Means for retraction of lower firing pin of over-and-under firearm

Abstract

Over-and-under firearms of the break-open type have an upper barrel and a lower barrel secured together and pivotally mounted on the frame of the firearm. A top lever is rotatably mounted on the frame for retaining the barrels at their closed position when the top lever is at its barrel locking position and for releasing the barrels for rotation to their open position when the top lever is rotated to its barrel unlocking position. Upper and lower firing pins and springs are mounted for longitudinal movement on the frame, and upper and lower hammers and springs pivotally mounted on the frame. The spring loaded hammers press the firing pins forwardly when the hammers are at their forward or fired position so that the forward ends of the firing pins extend into the rearward ends of the upper and lower barrels. The top lever is provided with a hammer and firing pin retracting cam that is positioned to permit the lower hammer to contact and press the lower firing pin forwardly when the top lever is at its barrel locking position and to move the lower hammer and lower firing pin rearwardly when the top lever is rotated from its barrel locking position to its barrel unlocking position, thereby withdrawing the lower firing pin from the rearward end of the lower barrel.