Abstract: A shock-absorbing recoil mechanism for a semiautomatic firearm includes a pair of rigid plates positioned on opposite sides of a resilient sheet of energy-dissipating material. The plates and sheet are positioned in the U-shaped cavity of the firearm frame against reduced diameter shoulders formed toward the rear end thereof. The slide, when moving to its recoil position, thus contacts the forward plate instead of the shoulder in order to reduce the peak value of the recoil force applied to the frame by the slide. The shock-absorbing assembly may be combined with the recoil spring by utilizing a spring guide rod which projects through the plates and resilient material. The recoil spring surrounds the guide rod and projects forwardly against a cap mounted in the forward end of the slide.

Abstract: A blasting composition, method, and system for making such is disclosed. The blasting composition consists essentially of a particulate inorganic nitrate oxidizer, a particulate metal fuel, water, and a gelling agent. The composition is prepared by blending 10-20% by weight of the total amount of water to be added to the composition, with the particulate inorganic nitrate oxidizer; adding a dry blend of gelling agent and particulate metal fuel to the damp oxidizer; briefly mixing the two components; adding the remainder of the water; and slowly subjecting the mixture to a tumbling action for a brief period of time sufficient to obtain a uniform composition.

Abstract: An adjustable sight for firearms of the type having a trapezoidally shaped dovetail extending transversely across the upper rear end of the firearm and a sighting bead projecting upwardly at the front of the slide. The adjustable sight includes a trapezoidally shaped base which replaces trapezoidally shaped, fixed sights normally mounted in the dovetail. The base is frictionally secured to the slide by a set screw extending through a threaded bore in the base which is torqued against the lower wall of the dovetail. A transverse slot formed in the base receives a sight blade having formed therein a notch projecting downwardly from its upper edge. The blade is held in place by a blade set screw mounted in a second threaded bore in the base. The set screw intersects the slot at an acute angle, and its end is sufficiently pointed so that its lower surface contacts the lower edge of an aperture formed in the blade.

Abstract: A blasting composition, method and system for making such is disclosed. The blasting composition is a homogeneous slurry-type blasting agent containing a major amount of water and a relatively small amount of a particulate fuel, preferably a particulate metal fuel. The blasting composition is made by premixing the fuel with water and a gelling agent to form a stable suspension of fuel in the water, metering the suspension of fuel into a dry particulate mixture of an inorganic metal oxidizer and a gelling agent, and slowly tumbling the mixture a short time sufficient to obtain a uniform composition without desensitizing the composition to detonation.

Abstract: A two-component explosive composition is disclosed in which each of the components, in and of themselves, is non-detonable. At the use site, the components are readily mixed to form a No. 6 cap-sensitive explosive composition. The composition includes (1) a solid dry component, preferably granular ammonium nitrate or like solid oxidizer and (2) a liquid component for admixture with the dry component consisting essentially of a non-self reacting compound with a fuel value of less than 5 kcal./gm. in which is dispersed 2% to 40% by weight based on the weight of the dry composition of a lower nitro-aliphatic fuel.

Abstract: A boosting device including a thin, cylindrical shell of high explosive, such as PETN, which may be formed by a spiral wrap of detonating cord. The shell is formed around an inert core which is either a solid cylindrical body, a hollow cylindrical body or a web-like structure having radial spokes or a hollow center. Detonation of the shell is initiated at one point on the shell, and the detonation proceeds along opposite sides of the cylindrical shell to a point diametrically opposite the initiation point where the detonation fronts meet thereby producing a shock reinforcing effect. The shock reinforcing effect allows a relatively small amount of explosive to initiate even low sensitivity blasting agents.