Abstract: In a magazine-fed firearm having its barrel fixed to the frame and having a slide reciprocably mounted to the frame, with resilient means positioned between the slide and the frame urging the slide toward the muzzle, a lever rotatably mounted to the frame releasably engages notches formed in the slide, delaying opening of the breech momentarily after each firing to allow the internal gas pressure to reach a safe level, and retaining the slide with the breech open to signal the firing of the last cartridge. A resiliently biased plunger on the frame restrains the lever against rotation into and out of engagement with the notches.

Abstract: In a semi-automatic, magazine-loaded double action firearm wherein the firing pin is cocked and released for firing by a trigger bar articulated to the trigger, a resiliently mounted arm is positioned within the frame of the weapon to intercept and eject the spent cartridge case after each firing. When the magazine is withdrawn from the weapon, the arm forces the trigger bar out of engagement with the firing pin sear, thereby preventing the inadvertent firing of a live cartridge which may have been left in the chamber.