Firing Pin Block

A firing pin block comprising:

• a first end portion configured to couple to a slide of a firearm;
• an arm extending from the first end portion along a longitudinal axis, wherein the arm comprises a distal end portion, wherein the arm is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the distal end portion along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end portion comprises a hammer engagement surface, wherein the hammer engagement surface:
• extends obliquely from the longitudinal axis;
• or
• is curved so that a plane tangent to the hammer engagement surface is oblique to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a protrusion extending downwardly from the arm along the second axis, wherein the protrusion is positioned between the first end portion and the hammer engagement surface along the longitudinal axis.

A firearm comprising:

• a slide;
• a firing pin block is coupled to the slide, wherein the firing pin block comprises:
• a first end portion configured to couple to a slide of a firearm;
• an arm extending from the first end portion along a longitudinal axis, wherein the arm comprises a distal end portion, wherein the arm is resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the distal end portion along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end portion comprises a hammer engagement surface, wherein the hammer engagement surface is configured to contact a hammer to effect displacement of the distal end portion;
• and
• a protrusion extending downwardly from the arm along the second axis, wherein the protrusion is positioned between the first end portion and the hammer engagement surface along the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the distal end portion of the firing pin block is displaceable from a first position to a second position, wherein the protrusion comprises a rear surface;
• a firing pin that is movable relative to the slide along the longitudinal axis, wherein the firing pin defines a radially extending surface that is configured to contact the protrusion when the distal end portion of the firing pin block is in the first position;
• and
• a hammer that is configured to contact the hammer engagement surface of the distal end portion to bias the distal end portion toward the second position,
• wherein, when the distal end portion is in the second position, the protrusion is spaced from the radially extending surface along the second axis to permit movement of the firing pin so that the radially extending surface passes the rear surface of the protrusion along the longitudinal axis.