Abstract: A magazine loaded pistol has a safety mechanism for disabling its trigger when its magazine is removed. A disabling member supported for reciprocal sliding movement on the pistol frame extends through and moves within a passageway in the trigger and is retained by the trigger pivot pin. When the magazine is removed the disabling member is biased to a safety position wherein an abutment surface thereon is aligned with a stop surface on the trigger to block trigger movement.

Abstract: Non-metallic grip panels slidably received within recesses in opposite sides of a pistol handle are releasably retained in assembly with the handle by a flat retaining spring. Each panel carries an associated retaining spring which has a free end portion biased into an associated cavity in the handle. The retaining springs are wholly concealed when the grip panels are assembled with the handle and are accessible through a magazine well formed in the handle to facilitate release.

Abstract: A safety mechanism for a firearm includes a hammer block engageable with the hammer to prevent the hammer from moving into engagement with the firing pin. The hammer block is manually shifted between its active and inactive positions through a safety cam having a positive driving connection with the block. As the cam is moved to shift the block from its non-blocking to its blocking position, the cam also engages the sear to release the sear from the trigger and to allow the hammer to move from its cocked position into a safety position in engagement with the hammer block. A compact arrangement is obtained by having the safety cam non-rotatably carried by an operating shaft which also serves as the pivot pin for the hammer and by having the hammer spring received in a hammer recess in surrounding relation to the safety cam operating shaft. The hammer block and sear are also mounted on a single pivot pin common to the two parts.