Historical Document · 1903
John M. Browning's automatic-firearm patent, filed 3 April 1902 and granted 22 December 1903: the blowback pocket-pistol layout of the FN 1903 and Colt 1903, from which the Eibar Ruby derives. The Ruby Pistol dive compares the Ruby with it, including the grip safety and safety lever the Ruby drops or moves.
No, 747,585, PATENTED DEC, 22, 1903, J. M. BROWNING, AUTOMATIC FIREARM, . APPLICATION FILED APR, 3, 1902, N0 MODEL, 3 SHEEETS-SHEET l, 1. É No. 747,585, J. M. BROWNING, AUTOMATIC FIREARM, O MODEL, PATENTED DEC, 22, 1903, APPLICATION FILED APR, 3, 1902, 38HEETS-SEET 2. No. 747,585, PATENTED DEC, 22, 1903, J. M., BROWNING, AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED APR, 3, 1902. NO MODEL, 3 SEEETS-SBEET 3. RS S. N n r) S \ R. s NS 'sR) NN SN NNN N N N N NS.N S. S. No. 747,585. Patented December 22, 1903. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. SPECIFICATION forming part of setters Patent No. 747,585, dated December 22, 1903. Application filed April 3, 1902, Serial No. lol,169. (No model.) to all whom, it may concern: ward direction alone, carrying with it the bar Be it known that I, JOHN M. BROWNING, a rel previously disengaged from the frame. eitizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, Another object of the invention is to pro county of Weber, in the State of Utah, have duce a firearm of this class in which not only 55. invented certain new and useful Improve shall the possibility of any part of the arm ments in Firearms, of which the following is a being thrown rearward be absolutely guarded specification, reference being had to the ac against, but in which also the blowing rear companying drawings, forming a part hereof. ward from the arm of escaping powder-gases, This invention relates to automatic firearns due to defective cartridges or their primers, 69 W of that description in which the several op shall be positively prevented. erations-such as the opening of the breech Another object of the invention is to pro after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty duce a firearm of this class in which for safety cartridge-shell, the cocking of the hammer, in handling and carrying the firing mechan the presentation and introduction of a new ism, with the exception of the trigger shall IS cartridge to the chamber of the barrel, and be entirely inclosed and concealed in the arm the closing of the breech-are automatically and which shall be provided with a device for effected through or by the energy of the re automatically locking the firing mechanism coil of the breech-bolt or that part which at whenever it is cocked or made ready for fir the time of firing closes the breech of the bar ing, such locking device to be actuated to rel, and more especially relates to firearms of unlock the firing mechanism by the act of this description in which energy is stored dur grasping the arm and holding it in the posi ing the opening movement of the breech-bolt. tion for firing. Whenever the firing mech in a spring, there action of which is utilized anism is released and moved from the cocked to actuate the return or closing movement of position, this locking...device shall thereby be 75 w automatically moved from its operative to its 25 the breech-bolt. The main object of the invention is to pro inoperative position and shall there be posi duce a firearm of this class which shall be tively held until the recocking of the firing simple and inexpensive in construction, reli mechanism shall again move the locking de vice to its operative position. able, and safe under all conditions of use. Another object of the invention is to pro A further object of the invention is to pro duce a firearin of this class in which the bar vide the firearm in the said device for auto rel to insure accuracy in firing shall be rig matically locking the concealed firing mech idly held upon but located entirely above anism when cocked with a reliable indicator : the frame near the sighting-line of the arm for showing at a glance whether the firing and in which the attachment of the barrel to mechanism is in the cocked or in the released the frame shall support the barrel rigidly, but position. shall allow the barrel at will and readily to Another object of the invention is to pro be detached and removed and to be replaced duce a firearm of this class which for safety and attached without requiring the use of any in handling and carrying, even when a car tridge is in the chamber of the barrel and the 4. too therefor". Another object of the invention is to pro firing mechanism is cocked, shall be provided duce a firearm of this class in which to insure with a safety device for at will and readily the absolute safety of the user the cover or locking the combined breech-slide and breech breech-slide, the movable abutment for the bolt in its closed forward position, at the 95 reaction-spring, and the breech-bolt shall be same time positively locking the cocked firing combined in one strong integral whole with mechanism, or for as readily unlocking these out a division or joint, therein and shall be parts, and thereby adapting the airin for in mounted upon the top of the frame from the stat Se, For safety and convenience while front, and be so held and guited in its recip examining and cleaning the lar in and while 5 D rocation thereon that it can be retrioved from charging it with cartridges said safety device the frane as one whole only and in the for shall, further, be adapted at will to lock the 2, 747,585 combined breech-slide and breech-bolt in its the lower part of the pistol-grip. Fig. 13 is rearward open position and at the sane time a detail view of the combined trigger, Sear, to louk the cocked firing mechanism or to as and magazine-catch spring. Fig. 14 is a de readily unlock these parts. tail view of the mainspring. A further object is to provide the firearm in Similar letters refer to similar parts through the said safety device for simultaneously lock out the several views. w ing the breech-slide and the cocked firing The pistol represented in the drawings com mechanism with a reliable indicator percep prises three main parts-the frame a, the bar 75 tible to touch, as well as to sight, for showing rel b, and the breech-slide c. O if the arm is ready for instant use or not. The top surfaee of the frame a forms a Another object of the invention is to pro straight seat for the reciprocating breech duce a firearm in which for simplicity of con slide c. In the upper portion of the frame is struction and for prevention of accidental the receiver and beiow it the grip ur handle firing the means by which the device for al a, which is preferably made integral with IS tomatically locking the cocked firing mech the frame, but may be formed separately and anism is acuated shall also be the means by attached thereto in any suitable man der. which the safety device for at will locking the The barrel b is securely engaged with the breech-slide simultaneously with locking the top of the frame to prevent longitudinal move cocked firing mechanism is held or retained ment and without any longitudinal move in its operative position. Besides thus actu ment of the barrel during the act of lock ating both these locking devices the same ing by a series of transverse segmental ribs means, moreover, shall also be the means by b' at right angles to the axis of the barrel, pro which the firing mechanism when released jecting downwardly from the under side of is actuated to discharge a cartridge, so that the barrel near its rear end and fitting into a go 25 whenever breakage or failure of the common series of corresponding segmental grooves a means causes both the automatic locking de the open top of the frame in front of the vice to become inoperative and the manual in receiver, the width of the series of ribs being safety device to fail to remain in its opera substantially equal to the largest diameter of tive position the firing mechanism shall si the barrel, two parallel surfaces extending 95 multaneously become incapable of exploding from the sides of the barrel to the ends of the a cartridge. series of ribs. To lock and to unlock the bar These objects are attained by mechanism rel to and from the frame when the breech of simple and practical construction which is slide is in place, it is revolved on its longitu (, O efficient, perfectly safe in use, and not liable dinal axis until the projecting ribs swinging 35 to get out of order. sidewise are respectively engaged with or dis The invention is shown herein as embodied engaged from the grooves in the frame and in a gas-operated magazine-pistol; but it will clear the top surface of the frane. When be understood that the invention is applicable the breech-slide is not in place, the barrel can , IoS to other firearms. Therefore it is not intended be disengaged from the frame by lifting it. . 40 to restrict the present invention to a maga The barrel is held down when engaged with zine-pistol nor to any particular kind of fire the by the breech-slide c, which coin arin nor to the combination of the several binesframe in one integral piece the brech-bolt c', features of improvement in a single structure. the barrel-cover c, and the front abutinent c' to In the accompanying drawings, wherein is for the reaction-spring. The top of the breech 45 illustrated an embodiment of the invention, slide is semicylindrical, and its straight bot Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of the tom is fitted to slide rearward and forward pistol with the breech closed. Figs. 2 and 3 upon the top of the frame. The sides of the are respectively front and rear end views of breech-slide project downward, overlapping the same. Fig. 4 is a horizontal detail sec those of the frame, and are provided with lon is 59 tion on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 of gitudinal ribs c', which interlocking with cor Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sec responding grooves a' in the sides of the tion of the pistol with the breech closed and fraine serve to secure the breech-slides upon the hammer down, the barrel being shown in the fraune and to guide it in its reciprocations elevation. Fig. 6 is a vertical detail section thereon. In rear of the barrel the breeeh on the sane plane as 'Fig. 5, but with the slide forms the breech-bolt c', forward of which hammer in its cocked position and the sear extends the tubular cover c, which incloses locked, the normal position of these parts the barrel and, like the barrel, projects some when other parts are as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. distance forward of the frame. This project 25 7 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but with ing forward portion of the breech-slide car the breech open. Figs. 8,9, and 10 are trans ries the depending front abutment c, tubular verse sections on the planes indicated by the in form and parallel to the axis of the barrel. lines 88,99, and 1010, respectively, of Fig. 5. In the forward portion frame is pro Fig. 11 is a horizontal detail section through vided a longitudinal seatofa the for the reaction 1 Bo the breech-slide on the plane indicated by the e, the axis of which lies in the rear line il 11 of Fig. 5, but with the breech-slide spring wardly-prolonged axis of the abutment c, and moved rearwardly, the barrel being shown in the forward portion of the bore of the seat a plan view. Fig. 12 is a detail rear view of is enlarged and opened at the top, so that the ------ 747,585 3 depending abutment c can enter and slide but not large enough to allow any rotation of the barrel in the barrel-cover c except in ward. The front opening of the abutment c the partic', where a recess, which may be seg is closed by a plug d, against which the for mental, permits the turning of the locking ward end of the reaction-springe bears, while ribs laterally enough to clear the top of the 5 the rear end of the springe bears against the frame. The location of this recess c is such end of the seat C in the frame, the spring e that it corresponds with the series of lock his exerting its tension in yieldingly sup the rein when the breech - slide moves rear ing-grooves in the top of the frame when the norting the breech-slide c in the forward po breech-slide approaches the rearward limit of sition. As the depending a but ment c is in its movement ori the frame. tegral with and in its entire length strongly After inserting the barrel into the breech joined to the breech-slide and is projected slide and turning it on its axis until the pro into the plane of the frame itself, the breech jecting ribs b' stand in the recess c the slide can be mounted upon and removed front, end of the breech-slide is closed by the 15 from the frame only from the front and is bushing f, which 'supports the muzzle of the positively prevented from being thrown rear barrel and fits into the enlarged front end c wardly from the fraine, the shoulder formed of the bore of the barrel-cover. The rear end by the enlarged bore of the seat a and the of the bushing f is reduced in diameter and front end of the top of the frame limiting the carries a segmental locking-rib f', and in rearward movement of the breech-slide by rear of the enlargement c' a corresponding contact with the rear end of the abutment c. recess is cut in the barrel-cover, into which This arrangement, besides forming an addi the rib f' is entered by a partial rotation of tional means of securing the breech-slide upon the bushing f on its axis, thus securing the 90 the frame and guiding it in its movements bushing f to the breech-slide, with which it thereon, provides in the frame an abutment reciprocates, the bushing sliding on the cy of great strength capable of absorbing the lindrical front end of the stationary barrel. shock should the breech-slide be thrown rear At the front the bushing f has a flange f, ward with untisual violence, such as might be which bears against the front of the breech 95 caused by the firing of cartridges containing slide and projects downward, partly overlap In order to pre ping the abutment c and provided with a vent the central part of the reaction-springe segmental recess f', which corresponds with . from bending during its compression by the the bore of the abutment c, forming the seat. rearward movement of the breech-slide, a pis of the reaction-springe when the bushing is OO ton e' is inserted into the rear end of the in its locked position. The plug, d, closing 35 springe, the head of the piston bearing against said seat at the front, is secured therein by a 3o excessive powder charges. the end of the seat a and its body extending pin d", passing transversely through the abut.-through the spring far enough to project into ment and the plug, the hole in the plug dbe the abutment c of the breech-slide, thus pro ing slightly elongated, so as to allow a lim Ios viding a guide for the unsupported portion of ited longitudinal movement of the plug din. the spring in the enlargement of the seat a. the abutment c and so that under the pres After the breech-slide has been mounted from sure of the reaction-springe the plug. d pro the front upon the frame it is secured thereon jects slightly from the front of the abutment by the interlocking of the barrel with the top and by entering the recessf in the flange of ... O of the frame, the rear end of the barrel forming the bushing locks the bushing against rota an abutment on the top of the frame against tion. which the face of the breech-bolt, c' will be With the barrel b. and the bushing fad... yieldingly supported by the tension of the reac justed as described in the breech-slide and tion-springe. The barrel may be introduced the reaction-spring e, with the pistone', in I I5 into the breech-slide after the latter has been serted in the seat a of the frame the breech So mounted upon the frame, and it may also be slide is mounted upon the frane, the front removed from the breech-slide while upon the end of the springe being guided into the seat frame; but with the present improvements in the abutment c. Pressing the breech the barrel may be first introduced and ad slide rearward upon the frame will carry the justed in the barrel-cover, c' of the breech locking-ribs b' of the barrel over the grooves 55 slide, and then breech-slide and barrel to a' in the top of the frame, when a partial gether he mounted upon the frame and there rotation of the barrel will securely interlock secured by the interlocking of the barrel with barrel and frame, and thereby secure the the frame. This method is preferable, as it breech-slide upon the frame. On releasing 25 is simpler and may be more quickly per the breech-slide it will, under the pressure of formed than the mounting of these parts each the reaction-spring, move to the forward po separately upon the frame. sition and close the breech. For dismount Forward of the breech-bolt, c' the interior ing the breech-slide it is pressed rearward of the barrel-cover c is bored out large enough until the locking-ribs b' may be turned into I 30 for the passage through it of the rear end of the recess c, after which the breech-slide, the barrel enlarged by the projection form with the barrel, may be drawn from the frame. ing the series of locking-ribs b' if said pro It will be observed that through the de jection stands vertically below the barrel, iscribed construction the assembling and the As 747,585 separation of the barrel, breech-slide, and In order to leave the rear end of the breech frame can be accomplished without the aid slide solid the seat in the breech-bolt for the of any tool or implement whatever. firing-pin is bored out from the front, and The location of the recess c prevents the later a bushing c is fastened in the face of accidental unlocking of the barrel, because the breech-bolt, which allows only the point it is so arranged that during the operation of of the reduced front end of the firing-pin to the pistol the breech-slide is always in mo project through it. To permit the introduc tion at the place where the locking-ribs b cor tion and removal of the firing-pin to and from 75 respond with the recess, and it is carried the breech-bolt without each time removing o rapidly beyond that position, so as to give this bushing, the firing-pin is divided in two the barrel no chance to rotate, but to always sections.j and j', each of which is short enough keep it securely interlocked with the frame. to enter into the seat from the rear through the The front sight and the rear sight are ar chamber c, thus allowing the front bushing ranged upon the ends of the breech-slide, to remain permanently fixed in the breech-bolt. 5 and thus the axis of the barrel, which rests The forward section is forms the firing-pin on top of the frame and is merely covered by point and has a head for the retraction-spring the shell of the breech-slide, is adjacent to k to abut against, said spring being intro the line connecting the sights by which the duced with the piece i into the breech-bolt pistol is aimed. and there confined between the firing-pin The breech-bolt carries the firing-pin and head and the fixed front bushing. The rear the cartridge-shell extractor, and in front of piecei' is cylindrical and is removably locked the breech-bolt an opening is provided in the in the breech-bolt by a transverse pinj*pass- . top of the breech-slide for the ejection of the ing through the breech-bolt and through a 9o cartridge-shells by the action of a shoulder recess in the top of the piecei'. The entire firing mechanism of the pistol, 25 in the receiver. The cartridges are supplied by a detachable magazine seated in the grip with the exception of the trigger, being cov and provided with a spring - actuated foll ered and concealed and it being, therefore, lower by which the cartridges are succes impossible to at will lock the hammer by the 95 sively raised to the receiver, where the for sear and the usual safety-notch in the han ward notion of the breech-bolt carries the mer, a safety or grip lever n is provided in topmost cartridge from the magazine to the the rear side of the grip, which serves to au. chamber of the barrel. These devices may be tomatically lock the firing mechanism if as usual in this class of arms and do not re cocked and only to release it when the grip OO quire further description. is grasped, as in firing the arm. The posi 35 In rear of the grip the hammer h and the tion of the lever also indicates if the con searg are pivotally mounted in the frame, cealed hammer h is cocked or is in the . re while in front of the grip, the trigger i is ar leased position. The lever in extends up ranged, a rearward extension i on the trig ward from its pivot in, on which it has a ro5 ger serving to connect the trigger with the limited swinging movement, and the main 40 sear. The mainspring land the trigger and spring: l is seated upon a shoulder on the sear-spring m are arranged in the grip in rea lever in above its pivot so as to yieldingly of the magazine-seat. hold the lever in its rearmost position, in In its released position the hammer h pro which the upper portion of the lever extends O jects from the top of the frame into a chain considerably from the rear of the grip, (15 ber c, formed in an extension of the breech When the lever n is pressed forward, its wings slide in rear of the breech-bolt c', which cov on its pivot until it is entirely in the grip and ers the hammer and gives a smooth rounded the rear of the lever corresponds with the out form to the pistol. This construction serves line of the grip. At its top the lever n has a IIS SSE the catching of the arm when hur forwardly-projecting hook or hooked projec So ri ly drawn from a pocket, and the solid im tion n', which when the lever n is in its nor perforate rear end of the breech-slide or wall mal rear position stands above a similar hook. of the chamber or recess c, having no open or hooked projectiou g', projecting rearward ing in line with the axis of the firing-pin, from the searg, so that then the near cannot tively prevents powder-gases escaping be. moved on its pivot, and thereby the trig rom the chamber of the barrel through the ger is locked in its forward position. When seat of the firing-pin from being blown into pressed into the grip, the lever n carries the the face of the person firing the arm. This hook n' forward of the hook g' on the sear to a is especially inaportant in gas-operated arms position where a recess in the sear stands be 125 in which the rearward pressure of the gases low the hook n' and a similar recess in the lever bo of explosion is directly utilized for opening stands above the hookg', thus leaving the sear the breech of the arm and in which an ex free to be moved by the trigger. The upper cessive powder charge, a defective cartridge rear corner of the sear is fitted to enter the case, a punctured primer, or the failure of cock-notch of the hammer h, so as to support the reaction-spring may each result in the the hammer when cocked, the sear-spring m. rearygard escape of a portion of the burning pressing the lower end of the sear forward SS power-gases. Against these the solid rear and through the extension also helding the end of the breech-slide forms a shield. trigger in its forward position. If now the s 747,585 5 trigger i is pulled while the ever n is pressed sitions the safety-lever may be turned up into the grip, the trigger extension will ward to positively lock the breech-slide either move the searg on its pivot and cause it to when fully closed or when fully open. The o release the hammer and will simultaneously upward movement of the safety-lever carries cause the hook g' of the sear to enter the re the stud othereon to a position in front of cess in the lever n, and thus to interlock with the stud g on the sear, so as to positively the hook n' of the eve', thereby locking the lock the sear against movement and prevent lever n, so that it can uot be moved rear the release of the cocked hammer. 75 wardly out of the grip. As soon as the sear If the hammer has been released and stands O has released the hammer the mainspring l in its position of rest, which it can occupy only causes the hammer to fall, thus carrying the while the breech is closed, the hub of the hub of the hammer to the rear of the top of hammer, standing in rear of and against the the sear, thereby positively locking the sear top of the sear, locks the sear in its released, in its released position, in which it continues position, in which the studg on the sear to positively retain the grip-lever n in the stands above the stud o' on the safety-lever grip. On again docking the hammer, as by o, and thus prevents the safety-lever from be the rear movement of the breech-slide, the ing moved until the hammer is again cocked. sear; actuated by the sear. spring, enters the The safety-lever thus being held immovable notch in the hammer and simultaneously re is a positive indicator that the hammer is not leases the hook n' of the lever n. Then the cocked and that the pistol is not ready for mainspring will move the lever n rearward instant use, but that a rearward and forward so as to project from the grip and also carry movement of the breech-slide is required to the hook n' over the hookg' of the sear, there cock the hammer. When, bowever, the closed iy again locking the sear and the trigger and breech-slide is locked by the safety-lever, it preventing the release of the hammer. By indicates that the hammer is cocked and this construction the cocked hammer cannot locked and that by simply turning down the he released until the grip - lever is pressed safety-lever the pistol is made ready for firing. into the grip, and the projection of the grip as long as cartridges are supplied by the 95 lever from the grip is a positive indication magazine. The safety-lever O thus is an in that the hammer is cocked and locked, where dicator of the condition of the pistol, not only as if the grip-lever does not project from the apparent at a glance, but also perceptible in grip it indicates that the hammer is in its re the dark, as the yielding of the lever or its leased position and must be cocked before the immovable condition can at once be felt. OO pistol can be fired. The cartridge - magazine p is detachably 35 Pivoted to the left side of the frame con held in the grip by the magazine-catch p', venient to be operated by the thumb of the which is at p pivotally mounted in the grip hand grasping the grip is the manual safety and is yieldingly held in operative position lever 0, the pivot o' of which is an integral by the lower end of the combined sear and to5 part of the lever and, passing through the trigger-spring m. The spring m, as shown 40 Center of the hammer h, at the same time in Fig. 13, is divided in two parts in its up serves as the hammer-pivot. This arrange per portion. The longer one, m', of these ment is not only simple and inexpensive, as parts serves to actuate the sear, while the it reduces the number of parts of the mech shorter one, m, rests against the extension O anism, but by it an important result is ob i" of the trigger and holds it in its forward 45 tailed, as hereinafter described. position. Below the division the spring n. The safety-lever o carries on its surface has a segmental lateral projection m, which the checked thumb-piece o°, at its top the fits into a corresponding segmental lateral hook-shaped projection o, and on its inner recess a in the grip in rear of the magazine. side the projecting sequare stud O', which ex In this manner the spring is held from mov II5 : tends through a small segmental opening in up or down in the grip, but the recess be the Wall of the frame to the side of the sear ing ing considerably greater in depth than the g, on which is provided a similar square stud thickness of the spring allows the spring or projection g near its upper rear corner, some movement rearward and forward in the the reinaining portion of the left side of the recess, whereby the spring is adapted to ex 55 Searg above its pivot being cut away so as ert its elasticity through its entire length, and to allow the stud o on the safety-lever o to both ends of the spring may be utilized. - freely move by the side of the sear into and thus As shown in Fig. 7, the mainspring l is W out of the path of the studg° thereon. shaped one limb, l, bearing against the ham I 25 In the left side of that portion of the breech mer, while the other shorter limb, l, has a slide which overlaps the frame two recesses. segmental projection l, which fits into a cor c and c' are cut and so located that the re responding segmental recess a? in the grip in cess c' corresponds with the hook o' on the rear of the sear and trigger-spring m, thus safety-levero when the breech-slide is fully confining the mainspring against moving up through its entire length. The projection on breech-slide is in its rearmost position and the mainspring and the corresponding recess the breech fully open. Thus in both these po in the grip being larger than the projection for Ward and the breech closed and the recess or down, but allowing it to exertits elasticity c" corresponds with the hook o' when the 747,585 6 on the seat' and trigger-spring and its recess, It will be understood that the several fea the short limb of the mainspring rests against tures of improvement herein described are a shoulder in the grip, thereby retaining the not necessarily combined in the same struc 7 o Sear and trigger-spring in its recess, without, ture with one another nor with the other fea tures of the firearm, which for purposes of however, fully compressing it. explanation are shown and described here As heretofore described, the lower end of in, nor are they necessarily employed in a the mainspring rests against a shoulder on the grip-lever in above its pivot n° and presses firearm of the particular character of that 75 the lever rearward o its operative position, shown. Obviously, also, various changes in o in which the lever locks the sear, while the form and arrangement of parts may be made longer limb of the mainspring presses against within the scope of the invention. the hammer, and by the hammer this pres I claim as my invention In a firearm, the combination of a frame, sure of the mainspring is transmitted to the a 1.barrel supported on top of the frame and hammer-pivot o', and as this pivot is an inte gral part of the safety-lever othe pressure of engaged with the frame by transverse, seg the mainspring serves to yieldingly support mental ribs and grooves to prevent longitu the safety-lever O in either of the positions to dinal movement, a reaction-spring supported which it may be moved. By this construc in the frame below the barrel, and a breech tion the two safety devices for locking the slide reciprocating on the frame and cover firing mechanism, the grip-lever, and the ing and fitting closely on the barrel to hold safety or locking lever both depend for their it in engagement with the frame, whereby efficiency on the mainspring, and therefore the barrel is adapted to be disengaged from should either or both of these safety devices the frame by relative transverse movement fail on account of the breakage or failure of of the ribs and grooves when the barrel is un 25 the spring the pistol is yet safe from acciden covered and by relative rotary movement tal firing, because the failure of the spring when the barrel is covered. also makes the hammer unable to strike the 2. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, 95 blow necessary for exploding a cartridge. a barrel supported on top of the frame and From the foregoing description the opera engaged there with by transverse, segmental tion of the improved firearm will be readily ribs and grooves to prevent longitudinal understood. A filled cartridge-magazine is movement, and a cover movable on the frame and holding the barrel in engagement with the roo inserted in the grip and the breech-slide is frame, whereby the barrel is adapted to be dis once drawn rearward by hand. This opens from the frame by relative transverse the chamber of the barrel, extracts the empty engaged 35 cartridge-shell, and ejects the same, cocks movement of the ribs and grooves when the the hammer, presents a cartridge in front of barrel is uncovered and by relative rotary the breech-bolt, and compresses the reaction movement when the barrel is covered. 3. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, Ios spring. When the breech-bolt is released, a barrel having projecting ribs in engagement the reaction-spring returns it to the forward position and transfers the topmost cartridge with grooves in the frame, and a cover mov from the magazine to the chamber of the bar able on the frame and holding the barrel in rel. On now pulling the trigger a shot is engagement with the frame, said cover hav d a recess to receive the projecting ribs of fired, and the rearward pressure of the pow ing der-gases in the barrel is utilized to actuate the barrel when the latter is rotated to dis 45 the rearward movement of the breech-slide engage the ribs from the grooves of the frame. and to store energy in the reaction-spring to 4. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, effect the forward movement of the same. a barrel having projecting ribs in engagement These operations may be repeated so long as with grooves in the frame, a cover holding II5 the barrel in engagement with the frame, and a bushing in the forward end of the cover to the muzzle of the barrel and remov is not positively locked to the barrel in its support closed position, but is yieldingly held in the able to permit the projecting ribs of the bar closed position by the reaction-spring. By rel to pass through the forward end of the the improved construction the barrel and the COWer. 5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, 55 frame are of such lightness that the breech a barrel having projecting ribs in engagement bolt, barrel - cover, and abutment, together constituting the breech-slide, may be of great with grooves in the frame, a cover movable I 25 strength and weight, and as the inertia of on the frame and holding the barrel in en with the frame, said cover having this part has to be overcome in opening the gagement recess to receive the projecting ribs of the breech, in addition to the pressure of the re abarrel when the latter is rotated, and a bush action-spring, the weight is a reliable safe removably held in the forward end of the guard which retards the opening of the breech ing to support the muzzle of the barrel and I 30 until the bullet has passed from the muzzle cover to permit the passage of the projecting ribs. of the barrel. The momentum of the heavy 6. In a firearm, of a frame, breech-slide completes the rearward move a barrel supportedtheoncombination the frame and having ment after the pressure of the gases in the cartridges are supplied. So It will be understood that the breech-bolt barrel has been relieved. an enlarged rear end, a cover holding the 747,585 barrel on the frame, a bushing in the forward and a reaction-spring interposed between the end of the cover and having a projection to abutment and the frame. engage a transverse groove in the cover, said 14. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, bushing having a notched flange, and a in OV a barrel, interlocking ribs and grooves On able plug engaging said notched flange to hold the frame and barrel at right angles with the axis of the barrel, a breech-slide comprising the bushing from rotation. 7. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, in one integral piece a cover fitting over the a barrel supported on the frame and having barrel, a breech-bolt in rear of the barrel, a an enlarged rear end, a cover holding the solid imperforate wall in rear of the breech 75 barrel on the fraue, a bushing in the forward bolt with a recess for the hannine between end of the cover and having a projection to the breech-bolt and said wall, and an abut engage a transverse groove in the cover, said ment projected into the plane of the fraine bushing having a notched flange, and a spring in front of the same, and a reaction-spring pressed plug supported by the cover and en coöperating with said abutinent. 15. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, gaging said notched flange. 8. In a firearm, the combination of a frame a barrel, a hammer mounted in a re?:ess in having a longitudinal, tubular seat below the the frame, and a breech-slide reciprocating barrel, a barrel, a breech-slide comprising in on the top of the frame and comprising at one integral piece a breech-bolt in rear of the cover for the barrel and a breech-bolt in real' barrel, a cover for the barrel and a tubular of the barrel said breech-slide having in real' abutment in front of and projected into the of the breech-bolt a recess to receive the han plane of the frame, whereby said slide is mer, whereby the hammer is always covered. movable from the frame in a forward direc 16. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, tion only and is positively held from removal a barrel, a breech-slide reciprocating on top rearwardly, and a reaction-spring-located in of the frame and having an integral albutinent said tubular seat, and said tubular abutment. projected into the plane of the frame in front 9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, of the same, a reaction-spring coöperating a barrel, a breech-slide comprising in one in with said abutment, a breech-bolt, and a solid tegral piece a breech-bolt in rear of the bar-. imperforate wall in rear of the breech-bolt 95 rel, a cover for the barrel and an abutment with a recess for the hammer between the in front of the frame, and a reaction-spring breech-bolt and said wall, a firing-pin carried seated partly within said frame, and partly in the breech-bolt and having its forward end reduced in diameter, said breech-bolt having within said abutment. 10. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a seat to receive the firing-pin, and a bushing C. 35 a rotatable barrel having on its under side in the forward end of said seat surrounding segmental ribs at right angles to the axis of the front portion of the firing-pin. the barrel in engagement with grooves in the 17. In a firearm, the combination of a fraine, upper side of the open frame; and a breech a barrel, a breech-slide having a breech-bolt slide comprising a cover holding the barrel and a solid, imperforate wall in rear of the I OS o: in engagement with the frame and a breech breech-bolt and separated therefrom by a re bolt in rear of the barrel. cess shorter than the breech-bolt, said breech 11. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, bolt being bored to receive the firing-pin, and a rotatable barrel having projecting segmen a firing-pin longer than said recess and di tal ribs in engagement with grooves in the vided in two parts whereby the parts of the . . O 45 frame, and a breech-slide comprising a cover firing-pin can be removed successively from for the barrel, having a recess to receive the the breech-bolt through said recess. projecting ribs of the barrel, and a breech 18. In a firearm, the combination of a ham bolt in rear of the barrel. mer, a sear coöperatitag with the hammer, a 12. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, grip-lever adapted to engage and lock the I IS a barrel, coöperatitig ribs and grooves on the sear, and a mainspring coöperating with the . frame and under side of the barrel only at hammer and with the grip-lever. right angles to the axis of the barrel, the bar 19. In a firearm, the combination of a ham rel being adapted to be engaged with the mer, a grip-lever and a sear coöperating both frame by partial rotation, a breech-slide com with the hammer and with the grip-lever, 2 C. prising a cover for the barrel to hold it in en said sear being formed to engage the hammer gagement with the frame, a breech-bolt in and to be held from movement when the ham rear of the barrel, and an abutment in front mer is down, said sear also having a part of the frame, and a reaction-spring inter which engages the grip-lever to hold the same po