Abstract: A gun with a spring-urged thrust hammer which first strikes the firing pin when released by the trigger and then has its forward thrust transferred from the firing pin to the bolt so that the hammer, firing pin and bolt are moving forward the extent of the headspace tolerance to counter recoil as the gun fires. This arrangement is shown applied to a shotgun having a unique barrel and sight.

Abstract: A plurality of cartridge magazines is coupled to a mounting base such that when one magazine is inserted within a weapon, the additional magazines are readily stored on the weapon and in ready, convenient and instantaneous access to the shooter. The mounting base is provided with a plurality of mounting surfaces having coupling means thereon for coupling to a conventional, commercially available cartridge magazine.

Abstract: A body which can be axially incorporated at an artillery shell comprises a functional or operational element constructed as a radar reflector. A sleeve element is arranged at such functional element. This sleeve element is rotationally symmetrical about a lengthwise axis and is intended to be attached to the artillery shell. The functional element and the sleeve element are constructed as one piece or integrally. At the inside surface of the sleeve element there are formed in a turnably symmetrical or rotationally symmetrical manner beads, fins or claws or the like. The inner surface of the sleeve element is provided with an adhesive layer formed, for instance, of corundum powder contained in a synthetic resin. At the outside surface of the sleeve element there is arranged a fuse cord, the detonation of which produces a form-locking or positive connection of the sleeve element with the ordnance projectile or shell.

Abstract: A bolt-action firearm, of the type having a bolt rotatably movable between closed and open positions, has an improved bolt latch mechanism which is operable independently of a safety mechanism. The latch locks the bolt in closed position automatically when the firing pin is cocked, and releases the bolt upon firing. The latch mechanism is recessed in the bolt plug in such fashion that it is readily visible and accessible, yet does not interfere with normal manual operation of the firearm, and does not protrude so that it might readily be displaced accidentally. In one embodiment, the latch may be manually displaced to or from a disabled position, in which it is releasably detented.

Abstract: A hand weapon includes a weapon housing, a breechblock accommodated in the housing for reciprocating motion, a bolt affixed to the breechblock and a slot, having opposite longitudinal edges, provided in the weapon housing. The bolt projects through the slot. There is further provided a slot guard arranged for covering the slot. The slot guard comprises a first and a second sealing lip held by the housing along respective longitudinal edges of the slot and projecting outwardly. The sealing lips are, at least along outer edge portions thereof, in a face-to-face engagement with one another and are locally spread apart by the bolt.

Abstract: This hand grenade comprises a timer for preserving the user's safety when throwing the missile by breaking the pyrotechnic train of the fuse a stabilizing system utilizing the concurrent effects of a weighted ogive and a spread-out empennage adapted when released and operative to brake the missile by aerodynamic effect, thus improving the efficiency of the missile when striking with a low incidence a horizontal surface such as the roof of an armored vehicle. The fins of the empennage are released when removing a safety pin, thus causing the missile to be stabilized in a substantially vertical axial position.

Abstract: A recoil reducer for a shoulder firearm including a main piston that moves axially in a cylinder disposed in a cavity in the firearm stock to intersect the butt of the firearm, the main piston being connected via a piston rod to a plate that supports a shoulder pad spaced rearwardly of the butt such that major portions of the firearm can move rearwardly when the firearm is discharged. The main piston has an aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having a frusto-conical portion and a threaded portion to receive corresponding threaded and frusto-conical portions of the piston rod.

Abstract: An auto-loading or semi-automatic firearm having a reciprocating bolt and a magazine positioned below the path of the bolt. The bolt has a longitudinal recess therein and finger means mounted adjacent the bolt which extend into the bolt recess. The finger means are caused by magazine action, after the last discharge, to exit the bolt recess and restrain bolt movement.

Abstract: Improved ratchet rifling with a full gain twist is provided in the form of a bore portion having a smooth bore for initially receiving and holding a projectile without marring the projectile followed by gradually emerging ratchet rifling contour with each spin-imparting edge progressively deepening, at least by crest or minor-radius portions "falling" inward toward the axis of the bore and as an alternative by base or major-radius portion increasing in distance from the bore axis, in either case resulting in projectile-seating increasing in predetermined proportion to twist along the barrel.

Abstract: The firearm has a rigid frame comprising a pair of vertically spaced substantially parallel hollow rods which are interconnected at their respective front and rear ends by vertical crosspieces. A barrel is mounted between the hollow rods and at the end of the barrel in the vicinity of the rearward end of the frame is a breech assembly which is interconnected to both the upper and lower rods. A shoulder support is mounted on the rear ends of the rods and positioned symmetrically with respect to the barrel. The shoulder support and other components of the firearm such as the pistol grip, front stock, rear stock and sight means are each individually and independently adjustable on the frame so as to conform to the physical characteristics of an individual shooter.

Abstract: Improved uniformity of timing, and particularly reduced sensitivity of timing to minor variations in delay charge size, are achieved in delay detonators by placing a loose load of a flame-sensitive ignition composition between a pressed delay charge and an ignition assembly, e.g., a percussion primer, at the actuation end of the detonator. The loose ignition charge has a free surface and is adapted to be ignited in response to direct contact with flame emitted from the ignition of a charge in the ignition assembly. Preferably, the delay charge is pressed into a plastic carrier which, in a non-electric detonator, has an open end terminating between the walls of the detonator shell and a primer shell that closes the actuation end of the detonator, and the ignition charge is loosely loaded into a metal capsule seated against the delay charge.

Abstract: A double-action trigger mechanism for firearms having a pivoted trigger and hammer with a draw-bar connecting them for cocking the hammer by means of the trigger, together with a trigger-blocking magazine safety for preventing firing of the gun when the cartridge magazine is removed. A multiple purpose spring is provided which acts as a trigger-return spring, a magazine-safety spring and a draw-bar spring. In addition, provision is made for limiting the retraction of the breech-bolt or slide when the magazine is removed so that a live cartridge in the chamber can not be extracted or a fresh cartridge can not be inserted into an empty chamber until the magazine is replaced.

Abstract: An enclosure for a warhead case which prevents a high order detonation of e warhead due to inadvertent initiation from physical, bullet, fragment impact, fire exposure or other factors causing a pressure buildup in the case. The warhead explosive is assembled in a hollow cylindrical warhead case having an open end and a closed end. An enclosure plate is positioned in the open end to close off the warhead in the case. The enclosure is circular and provided with a first plurality of radially extending apertures. The warhead case is provided with a second plurality of radially extending apertures which are positioned to coincide with the aperture in the enclosure plate. A plurality of pins are press fit into the case apertures so as to extend into the enclosure plate apertures and attach the enclosure plate to the warhead case.

Abstract: The action of a flintlock mechanism used for firing rifles, pistols, and similar devices, whereby a flint or flintstone is normally used for igniting of the flashpan powder, is benefitted by the conversion of the flintlock mechanism to a matchlock mechanism by the incorporation of a matchlock convertor with use of a phosphorus match or matches for the purpose of igniting the flashpan powder.

Abstract: A shoulder firearm, such as a sport rifle and the like, has a cheek-piece which is adjustable vertically and laterally with respect to the gunstock. Two spacer members are loosely positioned in correspondingly aligned bores or recesses in the cheek-piece and gunstock. Each spacer member has a plurality of pairs of opposed parallel surfaces and the distances between each pair of parallel surfaces are different. The spacer members may be in the form of blocks or cylindrical elements. By varying the placing of the spacer members in the recesses or bores of the cheek-piece and gunstock, the cheek-piece can be set at different heights.

Abstract: A pistol and cartridge shaped barrel insert is described that makes use of a unique center-fire cartridge shaped barrel insert that can be used as the barrel of a pistol and as a rimfire cartridge insert for a large bore weapon. The pistol body includes a frame with an extensible nose piece that allows insertion and removal of the cartridge insert. The cartridge insert includes an internal secondary firing pin that can be actuated to fire a rimfire cartridge by a hammer on the pistol frame or by the usual hammer and center fire mechanism of a large bore weapon. A resilient pad within the insert yieldably urges the secondary firing pin away from the breech end of the barrel.

Abstract: An extremely fast operating, explosive operated, switch wherein a torus supports and insulates the facing ends of flat wires of the open circuit to be closed. An explosive input is applied to a conducting piston swage member which normally is insulated from the flat wires by the torus. This moves the swage portion of the member into the torus which forces it off of the ends of the wire. The swage portion then closes the circuit by jamming the frustro-conical swage surface thereof into both flat wires.

Abstract: A device for retaining cartridges in a tubular magazine of a semi-automatic shotgun when the cartridge in the firing chamber is being replaced, comprising a spring-loaded catch lever which is pivoted to the gun about a transverse axis, so as to be angularly displaceable between an inoperative position allowing the discharge of cartridges from the magazine, and an operative position blocking the discharge of cartridges from the magazine. The lever is displaced manually into its operative position and is held in this position by the action of the magazine spring until the gun is fired, whereupon the recoil causes the automatic release of the lever to its inoperative position.

Abstract: A bolt assembly includes a locking lug bored to slidably receive both a bolt hold down plunger and a cartridge extractor pin jointly actuated by an interposed coil spring. An extractor is rockably mounted adjacent the bolt forward end and urged by the extractor pin into gripping engagement with a cartridge rim for extracting same from the gun barrel chamber. The extractor includes a stem loosely received in a bolt defined recess.

Abstract: An ambidextrous safety system for guns wherein such guns are adapted for efficient use by right or left-handed users. The safety system is adapted particularly for handguns, such as the Colt 0.45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, for example, but it is also quite well adapted for other types of guns as well. Manually actuated safety devices are positioned on each side of the frame of the gun and are adapted to be moved between safe and firing position. A pair of pivot pins, connected to each of the safety devices, extend through apertures in the frame of the gun and are nonrotatably connected by means of a mechanical interlock. The mechanical interlock is located within a close fitting bore of the frame, thus providing a structural stability therefor. A sear pin also extends through registering apertures in the frame by one of the safety devices.