Abstract: A bipod for a light-weight machine gun is disclosed. The bipod has tubular telescoping legs with large ground-engaging feet that may be extended and retracted to discreet locking positions. The bipod has a spring-based system that allows a user to pivot the bipod legs about cylinder-in-a-cylinder pivot pins, either towards or away from the barrel muzzle with one hand, thus giving 180 degrees of travel. The bipod is attachable to a machine gun with a round yoke using a stepped screw and compression spring that assures yoke remains tightly secured to body, but rotatable for traversing, during extended use.

Abstract: A rapidly-adjustable butt stock assembly comprised of a butt stock, a buffer, a slot cylinder, a key cylinder, and keys. The butt stock has a cylindrical recess with key grooves longitudinally therein for receiving the slot and key cylinders. The key cylinder is rigidly attached to the buffer. The slot cylinder has at least one longitudinal slot with a plurality of transverse slots extending therefrom. The key cylinder carries one or more keys, which keys extend through the key cylinder and the slot cylinder and into the key grooves of the butt stock. To adjust the length of the assembly, the user rotates the slot cylinder so that the keys rotate out of the transverse slots and into the longitudinal slot of the slot cylinder thus permitting the key cylinder to move axially with respect to the butt stock.

Abstract: An authorization system for a firearm (10) includes an authorizing device (32) worn by the authorized user, and a firearm (10) with a fire control system, a computer controller (28), and a piezo-electric disabler (60). The computer controller (28) communicates with the authorizing device (32), and if no authorizing signal is received from the authorizing device, sends an electric output signal to the disabler (60) to prevent the fire control system from allowing the firearm to fire. The disabler, upon application of the electrical signal from the computer controller, cams the rearward moving trigger bar (52) of the fire control system clear of the hammer link (54) to disrupt the fire control system. Consequently, the firearm (10) will not fire.

Abstract: An authorization system for a firearm includes a personal device worn by the authorized user, modifications to the firearm's fire control system, and an authorization control circuit carried in the backstrap of the firearm handle. The authorization control circuit controls the fire control system and communicates with the personal device. In particular, the authorization control circuit will send a first coded signal to the personal device via an ultrasonic transponder and wait for a coded response. If the personal device is worn by a user and is within range, properly oriented and has received a correct code, it will respond to the signal by sending a coded response. If the correct coded response is not received, the authorization control circuit signals a brake solenoid located near the trigger bar to move to a locked position where it will cam the trigger bar out of engagement with the sear as the trigger is pulled. Consequently, the trigger bar will not move the sear and the firearm will not fire.

Abstract: An authorization system for a firearm includes a personal device worn by the authorized user, modifications to the firearm's fire control system, and an authorization control circuit carried in the backstrap of the firearm handle. The authorization control circuit controls the fire control system and communicates with the personal device. In particular, the authorization control circuit will send a first signal to the personal device via an ultrasonic transponder and wait for a coded response. If the personal device is worn by a user and is within range and properly oriented, it will respond to the first signal. If the correct coded response is not received, the authorization control circuit signals a bi-stable solenoid located near the trigger arm to move its plunger to an extended position where it will cam the edge of the trigger bar out of engagement with the sear when the trigger is pulled. Consequently, the trigger bar will not move the sear.

Abstract: A trigger safety for a pistol includes a laterally slidable plug incorporated into the trigger that, when slid laterally to extend beyond the confines of the trigger, will prevent rearward movement of the trigger by the plug's interference with the pistol frame. A spring internal to the trigger, imparts a force on plug to retain it positioned in either the safety position or the fire position and resist movement. The plug can be reversed for left-handed users so that the pistol can be placed in a “safe” or a “fire” position with the trigger finger of either hand.

Abstract: A ballistic optimizing system for use on a rifle comprises an axially movable weight threadedly secured to the end of a rifle barrel such that movement of the weight can be used to change vibrational characteristics of the rifle when it is fired. By damping vibrations of the barrel at the muzzle, a bullet can exit the barrel at the point of minimal vertical deflection so that accuracy is improved. To secure the weight element into a desired position, a tooth on a spring carried on the weight is received into one of a plurality of axial grooves equally spaced around the circumference of the rifle barrel. Additionally, a compression spring in an annular space between the barrel and the weight applies greater frictional engagement between the threads of the weight and the threads of the barrel so that alignment of the weight with respect to the barrel is improved.

Abstract: A fire control system for a semiautomatic, double action only pistol includes a sear carried by a biased sear arm. As in other pistols, the sear engages a striker to load it against a striker spring until it is released to fire a chambered round. In the present invention, the sear arm is biased so that it urges the sear forward and upward, against the rearward movement of the sear as a result of the pulling of a trigger operating through a trigger arm, and restores the sear after release of the striker. The sear arm is biased by a spring system comprising two torsion springs. One torsion spring operates against the sear block to urge the sear arm in an upward direction; the other torsion spring, pivotally supporting the sear, operates on it to urge it forward. The sear and the striker lie in the same plane.

Abstract: The present invention is a handgun having a polymeric frame with metallic rails that are inserted within the frame after the frame has been formed by a molding process. The rails are inserted into recesses formed in a channel within the frame, before the frame has completely cooled and contracted. The rails comprise a pair of front rails and a pair of rear rails. The rear pair of rails are positioned within rear recesses and held in place by the sear block. The front pair of rails are positioned within front recesses and held in place by a plurality of metallic parts. The parts include a horseshoe, an unlock block, and a spreader block that are positioned between and matingly engage the front rails, thus securing them within their respective recesses.

Abstract: A fire control system for a semiautomatic, double-action only pistol includes a sear carried at the free end of a cantilevered spring. As in other pistols, the sear engages a striker to load it against a striker spring until it is released to fire a chambered round. In the present invention, the cantilevered spring urges the sear forward and upward, against the rearward movement of the sear as a result of the pulling of a trigger operating through a trigger arm, and restores the sear after release of the striker. The cantilevered spring is preferably a spring with a torsion spring on each end. One torsion spring operates against the frame to cantilever the spring body; the other torsion spring, supporting the sear, operates on it to urge it forward. The sear and the striker lay in the same plane.

Abstract: A universal mount for a rifle comprises an upper rail having a plurality of traverse ribs running from the back of the upper receiver to the gas block, and a hand guard surrounding the barrel. The hand guard has side mounts allowing the addition of accessory devices such as flashlights and laser sights. A lower rail, designed to accept a grenade launcher and a bayonet, resides between the barrel and the hand guard. A heat shield is attached to the hand guard to protect the marksman from injury. A semicircular retaining ring locks the hand guard to the gas block by means of a throughhole which matingly engages a pin located in the muzzle end of the hand guard. When in place, the present invention provides a weapons' platform which achieves and maintains continuous alignment between the sight line of any optical attachments and the direction of a barrel that has become deformed due to thermal stress.

Abstract: A frame plug or closure member which is fitted into a cavity of a handgrip of a handgun is used to provide added reenforcement and to extend the handgrip. The plug has a tapered, semi-circular shaped base which is integrally connected to one end of a flexible flat, elongated member which has a foot at the other end thereof. The curvature of the base matches the curvature of the lower edge of the handgrip to provide a natural extension to the handgrip. The plug has a spine integrally connected to both the base and flexible elongated member so as to provide stiffness thereto. The handgrip has a plug cavity and an adjacent gun magazine cavity which open to the lower edge or butt thereof. The two cavities are separated by an internal wall having a through opening. The frame plug is fitted into the plug cavity until the foot reaches the opening at which time the foot snap fits into the opening thus securing the frame plug to the handgrip.

Abstract: An improved means is provided for mounting a front sight onto the slide of a semi-automatic pistol. The sight includes an upper portion and an integral anchor portion of a resilient polymeric material in which the upper portion is adapted to disposed on the upper surface of the slide. An elongated opening is formed in the slide, is dimensioned to receive therein the anchor portion of the sight and has a predetermined depth terminating at an inner surface portion of the slide adjacent the lower edge of the opening. The anchor portion has a plurality of legs spaced apart in a peripheral array and which extend downward from the upper portion. Each lo leg has at its lower end a radially extending foot having a beveled lower surface adapted to engage the outer edge of the opening and to flex the legs inwardly for fitting into and through the opening.