Air rifle having a detachable rear body

Abstract

An air rifle comprising a tubular casing in which the barrel is mounted. The bullet or other projectile is propelled by the escape of compressed air from a compression chamber produced by a forceful spring actuated movement of a piston having a deformable piston head which strikes a channelled funnel-shaped cap member which forms gas tight closure for the forward end of a compression cylinder within which the piston moves and which also forms a seal around the projectile seat in the shooting position of the compression cylinder. The compression cylinder slideably engages the walls of the tubular casing which has a normally open rear end to which is detachably connected a closure member or rear body which serves as an abutment for the spring and also to support the trigger mechanism and a trigger guard. The rifle is cocked by actuation of a lever mechanism which is pivotally connected to the tubular casing and to the rear body and includes a draw bar which is pivoted to the cap member. The actuation of the draw bar causes the compression cylinder to move to the rear, carrying with it through the instrumentality of the cap member the piston which thus compresses the spring. Upon having reached its cocked position, the piston is engaged by spring-urged retaining structure: which locks it in the cocked position, whereupon the compression cylinder with its closure cap is returned by the lever mechanism to its forward position in seated engagement with the barrel. The tubular casing has a loading opening for insertion of a bullet or other projectile which becomes exposed during the cocking operation and is closed by the compression cylinder when the latter is returned to its shooting position.