, Matthew Zglobicki, Gregory Eldridge
  • Lightweight, low cost semi-automatic rifle magazine
    Patent number: 8356439
    Abstract: A lightweight and low cost semi-automatic rifle includes an upper receiver, a lower receiver, and a forend fabricated from injection-molded polymers. The rifle permits firing .22 LR or similar low-power ammunition from an AR-15 style frame, operates on the blowback principle, and provides a fully functional bolt catch and extractor/ejector/deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Jason R. Dubois
  • Thixotropic molded barrel for firearm
    Patent number: 8353124
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Zukowski, Brett Curry, Steve Danneker
  • BREECH PLUG
    Publication number: 20120304519
    Abstract: A muzzle loading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel, and is connected to the barrel by way of interrupted, or multistart threads, or locking lugs. The breech plug may have a rear face that abuts the breech face when the frame is closed, so that a primer contained in a primer pocket in the rear of the breech plug is fully supported on all sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventors: Mark C. LANEY, Gene L. GARLAND
  • Snap-on dovetail pistol sight
    Patent number: 8296990
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Zukowski, Brett Curry, Sean O'Clair
  • Firearm hand guard rail system
    Patent number: 8276303
    Abstract: A hand guard rail system is fastened to a firearm having a barrel and a barrel nut, with the hand guard rail aligned to the top rail of the firearm. The hand guard rail system includes a hand guard and a sleeve fitted into the hand guard. The sleeve and the hand guard are fastened to the barrel nut, thereby aligning the hand guard to the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: John Kapusta, Tai-Lai Ding
  • Manual slide and hammer lock safety for a firearm
    Patent number: 8276302
    Abstract: A firearm has a frame, a slide mounted to the frame, a trigger, a hammer-type firing mechanism including a hammer, and a manual slide and hammer lock safety mechanism (“manual safety”) including a detent spring biased rotatable tab mounted to the frame that blocks the slide from reciprocating and the hammer from rotating relative to the frame if the tab is actuated in an “on” position. The manual safety completely disables the firearm even if the trigger is actuated, thereby rendering the firearm safer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Gary Zukowski
  • MUZZLE BRAKE
    Publication number: 20120228052
    Abstract: A muzzle device for use on a firearm to reduce noise signature and muzzle flash includes a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The first chamber has at least one port that extends outward therefrom. The second chamber has at least one slot that extends outward therefrom. The at least one port forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis that extends forward toward the slot. The angle formed by the at least one port and the longitudinal axis being about 50 degrees. The cylindrical housing defines an outer annular groove being in communication with the at least one port. The at least one port is in communication with an aft surface of the annular groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventor: DAVID FINDLAY
  • Ambidextrous bolt stop
    Patent number: 8261652
    Abstract: An ambidextrous bolt stop for use with a firearm generally includes a first bolt stop element having a bolt stop finger and a first release lever operatively connected to a left side of a receiver of the firearm and a second bolt stop element having a second release lever operatively connected to a right side of the firearm. The second bolt stop element engages the first bolt stop element via a yoke and pin type configuration interior to the receiver of the firearm. The first and second release levers include first and second buttons located exterior to the receiver on respective sides thereof to actuate the bolt stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: David S. Findlay
  • Muzzle loading rifle with removable breech plug
    Patent number: 8261478
    Abstract: A muzzle loading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel, and is connected to the barrel by way of interrupted, or multistart threads, or locking lugs. The breech plug may have a rear face that abuts the breech face when the frame is closed, so that a primer contained in a primer pocket in the rear of the breech plug is fully supported on all sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventors: Mark C. Laney, Gene L. Garland
  • UNITARY SEAR HOUSING BLOCK
    Publication number: 20120167426
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventors: Sean O'Clair, Gary Zukowski, Brett Curry
  • ROTATING AND TRANSLATING EXTRACTOR MECHANSIM
    Publication number: 20120167427
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventors: Gary Zukowski, Brett Curry, Sean O'Clair
  • SLIDABLE HOOD LOCKING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120151812
    Abstract: A muzzle-loading firearm having a break-action design includes a stock, a receiver mounted to the stock, a forend pivotally mounted to the receiver and a barrel mounted to the forend. A hood is slidably attached to a top surface of the receiver in the area of a rear (i.e., breech) end of the barrel. The hood reciprocally engages and locks the barrel in a closed (i.e., firing) position. The hood also shields the area surrounding the breech end of the barrel from exhaust gas that flows therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventor: Mark C. Laney
  • LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW COST SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE MAGAZINE
    Publication number: 20120144713
    Abstract: A lightweight and low cost semi-automatic rifle includes an upper receiver, a lower receiver, and a forend fabricated from injection-molded polymers. The rifle permits firing .22 LR or similar low-power ammunition from an AR-15 style frame, operates on the blowback principle, and provides a fully functional bolt catch and extractor/ejector/deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventor: JASON R. DUBOIS
  • MULTI-CALIBER BOLT-ACTION RIFLE AND COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20120137556
    Abstract: A multi-caliber firearm has a breech sleeve connecting a barrel to a receiver and a stock. The stock includes a forward V-block and a rearward V-block. Each of the V-blocks defines a V-cut along a top portion and a through hole substantially aligned with the cross-sectional center of the V-block. The forward V-block extends through a cutout portion of the receiver and into the breech sleeve. The breech sleeve is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the forward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the stock and the breech sleeve. The receiver is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the rearward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the receiver and the stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventors: MARK C. LANEY, MATTHEW ZGLOBICKI, GREGORY ELDRIDGE
  • ENHANCED LIFE BARREL
    Publication number: 20120131836
    Abstract: A firearm having a stock and an enhanced life barrel attached to the stock. The enhanced life barrel has a tapered bore and either parabolic or 5R rifling. The barrel includes a chamber and a throat. Each of the tapered bore, the chamber, and the throat are lapped and polished to a finish of about 15Ra of better. The enhanced life barrel includes a ferritic nitrocarburizing finish of greater than about 0.0003 inches thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventor: DAVID S. FINDLAY
  • TRIGGER FIT ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120117841
    Abstract: An trigger assembly with an improved trigger fit adjustment apparatus located within a 1911 pistol fire control mechanism. The trigger assembly has a trigger bow and a trigger shoe. The trigger shoe is connected to a forward end of the trigger bow. The trigger shoe has a pair of substantially parallel sides, a lower end connecting each of the pair of substantially parallel sides, and a raised pad extending from a top surface. The raised pad has an upper end that is substantially parallel to the lower end. The upper end of the raised pad is vertically spaced from the top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & WESSON CORP.
    Inventors: Seth Joubert, Herb Belin