Housing for a firearm

Abstract

A housing for use with a firearm is provided. The housing includes a first housing section sized for receiving a barrel, and a second housing section coupled proximally to the first housing section for receiving a breechblock mechanism. The first housing section has a top external surface. The second housing section has a forward portion which is offset from the first housing section and which includes a forward surface defining an opening sized for receiving a connecting element operatively connecting a lever disposed adjacent the top external surface outside the first housing section and the breechblock within the second housing section. The connecting element moves perpendicularly to the opening and not, as in prior art housings, along it, so that the previously required longitudinal slit, which severely weakened the structure of prior art housings, is avoided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.