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United States Patent Application	20090071053
Kind Code	A1
Thomele; Adrian J. O. ;   et al.	March 19, 2009

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Claims

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1. A modular, customizable firearm system comprising:a receiver assembly including a receiver having a trigger assembly pivotally mounted thereto, a hammer assembly mounted thereto, and a mechanical linkage between the trigger assembly and the hammer assembly;a plurality of differently sized handgrip assemblies, each of said differently sized handgrip assemblies having a receiver channel for removably and interchangeably receiving said receiver assembly and a handgrip portion having a hollow interior for removably receiving a magazine assembly; andat least one slide assembly removably and slidably attachable to said receiver assembly.

2. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, further comprising:said differently sized handgrip assemblies selectable by a user, wherein interchange of said differently sized handgrip assemblies alters one or both of a size of the firearm and a circumference of said handgrip portion.

3. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 2, wherein the size of the firearm is selected from full size, compact, and sub compact.

4. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, further comprising:said at least one slide assembly including a plurality of differently sized slide assemblies selectable by a user, wherein interchange of said differently sized slide assemblies alters one or both of a size of the firearm and a caliber of the firearm.

5. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 4, wherein the size of the firearm is selected from full size, compact, and sub compact.

6. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 4, wherein the caliber is selected from the group consisting of 9 millimeter, .357 Sig, S&W .40, and .45 Auto.

7. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, wherein said at least one slide assembly includes a one-piece machined slide.

8. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 1, further comprising:serialized indicia on an outward facing surface of said receiver; andeach handgrip assembly having a window aligned with said serialized indicia when the receiver assembly is received within the receiver channel of the handgrip assembly to allow transvisualization of the serialized indicia through said window.

9. A modular, customizable firearm system comprising:a receiver assembly including a receiver having a trigger assembly pivotally mounted thereto, a hammer assembly mounted thereto, and a mechanical linkage between the trigger assembly and the hammer assembly;at least one handgrip assembly having a receiver channel for removably receiving said receiver assembly and a handgrip portion having a hollow interior for removably receiving a magazine assembly; anda plurality of differently sized slide assemblies, each of said differently sized slide assemblies removably and slidably attachable to said receiver assembly.

10. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 8, further comprising:said plurality of differently sized slide assemblies selectable by a user, wherein interchange of said differently sized slide assemblies alters one or both of a size of the firearm and a caliber of the firearm.

11. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 10, wherein the size of the firearm is selected from full size, compact, and sub compact.

12. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 10, wherein the caliber is selected from the group consisting of 9 millimeter, .357 Sig, S&W .40, and .45 Auto.

13. The modular, customizable firearm system of claim 9, wherein each of said slide assemblies includes a one-piece machined slide.

14. A safety mechanism for firearm having a slide, comprising:a firing pin having a groove;a firing pin safety having a projection, said firing pin safety being movable between a locked position wherein said projection is received within said groove and an unlocked position wherein said projection is not received with said groove, wherein axial movement of said firing pin is blocked when the firing pin safety is in the locked position;a spring member urging said firing pin safety into the locked position; anda safety lever coupled to a trigger assembly including a pivotally moveable trigger, said safety lever moving said firing pin safety from the locked position to the unlocked position against the urging of the spring member in response to pivoting movement of the trigger.

15. The safety mechanism of claim 14, further comprising:a firing pin safety retainer received within a machined slot in the slide, the firing pin safety retainer having an axially-extending opening aligned with an axially extending opening in the slide for receiving said firing pin;a first generally vertically-extending recess formed on said firing pin safety retainer; anda second vertically extending recess formed in an aligned and facing surface of said machined slot, said first and second vertically extending recess cooperating to define a cavity for capture of said spring member.

16. The safety mechanism of claim 15, further comprising:said firing pin safety retainer further including a hammer stop portion.

17. The safety mechanism of claim 14, wherein said firing pin safety is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of sheet metal, machined metal, a metal injection molded material, a plastic material, and a composite material.

18. The safety mechanism of claim 17, wherein said firing pin safety is formed of stamped sheet metal.

19. The safety mechanism of claim 14, wherein said spring member is a spring having a low spring force.

20. A method for securing a rear sight assembly within a slide assembly of a handgun, the slide assembly having an extractor assembly including an extractor, and extractor pin, an extractor spring, said method comprising:mounting an extractor spring pin within the slide assembly, said extractor spring pin having a conical portion;securing a first end of the extractor spring to the extractor spring pin and a second end of the extractor spring to the extractor pin; andpositioning the conical portion of the extractor spring pin in aligned, facing, and contacting relation with a partial conical recess in the rear sight assembly, wherein the extractor spring cooperates with the conical portion to create a bearing force against the partial conical cutout, thereby securing the rear sight assembly within the slide assembly.

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Description

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RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/969,047 filed Aug. 30, 2007. The aforementioned application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002]The present disclosure relates generally to the art of firearms. In a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a modular firearm system that is customizable with respect to firearm size, handgrip size, caliber, or any combinations thereof. In a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to an improved firing pin safety for a firearm having a one-piece machined slide. The present developments find particular application in conjunction with a double-action semi-automatic pistol and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the present invention is amenable to other like single-action or double-action semi-automatic pistols.

SUMMARY

[0003]The embodiments disclosed herein allow for multiple modular firearm configurations, thereby providing significant customizability of the firearm by the user. As will be appreciated upon a reading and understanding of this disclosure, all of the components necessary to fire the weapon are carried on a common receiver assembly. Interchangeable slide assemblies and handgrip modules can be detachably connected to the common receiver to substitute one firearm size, handgrip circumference, and/or munitions caliber for another. For example, the handgrip module can be substituted so as to change the size of the firearm and/or the slide assembly can be changed for purposes of changing the caliber of the firearm. In a further aspect, an improved firing pin safety system is provided. In yet another aspect, a method and apparatus for seating a rear sight assembly within the slide assembly are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment and method of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and wherein:

[0005]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exemplary customizable firearm embodiment;

[0006]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the firearm appearing in FIG. 1, illustrating a slide assembly and a handgrip assembly, either or both of which may be interchangeably received on a receiver assembly;

[0007]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the slide assembly;

[0008]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the receiver assembly;

[0009]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the handgrip module;

[0010]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the magazine;

[0011]FIG. 7 illustrates a firearm system having plural interchangeable slide assemblies and plural interchangeable handgrip modules;

[0012]FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of an integral hammer stop and rear sight with firing pin safety; and

[0013]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side cross-sectional view showing the trigger, hammer, and firing pin safety assemblies in detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014]Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like or analogous components throughout the several views, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a firearm denoted generally as 10 includes a slide assembly A, a receiver assembly B, and a handgrip assembly C. A magazine D is removably received within an interior compartment defined by a generally hollow handgrip portion 228 of the handgrip assembly C.

[0015]As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide assembly A includes a slide 12 having an axial channel 16 and a barrel 20 received within the channel 16. A recoil spring 24 is coaxially received about a recoil spring guide 28 for returning the slide 12 into a state of battery.

[0016]The slide assembly A contains an extraction assembly, including an extractor 30, an extractor pin 34, an extractor spring 38, and an extractor spring pin 42 for extracting a cartridge from the chamber of the barrel 20. Other extractors and extraction assemblies as are generally known to those skilled in the art are also contemplated.

[0017]In the depicted preferred embodiment, the extractor 30 is a pivoting type extractor having a bearing surface 31 that engages a forward end 33 of the extraction pin 34. The extractor 30 is pivotable about a pivot point 35, e.g., when chambering a round. After a round is fired, the extractor 30 pulls the cartridge out of the firing chamber and holds the cartridge in position for ejection by the ejector 72 (see FIG. 4). A rearward end 37 of the extractor pin 34 engages a forward end 39 of the spring 38, e.g., via a snap fit. A rearward end 41 of the spring 38 engages a forward end 43 of the extractor spring pin 42. The extractor spring pin 42 also includes a conical portion 316, which engages the rear sight assembly 36 to seat and retain the rear sight, as described below.

[0018]The slide assembly A also includes front and rear sights 32 and 36, respectively, and an ignition system comprising a firing pin 50 and firing pin spring 46 housed within the slide 12, a firing pin retaining pin 58, and a firing pin safety 54, which is discussed in greater detail below. In the depicted embodiment, the rear sight assembly 36 also includes an integrated hammer stop 40, although a hammer stop and rear sight that are separate may also be employed.

[0019]Referring now to FIG. 4, the receiver assembly B includes a frame or receiver 44 including opposing and upstanding side members 48 and 52 and which are connected in opposed and spaced apart relation via front base member 56 and rear base member 60.

[0020]The sidewalls 48, 52 of receiver 44 include front and rear rail members 64 and 68, respectively, which are slidingly received within complimentary axially extending channels 18 formed within the channel 16 of the slide 12 to permit relative axial movement between the slide 12 and the receiver 44.

[0021]An ejector 72 is formed on the sidewall 52 of the receiver 44 for pushing the cartridge out of the ejection port or aperture 14 of the slide 12 during rearward travel of the slide 12 during operation, e.g., ejecting a spent cartridge when firing the firearm or for manually extracting the cartridge.

[0022]The receiver 44 also includes a mounting point for the barrel control means. In the depicted embodiment, barrel movement is controlled by a transversely extending pin or the like 76, which is received through opposing, aligned openings 80 in the sidewalls 48 and 52. In operation, the barrel control member 76 engages locking/unlocking lugs 84 and 88, defining an inclined channel 92, to unlock the barrel as the slide moves in the forward direction and to lock the barrel as the slide moves in the rearward direction.

[0023]In the depicted embodiment, the barrel control member 76 also provides a mounting point for a slide catch lever assembly comprising a slide catch lever 96 and slide catch lever spring 100. It will be recognized that in alternative embodiments a separate or dedicated slide catch lever pin, separate from the barrel control member, could be used as well.

[0024]The pin 76 is received through openings 104 formed in the slide catch lever 96 to pivotally mount the slide catch lever to the receiver 44. The spring 100 bears against an arm portion 108 of the slide catch lever 96 to urge the slide catch lever 96 to the normal, non-rotated position.

[0025]The magazine assembly D, as best seen in FIG. 6, includes a magazine tube 112 for holding rounds of munitions to be fired, a magazine base plate 116, a magazine spring 120, and a magazine follower 124. The magazine follower 124 includes a slide catch shelf 128 which engages the slide catch lever 96 when the magazine is empty, i.e., when the last round has been fired or when an empty magazine is inserted into the handgrip interior compartment. The slide catch shelf 128, at the urging of the magazine spring 120, moves the slide catch lever 96 into a rotated position, overcoming and compressing the slide catch lever spring 100.

[0026]Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide catch lever 96 includes slide engagement members 132, which are sized to engage complimentary notches 136 formed in the slide 12. In this manner, when the last round is fired, the engagement members 132 engage the notches 136 and the slide 12 is locked in an axial position relative to the receiver 44 that is out of battery. When the slide catch lever 96 is in the non-rotated position, the engagement members 132 are seated in notches 140 in the receiver and notches 144 in the handgrip module C. The engagement members 132 thus are externally accessible and may be manually operated to selectively lock and unlock the slide 12 relative to the receiver 44.

[0027]The receiver 44 also provides a means for mounting a trigger 148, a hammer 150, and the mechanical linkage therebetween. The trigger 148 is pivotally mounted in openings 154 in the receiver sidewalls 48, 52, about a pivot point 152 and includes a trigger shoe 156 for actuation with a user's finger for firing a round.

[0028]The trigger 148 also includes an arm 158 having protrusion 160 thereon, which engages a complimentary sized opening 162 in a trigger bar 164. During operation, as the trigger 148 is rotated, the trigger bar is moved forward and is cammed downward by an inclined surface 168 running on a hammer pivot pin 172 received in openings 176 of the receiver 44 sidewalls 48 and 52, the hammer pivot pin 172 also extending through an opening 174 in the hammer 150 to pivotally mount the hammer 150 on the receiver 44. The trigger bar 148 includes a hammer-engaging tab 180, which engages a protrusion or shoulder 184 within an arcuate channel 196 in the hammer 150.

[0029]The trigger bar 164 engages the hammer 150 when the trigger 150 is in its rest or non-rotated position. As the trigger bar 164 moves in response to rotation of the trigger 148, the hammer 150 rotates. One or more captured hammer springs 182a, 182b are received within a cavity formed in the hammer 150 and are retained therein by a hammer spring seat pin 188 which is received through openings 192 in the receiver sidewalls 48 and 52 and the arcuate channel 196 of the hammer 150. As the hammer is rotated in response to a trigger pull, the springs 182a, 182b are compressed by the relative movement of the hammer spring seat pin 188 as it travels in the arcuate channel 196. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the springs 182a and 182b are coaxial coil springs having opposite directions of helical twist to avoid binding with each other as the springs are compressed.

[0030]Further rotation of the trigger causes the hammer engaging tab 180 to move out of contacting relation with the hammer 150 when the trigger 148 is pivoted. The energy stored by the compression of the hammer springs 182a, 182b causes the hammer to rotate with force against the firing pin 50 to fire the weapon.

[0031]The movement of the trigger bar 168 also rotates a safety lever 200 having an arm 204 engaging the firing pin safety 54. The firing pin safety 54 includes a shoulder 212, which is urged downward into engagement with a slot 216 in the firing pin 50 by a firing pin safety spring 220. In this manner, the rotation of the safety lever 200 during a trigger pull moves the safety 54 out of engagement with the firing pin 50, so that the firing pin 50 becomes free to move.

[0032]A trigger bar spring 224, which may be a torsion spring, provides the force to move the trigger bar 148 up and back, that is, the upward force keeps the trigger bar engaged with the hammer 150 and the backward force resets the trigger bar to the rest position after a round is fired.

[0033]Referring now to FIG. 5, the grip module C includes the handgrip portion 228, a trigger guard 232, and a dust cover portion 236. Because the handgrip module C has none of the components required to fire the weapon, it may be readily interchanged with other handgrip modules of different size. For example, in certain embodiments, a firearm system may include a plurality of handgrip modules, which allows the users to select from a plurality of weapon sizes, e.g., full size, compact, and subcompact sized handguns. Furthermore, for each given size of handgrip module C, there may be provided a plurality of handgrip 228 circumferences, e.g., small, medium and large. In this manner, the interchangeable handgrip modules C provide a firearm system that is highly customizable to the hand size or other size preferences of the user. For example, in a preferred embodiment of a system having three firearm sizes (i.e., full-size, compact, and sub compact) and, for each firearm size, three handgrip 228 sizes (e.g., small, medium and large), there are nine combinations of firearm size and handgrip circumference.

[0034]The handgrip portion 228 includes a hollow interior portion which receives the magazine D, which feeds rounds into a magazine well portion 240 of the receiver 44. The hollow interior compartment defined by the handgrip portion 228 defines an extension of the magazine well 240.

[0035]Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the receiver 44, which carries and locates everything required to fire a round, is received within a channel 244 in the handgrip module C. A notch 248 formed in the rear of the channel 244 receives an extension tab 252 of the receiver 44 and locates the receiver at the appropriate position within the channel 244.

[0036]The trigger shoe 156 passes through an opening 256 in the channel 244 and extends into the region bounded by the trigger guard 232. The dust cover portion 236 houses the barrel 20, recoil guide 28, and recoil spring 24, and prevents external contaminants from fouling the recoil mechanism.

[0037]A take down lever 260 passes through openings 264 in the handgrip module C and aligned openings 268 in the receiver sidewalls 48 and 52. A sealing ring or gasket 270 between the take down lever 260 and the opening 264 provides a seal against the entry of external contaminants into the channel 44. The take down lever 260 locates and provides the primary locking position of the barrel 20.

[0038]A magazine catch assembly includes a magazine catch 272, a magazine catch stop 276, and a magazine catch spring 280 for removably securing the magazine D in the interior compartment of the handgrip. The magazine catch 272 is manually depressible to remove the magazine D from the handgrip module C.

[0039]The handgrip module C may include a window or aperture 284 through which a serial number or other serialized indicia can be visualized, the serialized indicia appearing on the corresponding aligned portion of the exterior-facing surface of the sidewall 48. The window may optionally include a pane or transparent material received within the aperture. In this manner, any of a plurality of handgrip modules C may be interchanged for a single, serialized firearm.

[0040]In addition to the interchange of handgrip modules C to provide a firearm having a desired firearm size and/or handgrip circumference as described above, the firearm system in accordance with this disclosure may also include multiple interchangeable slide assemblies A which may be slidably and interchangeably received on the rails 64, 68. In certain embodiments, the plurality of interchangeable slide assemblies A may be sized to correspond to the selected handgrip size, e.g., full-size, compact, and subcompact. In further embodiments, for any given size of slide assembly, there may be a plurality of munitions caliber options available. The slide assembly A may be adapted by providing an appropriate barrel 20 for firing cartridges of a variety of caliber sizes including, but not limited to, 9 millimeter, .357 Sig, S&W .40, and .45 Auto caliber sizes.

[0041]It will be recognized that, depending on the various calibers selected, it may or may not be necessary to interchange the handgrip module C when a different caliber slide assembly A is selected. When exchanging slide assemblies A for different calibers having the same axial length, a common handgrip module C may be used for such different calibers, wherein it is only necessary to exchange the magazine D. However, it is also contemplated that, even for calibers having different lengths, a common handgrip module C can be employed, for example, using different magazines D and spacers within the interior compartment of the handgrip module C as necessary to compensate for a selected caliber, as required.

[0042]The interchangeability of modular components is illustrated in FIG. 7. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality (up to some number N) of slide assemblies A.sub.1 to A.sub.N are interchangeably attachable to the common receiver assembly B. Likewise, a plurality (up to some number M) of handgrip modules C.sub.1 to C.sub.M are interchangeably attachable to the common receiver B.

[0043]In this manner, in a preferred embodiment having three different firearm sizes, one serialized subassembly can be used by the consumer to make three sizes of gun (e.g., subcompact, compact, or full size). In an especially preferred embodiment wherein each of the three firearm sizes has three handgrip circumferences (e.g., small, medium, and large, there are a total of nine firearm size and handgrip circumference configurations.

[0044]In a preferred embodiment where there are four calibers (e.g., 9 mm, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, and .45 Auto) any of the previous 9 firearm size/handgrip circumference configurations can be combined with any of the four calibers to provide 32 possible combinations of size, grip, and caliber so that the consumer can tailor their gun to meet their specific requirements. It also allows law enforcement agencies to issue the same model of gun to everyone in their organization, but still be able to customize the ergonomics to fit an ever-growing range of officers. The system also allows rapid and facile reconfiguration of the firearm, with reconfiguration taking less than one minute. It will be recognized that other numbers of firearm size, handgrip size, and/or caliber may be provided.

[0045]Although the preferred embodiment described herein provides for variability of firearm size, handgrip circumference, and caliber, it will be recognized that systems may be provided wherein one or more of these variables remain constant. For example, systems having interchangeable handgrip modules C and slides A for providing variable firearm sizes and/or handgrip circumferences for a single caliber are contemplated. Likewise, systems having interchangeable handgrip modules C and slides A for providing variable firearm sizes and/or variable calibers, without necessarily providing variable handgrip sizes within each firearm size, are also contemplated. Similarly, systems having interchangeable handgrip modules C and slides A for providing variable handgrip circumferences and/or variable calibers, all within a single firearm size, are also contemplated.

[0046]In a further aspect of this disclosure, referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is provided an improved firing pin safety for use in a one-piece machined slide. Although the firing pin safety described herein may be used in connection with the slide assembly A as detailed above, it will be recognized that the firing pin safety herein is also amenable for use in other firearms having a one-piece machined slide.

[0047]Commonly, the firing pin safety in a one-piece machined slide is formed of a relatively heavy piece of metal received within a bore hole formed in the slide. The firing pin safety is urged into engagement with a firing pin safety spring and drop testing requires that the firing pin safety remain engaged with the firing pin when the weapon is dropped from a certain height. Because the firing pin safety is typically formed of a relatively heavy piece of metal in a one-piece machined slide and thus has significant inertia when dropped, a firing pin safety spring with relatively high spring force is required. The spring force of the firing pin safety spring is one of the spring forces that must be overcome by the user when pulling the trigger. Thus, a firing pin safety spring with a high spring force is disadvantageous since it increases the force required to actuate the trigger and fire the weapon.

[0048]The improved firing pin safety system herein allows for the use of a very lightweight firing pin safety member in a one-piece machined slide and the firing pin safety member herein may be produced relatively inexpensively as a stamped sheet metal part. It will be recognized, however that the firing pin safety member herein may be formed of any suitable material, including without limitation, sheet metal, machined metal, a metal injection molded material, a plastic, e.g., injection molded, material, a composite material such as a fiber reinforced resin material, and so forth. Because the firing pin safety member can be fabricated of a material that is relatively low weight, thus providing a firing pin safety member that is low in inertia, a firing pin safety spring with a relatively low spring force can be used to bias the safety member into the locked position, thereby reducing the trigger pull weight while also meeting firearm drop testing requirements.

[0049]As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 8, a rear sight 36 includes an integral hammer stop 40, which also functions as firing pin safety retainer in the depicted preferred embodiment. The firing pin 50 is received through an opening 300 in the hammer stop 40. The hammer stop 40 is received within a machined slot 304 in the slide 12. A first, generally semi-cylindrical recess 308 in the rearward-facing surface of the slot 304 cooperates with a second, generally semi-cylindrical recess 312 formed in the forward-facing surface of the hammer stop 40 to define a cylindrical recess housing the firing pin safety spring 220. It will be recognized that the firing pin safety retainer need not be integral with the rear sight and/or hammer stop, and that other firing pin safety retention configurations are contemplated. For example, a separate or dedicated firing pin safety pin retainer having an opening and semi-cylindrical recess or cavity as described above can be received in the slot 304.

[0050]In operation, the spring 220 urges the firing pin safety spring 54 downward so that the shoulder 212 of the firing pin safety engages the annular channel 216 in the firing pin 50, thereby preventing axial movement of the firing pin 50. When the firing pin safety 54 is urged upward by the arm 204 of the safety lever 200 during a trigger pull operation, thereby compressing the spring 220, the shoulder 212 moves out of the annular channel 216, allowing the firing pin to move axially when struck by the hammer 150 to fire the weapon.

[0051]With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 8, the rear sight assembly 36 in accordance with the depicted preferred embodiment also includes a generally partial conical cut out or recess 314, which engages an aligned, facing, and contacting portion of a conical portion 316 of the extractor spring pin 42 (see FIG. 3). The extractor spring 38 urges the extractor spring pin 42 in the rearward direction. The engaging portion of the conical surface 316 thereby urges the rear sight assembly 36 to the right (in the orientation shown in FIG. 8).

[0052]Also, the extractor spring pin 42 is aligned within the slide assembly such that the longitudinal axis 318 of the extractor spring pin 42 is lower than the vertical midpoint 320 of the partial conical cutout 314. In this manner, when the conical portion 316 bears against the cutout 314 at the urging of the spring 38, the rear sight assembly 36 is also urged in the downward direction (relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 8). Thus, the net resultant force on the rear sight assembly 36 as a result of the cooperation between the biased conical portion 316 and the cutout 314 downward and to the right (in the orientation shown in FIG. 8), to thereby retain and seat the rear sight assembly 36 in proper position on the slide 12.

[0053]The present developments have been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description of the preferred embodiment. It is intended that the invention be construed as including such modifications and alterations.

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