US2647338A - Hammer shroud for revolvers - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1953 J. M. M NALLY ,3

HAMMER SHROUD FOR REVOLVERS Filed Nov. 3, 1949 JOHN M. M v

By My 7 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 one STT Colts Manufacturing Company,

Hartford,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 3, 1949, Serial No. 125,311

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a hammer shroud for a revolver and to the combination of the hammer shroud with the revolver.

More particularly, the invention relates to a hammer shroud for a revolver in which the hammer extends beyond the frame and is relatively movable in an arcuate path and has a cocking projection. A revolver of the type described may be carried in a pocket of the user, ordinarily a law enforcement officer, and it is frequently necessary to quickly withdraw the .revolver. When the revolver is so withdrawn, there is a tendency for the cocking projection on the hammer to engage a portion of the pocket, thus preventing the desired quick withdrawal and incidentally sometimes tearing the pocket. For a law enforcement oificer any inability to quickly withdraw the revolver may lead to serious consequences.

In accordance with the invention a structurally separate shroud is provided which is attachable to the frame of the revolver and which is so constructed and shaped that it prevents the hammer from engaging the pocket with the above-described results. The hammer shroud has arcuate faces at the sides of the hammer, which faces generally conform to the path of movement of the outermost portion of the cocking projection on the hammer but are nevertheless spaced slightly inwardly from the said path so that the said projection is exposed sufiiciently for any necessary manual engagement.

In the drawing I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a revolver and a hammer shroud therefor embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view similar to Fig. 1 but with the left' portion of the shroud omitted, a portion of the shroud being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view .of the shroud.

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a revolver of a well-known type, but it will be understood that this particular revolver has been selected merely for the purposes of illustration and that the invention is generally applicable to any revolver wherein the hammer projects beyond the frame and is relatively movable in an arcuate path.

The revolver as shown comprises a frame l0 provided with a grip l2 and having a barrel l4 carried thereby. The upper rear portion of the frame has opposite parallel side faces. The cylinder as shown at I6 is rotatably mounted on a crane l8 which is pivotally connected to the frame in the usual manner so that the cylinder can be swung laterally, ordinarily toward the left, for loading the cartridges or for e'xtractin the cartridge shells.

The frame 10 is provided with a trigger guard 20 within which is positioned a trigger 22. Pivotally mounted within the frame is a hammer 24, the hammer being provided with a firing pin 26 and with a cooking projection 28. The hammer 24 projects beyond the frame and is movable in an arcuate path. By means of conventional mechanism, not shown, movement of the trigger serves to index the cylinder for positioning an unfired cartridge and serves simultaneously to cook the hammer. Continued movement of the trigger releases the hammer to effect firing. By the engagement of the users thumb with the cocking projection 28, the hammer may be manually moved independently of the trigger to a fully cooked position as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, the cylinder being simultaneously indexed. The hammer is automatically latched in the fully cooked position and can be released by the trigger to effect firing.

A hammer shroud is provided which is separate from the frame I0 but which is attachable thereto. The hammer shroud may vary as to details, but it is preferably constructed and shaped as shown in the drawing. The hammer shroud comprises two similar transversely spaced longitudinal walls 30, 30 which are adapted to be located in fixed positions at opposite sides of the hammer 24. The walls 30, 30 of the shroud are shaped at their inner edges to approximately fit the immediately adjacent portion of the frame, and they are preferably provided with opposite parallel faces which are spaced to register, with the parallel side faces of the frame as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The space between the walls 30, 30 is outwardly exposed and the said walls are outwardly exposed at their outer edges and are shaped to provide arcuate faces which generally conform to the path of movement of the outermost portion of the cocking projection 28 on the hammer. The said outer faces of the walls 30, 30 while generally conforming to the said path of arcuate movement are nevertheless spaced slightly inwardly therefrom, thus enabling the projection 28 to remain exposed sufficiently for manual engagement so that independent manual cocking can be effected in the usual manner.

Preferably the Walls 30, 39 of the shroud are connected with each other by an integral trans,- verse connection 32 which extends betweenthe said walls near the rear portions thereof. The said transverse connection 32 is adapted to be; positioned at the rear of the hammer and is shaped to engage at its front witha rear portion of the frame.

Formed integrally with the walls 30, 30F of, the shroud are laterally offset forward projections 34, 34, these projections being spaced andshaped to engage the opposite lateral faces of the frame. I, I The said transverse connection 32 is provided with a longitudinal hole or aperture 36 for receiving ascrew 38, the screw extending intoathread ed aperture in the frame ill. Preferably the aperture 36 is countersunk or counterboredf. to receive the head of the screw. The said, offset projections 36, 34 are provided with transverse holes or apertures 48, 40 for receiving screwsAZ, the screws extending into threadedapertures, in the frame 10. Preferably the apertures 4th 4i] are. countersunk or counterbored. to receive} the 1 heads of the screws.

With the shroud attached to the revolver as described, the hammer is entirely guarded ex.- cept for the required slight exposure of the cookins projection 28 beyond the edge faces. of the walls 3!], 30. When the revolver is. carried. in, a pocket of the user, it can be quickly and easily withdrawn without the possibility of theham: mer catching in the fabric of thepocket to, Lire vent withdrawal or to damage the pocket.

It will be seen that a hammer shroudembodying theinvention is adapted for attachment to a previously or separately manufactured revolver, no, change in the revolver construction being re!- quired other than the drilling and tapping of the, necessary holes for the screws38 and; If the conditions of intended use of the revolvje'r should be-changed sothat theshroud isnolo nger necessary or desirable, the shroud. can be; readily removed.

What is claimed is:

1. For a revolver having aframe and having a hammer extending beyond the frame which hafn-v mer is relatively movablein an arcuate path and has a cocking projection, a, shroud for the said hammer separate from and attachable, to the said frame and having two similar transversely spaced longitudinal walls adapted to. be located infixed positions at opposite sides, of the ham-1 mer, the space between the said. walls being out.- wardly exposed and the said walls, being shaped at their inner edges to approximatelyfit the frame and the said walls having exposed} outer edges shaped to provide arcuate-faces which; generally conform to the path of movement of the outermost portion of the cooking projection on the, hammer and which are spaced slightly in,- wardly from the said path so that the said, pro: jection is outwardly exposed for mannaen,- gagement, each ofsaid walls. having a. laterally offset forward projection spaced from each. other for engaging lateral faces of said frame.

ward projections on the respective walls and also comprising an integral transverse connection between the said walls near the rear portions thereor; the said: spaced walls being adapted to be positionedat opposite sides of the hammer and beingshaped at their inner edges to approximatel y; n the frame and being shaped at their outer edges to provide arcuate faces which generally conform to-but are spaced slightly inward- 1y, from the path of movement of the outermost portion of the cocking projection on the hammer and the said laterally offset projections being spaced and shaped to engagethe parallellateral faces of'the frame and being transversely apertured to receive attaching screws and; the said transverse connection being positioned and shaped; to engage'atits front with a rear portion, of the frame and being longitudinally aperture'df to receive an attaching screw.

3: 'Iih'e combination of a revolver having a framewith parallel lateral faces and having a hammer extending beyond the frame which hammer is relatively movable in an arcuate path and has a cooking projection, a, shroud for the said hammer separate from the said frame and cornpris ing two similar transversely spaced longitudinal" walls and comprising laterally offset forward proiectionls'on the respective walls and also comprising an integral transverse connection betwe'en'the saidwalls near the rear portions thereof, the said shroud walls being positioned at oppositesides or; the hammer and approximately fittingthe frame at their inner edges and being shaped at their outer edges to provide arcuate faces which generally conform to but are spaced slig'htly'inwa-rdly from the path of movement of the outermost portion of the cocking projection on the hammer and the said laterally offset projections of; the shroud engaging the said parallel lateral-faces of th'e frame andbeing transversely apertured and the said transverse connection of 1 the shroud" being positioned at the rear of the hammer and engaging at its front with a rear portion of the frame and being longitudinally apertured, and screws extending through the apertures in" the forward projections and transverse connection of" the shroud for attaching the said shroud to the frame of the revolver.

JOHN M. MCNALLY.

References Cited in the file Of, this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 561,963 Caldwell l- June 16, 1896 I 824,197 Neal June 26, 1906 1,290,292 Morrison Jan. 7., 1 919. esaaac Peake Apr. 12,, 1932 2,117,826 Seidl May 17, 1938 2,527,957. Phillips Oct. 31, 1950 2,579,736 Gartner Dec. 25, 1 951.

Images