Compact gas block with rail interface

An improved gas block for use on a firearm, the firearm having a barrel, a receiver with a forward end, and a gas tube with a gas inlet, the barrel and gas tube joined to the receiver forward end, the improved gas block comprising:

• a gas block being a single unitary part, generally rectangular in cross-section, the gas block having a bottom portion with a bottom face, a rear face, and a top portion, the bottom portion adapted with means to secure the improved gas block to the barrel, rotationally and longitudinally, the rear face defined as having a first longitudinal bore, the bore extending forward through the block length, the first bore adapted to receive the firearm barrel, the rear face further defined as having a second longitudinal bore,
• the second bore offset and disposed above the first bore and extending forward a predetermined distance, the second longitudinal bore adapted to receive the firearm gas tube, the block further including a vertical bore for connecting the first bore with the second longitudinal bore, the vertical bore further defined as aligned with both the barrel gas port and the tube gas inlet, permitting gases to pass from the barrel gas port, through the vertical bore, into the tube inlet, and rearward to the firearm receiver, the beforementioned block top portion defined as including the second bore,
• and further including a top portion located forward of the second bore and located lower than the top most portion of the second bore, the forward location permitting the rail to be located close to the barrel surface, the top rail extending from adjacent the gas tube and second bore, forward a predetermined distance, the rail running longitudinally and formed into a standard military dovetail cross-section shape including a pattern of transverse slots, for securing standard devices;
• whereby:
• accessories can be mounted closer to the barrel, improving firearm handling;
• a firearm handguard, including its complement of accessories, can be removed quickly, passing over the improved gas block, without the need to remove the gas block from the barrel.