No-skip recocking revolver pawl retainer

Abstract

A pawl retainer for a revolver operates to prevent the cylinder from advancing after decocking, thus allowing safe holstering while maintaining uncompromised fire power. The retainer may be automatically or manually “set” so that, when the gun is recocked, the cylinder does not advance, and, after firing or a misfire, the cylinder advances normally. A cocked revolver can discharge accidentally. This is because Andrew Fyrberg's 1891 safety transfer bar invention cannot function to prevent an accidental discharge while a revolver is cocked. Nonetheless, shooters in pursuit, for example, are tempted to holster a cocked revolver to avoid skipping a live round that may be needed for the kill.

1 . Retaining means for a revolver having a hammer, a trigger, a rotating cylinder with chambers therein and ratchet teeth, and a cylinder rotating mechanism including a pawl that engages a ratchet tooth on the cylinder to cause the cylinder to rotate one chamber as the revolver is cocked in response to a shooter pulling the hammer in a single action revolver or in response to either pulling the hammer or pulling the trigger in a double action revolver, comprising:
 the retaining means configured to be set and reset;   the retaining means when set preventing the cylinder from rotating when the revolver is cocked, and when reset permitting the cylinder to rotate when the revolver is cocked.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining means for the revolver of  claim 1  comprising a pawl adapted to cooperate with the retaining means. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining means for the revolver of  claim 1  wherein a shooter can hear, see or feel whether the retaining means is or has been set or reset. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining means for the revolver of  claim 1  comprising a spring configured to urge the retaining means. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining means for the revolver of  claim 1  comprising a control element configured to set or reset the retaining means. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining means for the revolver of  claim 5  comprising a control element configured to return after the retaining means is set. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining means for the revolver of  claim 5  comprising a spring configured to urge the control element. 
     
     
         8 . A retainer for a revolver having a hammer, a trigger, a rotating cylinder with chambers therein and ratchet teeth, and a cylinder rotating mechanism including a pawl that engages a ratchet tooth on the cylinder to cause the cylinder to rotate one chamber as the revolver is cocked in response to a shooter pulling the hammer in a single action revolver or in response to either pulling the hammer or pulling the trigger in a double action revolver, comprising:
 an accommodation in the revolver configured to accommodate the retainer in a set and in a reset position;   the retainer when set preventing the cylinder from rotating when the revolver is cocked, and when reset permitting the cylinder to rotate when the revolver is cocked.   
     
     
         9 . The retainer for the revolver of  claim 8  comprising a pawl adapted to cooperate with the retainer. 
     
     
         10 . The retainer for the revolver of  claim 8  wherein a shooter can hear, see or feel whether the retainer is or has been set or reset. 
     
     
         11 . The retainer for the revolver of  claim 8  comprising a spring configured to urge the retainer. 
     
     
         12 . The retainer for the revolver of  claim 8  comprising a control element configured to set or reset the retainer. 
     
     
         13 . The retainer for the revolver of  claim 12  comprising a control element configured to return after the retainer is set. 
     
     
         14 . The retainer for the revolver of  claim 12  comprising a spring configured to urge the control element. 
     
     
         15 . In a revolver having a hammer, a trigger, a rotating cylinder with chambers therein and ratchet teeth, and a cylinder rotating mechanism including a pawl that engages a ratchet tooth on the cylinder to cause the cylinder to rotate one chamber as the revolver is cocked in response to a shooter pulling the hammer in a single action revolver or in response to either pulling the hammer or pulling the trigger in a double action revolver, an improvement comprising:
 the pawl adapted to allow the cylinder to be prevented from rotating when the revolver is cocked.   
     
     
         16 . The revolver of  claim 15  comprising a retainer configured to be set or reset, the retainer when set preventing the cylinder from rotating when the revolver is cocked, and when reset permitting the cylinder to rotate when the revolver is cocked. 
     
     
         17 . The revolver of  claim 16  wherein a shooter can hear, see or feel whether the retainer is or has been set or reset. 
     
     
         18 . The revolver of  claim 16  comprising a spring configured to urge the retainer. 
     
     
         19 . The revolver of  claim 16  comprising a control element configured to set or reset the retainer. 
     
     
         20 . The revolver of  claim 19  comprising a control element configured to return after the retainer is set. 
     
     
         21 . The revolver of  claim 19  comprising a spring configured to urge the control element.