Hand-held automatic firearm

A handheld automatic firearm comprising

• a receiver,
• a barrel carried by said receiver, said barrel having a forward end, and a rear end disposed in said receiver,
• a breechblock, which is disposed in said receiver, is axially aligned with said barrel, and is slidably mounted in said receiver for axial reciprocating movement forwardly into engagement with said rear end of said barrel and rearwardly away from said rear end of said barrel to a rearmost position, said breechblock having a forward end formed with a standing face for engagement with a cartridge disposed in said barrel at said rear end thereof;
• said breechblock having a peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being formed with a generally axially extending track groove which opens into said standing face,
• a hammer, which is pivoted to said receiver and is cocked by said breechblock as said breechblock moves rearwardly,
• a hammer spring opposing movement of said hammer as said hammer is cocked, said hammer spring tending to impart to said hammer a forward pivotal movement for firing a cartridge disposed in said barrel at said rear end thereof,
• a dual function sustained-fire and ejector lever which is pivotally mounted in said receiver and is responsive to said reciprocating movement of said breechblock, said dual function sustained-fire and ejector lever catching said hammer to prevent forward pivotal movement and thereafter releasing said hammer for forward pivotal movement during said reciprocating movement of said breechblock,
• said dual function sustained-fire and ejector lever comprising a follower arm extending into said track groove and riding therein during said reciprocating movement of said breechblock, said follower arm including a free end portion which protrudes forwardly beyond said standing face when said breechblock is in said rearmost position thereby to eject an empty cartridge case after each discharge of a cartridge.