US 4,521,985 AGranted

Ambidextrous gun magazine release

OwnerAlan K. Smith, Stephen R. Alexanderinventors

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Abstract

An ambidextrous release for gun magazines in a retrofit design is provided for Colt government model pistols and other similar design semi automatic pistols. The new magazine release catch has much of the basic configuration of the original equipment catch but instead of a solid catch it has a pivotal lever, with a cam surfaced catch on the end to engage the magazine, that is pivot pin mounted in the gun magazine catch lock release structure. The structure is lengthened to also extend outward beyond the gun right hand surface with a right side button on the right hand end. The magazine lock release right side button with proper manipulation combined with pressure from the other end and turning achieves dog projection release removal and, in reverse, installation thereof without requiring the use of a screw driver or any other tools. A simple dog slot extension is machined within the gun receiver to allow for installation and movement of the new magazine release catch. This permits movement of the lock tip, that holds the release catch assembly in the gun, through the receiver to the left. The machined cut does not in any way weaken the pistol or change the basic function of the pistol in a cut not visible from the pistol exterior.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A magazine release for a semi automatic gun including:

a magazine catch lock release structure with, a catch body having a longitudinally extended opening, a catch lock release member having a body slidably received in said longitudinally extended opening of said magazine catch body, resiliently compressable spring means held in said longitudinally extended opening resiliently compressed between said magazine catch body and said catch lock release member when said magazine catch lock release structure is inserted in and restrained in place in a gun receiver and a magazine cam surfaced catch locking lever pivotally mounted on said magazine catch body;
said catch locking lever including tip means engaging said catch lock release member for movement of the lever tip means with longitudinal movement of said catch lock release member relative to said magazine catch body;
said catch locking lever also having a lock paw moveable into and out of a catch slot provided in a magazine with pivot movement of said locking lever;
a cam surface of said locking lever rides over a surface of a magazine being inserted into the gun receiver until the magazine catch slot comes into locking alignment with said lock paw that is then snapped into locking engagement in the magazine catch slot as urged by said spring moving said catch lock release member and pivoting the lever for such cam lock action;
and with said catch lock release member manually moveable inward against the resilient force of said spring to pivot said lever for catch lock release of the lever lock paw from said catch slot for magazine release.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.