Bolt release mechanism for firearm

A firearm with bolt release mechanism comprising:

• a longitudinal axis;
• a receiver defining a longitudinally-extending cavity;
• a barrel supported by the receiver;
• a bolt slideably mounted in the receiver for reciprocating axial movement between a forward closed breech position in battery with the barrel and a rearward open breech position;
• a recoil spring biasing the bolt towards the closed breech position;
• a trigger housing detachable mounted to the receiver and comprising a trigger-actuated firing mechanism;
• a manually actuated bolt release pivotably mounted in the trigger housing;
• the bolt release having a flat plate-like body including a locking portion configured to (1) selectively engage a locking recess formed on the bolt for holding the bolt in the open breech position when the bolt release is in an upper engaged position, and (2) to disengage the locking recess for releasing the bolt from the open breech position when the bolt release is in a disengaged position.

A method for operating a bolt release of a firearm, the method comprising:

• providing a firearm including an axially reciprocating bolt movable between a rearward open breech position and a forward closed breech position, a recoil spring biasing the bolt towards the closed breech position, a pivotably movable bolt release arranged to selectively engage the bolt, and an operating spring biasing the bolt release towards a lower position disengaged from the bolt;
• manually retracting the bolt a first time to the open breech position;
• manually moving the bolt release from the lower position to an upper position;
• and
• engaging a locking portion of the bolt release with a locking recess formed in the bolt, wherein the bolt is restrained in the open breech position by the bolt release.