This subclass covers those features or details which are considered to be of a kind generally applicable to, or to be concerned with intrinsic functions common to, both smallarms and ordnance. Such features or details are classified in this subclass, even if they are stated to be applied only to smallarms or only to ordnance.

Propulsion is to be interpreted as the launching process of a missile within the barrel. Emphasis is made on the "characterised by", obviously only documents with characteristic propulsion systems are included in this subclass, since every single firearm launches missiles with a pyrotechnic propellant charge.

Multistage propulsion is generated by the firearm and NOT the missile, usually by using multiple sequentially triggered propellant chambers located at different locations along the barrel.

Mechanical aspects of the range adjustments.

Guns with means for eliminating recoil by accelerating a mass in a direction opposite to the missile propulsion direction. Usually through Venturi pipes or by causing a part of the propellant gases to be expelled rearwardly to counteract the recoil forces.

The counter projectile can be a disintegrating projectile, e.g. comprising liquid or powder.

The breech mechanism, i.e. the breech block itself and the mechanism enabling the opening and closing and if applicable the locking of the breech. Furthermore the mounting of the breech block and mechanism is covered.

The primary mechanism in automatic and semi-automatic firearms for bringing the bolt or breech block back into closed position after a recoil cycle.

Mechanisms for opening the lock of semi-automatic and automatic firearms using ONLY the energy provided by the propellant charge during the launching of the projectile, i.e. autonomous systems, independent from an auxiliary source of energy.

The energy is accumulated during the rearward of the bolt or barrel after the lock has been opened by the recoil or due to gas operation, consequently implying that the stored energy is used for closing the lock

Implies a delayed or staged lock opening movement. The recoil or gas piston movement is accumulated, and the accumulated energy is used in a second stage to open the lock, after partial or full completion of the recoil/piston movement.

Mechanisms for automatically cycling a firearm independent of the propellant charge for bringing the moving components back into firing position enabling the choice of firing rate.

Devices an mechanisms for conveying the ammunition from its storage location or transport unit to the firing position.

Feeding of unconnected cartridges, projectiles or propelling charges one by one or in batches.

The endless belt is only used to move UNBELTED ammunition from the storage magazine into the firearm

Feeding of ammunition strings having cartridges carried by a textile band or by carrier units each holding one cartridge, the carrier units being sequentially connected to each other by connecting elements or connected to each other by belt links, each belt link holding one cartridge and embracing the previous or subsequent cartridge.

Mechanisms wherein the propellant charge energy is used for particular ammunition loading and feeding.

Mechanisms wherein an external drive is used for particular ammunition loading and feeding.

Features and mechanisms and methods for assembling and dissasembling a firearm.

Modular weapon family concepts.

Articulation and collapsing of firearms for the PURPOSE of storage or transport.

Active systems specially adapted for cooling or heating firearm components, in particular the barrel and the firing chamber.

Devices, mechanisms or tools for removing a spent cartridge case or a dud from the firing chamber or for unloading a cartridge from the chamber.

Devices and mechanism covering all aspects of firearm safety, including:

preventing unauthorised use

blocking or rendering ineffective diverse functional parts of the firearm to prevent inadvertent firing

inhibiting firing in a particular direction

preventing cook off or hang fire

preventing release of magazine

last round safeties

Includes electric or electromagnetic means for preventing or enabling the use of a firearm. Also includes the remote control or a firearm, in the sense that a central control instance can block or release the use of the firearm. Also includes remote monitoring of firearm movement and/or usage. Further includes passive, post-incident safety means such as a black box data recording.

Includes means for remote weapon control and monitoring.

Features to avoid jamming in the cartridge chamber caused by an attempt to load a second cartridge in an already loaded chamber.

Last round safety for magazine fed smallarm, the follower of the magazine activating or acting on a gun-locking element such as a bolt or pistol slide. Means for preventing a loaded cartridge to be fired when the magazine is removed from the smallarm.

Means for setting an automatic, non-magazine-fed and usually medium or large calibre gun's feeding, ramming, loading and/or firing mechanism into a safe/inactive configuration when the last cartridge is chambered or fired, e.g. in Gatling type guns.

Mechanisms or systems for firing, i.e. initiating the ignition of the propellant charge by mechanical, fluid-operated, pyrotechnic, optical or electric means.

Cocking mechanisms, i.e. for bringing mechanical firing means in a pre-tensioned, ready to fire state (cocked).

Further includes means for controlling number of shots fired, firing rate and synchronisation.

Means for allowing a predefined number of of rounds to be fired upon a single trigger action.

A trigger allowing a shooter to have a greatly reduced trigger pull (the resistance of the trigger) while maintaining a degree of safety in the field

One trigger can cause the firing of more than one barrel

One trigger per barrel is present, but the shooter has the choice of firing each barrel with its dedicated trigger, or both at the same time by actuation of a single trigger (after appropriate setting).

Means for electrically releasing mechanical firing means or for firing electrical primers in cartridges. Further includes mechanisms where the primer charge is ignited optically, e.g. by a laser or intense light.

Includes barrels, tubes; attachments and mounting means therefore. The cartridge chamber or firing chamber is an integral part of the barrel, except for, e.g. revolver type guns and certain block action guns.

Includes blank firing arrangements

Lampel, Mahrholdt, "Waffenlexikon", 9th edition, DE, München, BLV Verlagsgesellschaft, 1981, S. 56

A: normal choke

B: Schlegelmich choke, constricting choke

C: Nischen , jug or recess choke

D: Glockenchoke, bell choke, diverging choke

E, F: Skeet chokes

All mountings of firearms, fixed or mobile, except for the ones specifically designed for return to battery and the ones permitting traversing or elevating movement (see precedence, F41A 25/00 and F41A 27/00). It includes locking means between gun an mounting, mountings without wheels (conventional mono-, bi- or tripods, test mounts and bench rests), mountings permitting the gun to retract into a hidden position, wheeled mountings (the wheels being mounted directly on the gun), mounted on vehicles, mounts for transport and adjustments means of the platform position.

Rests holding the firearm so as to enable stabilised shooting, includes both test shooting mounts and shooting rests, i.e. for bench rest shooting

Rests for holding the firearm in a fixed position for displaying, inspecting, adjusting, maintaining, repairing or cleaning of the firearm.

The wheels are directly mounted on the gun or gun cradle.

GB2455651

Gun mounts permitting travel of the gun from the shooting position into full recoil position along a bearing and returning to battery position, including spring, fluid, friction operated systems as well as hybrids thereof. It further includes bearings and assembly/disassembly features peculiar thereto.

Mechanical aspects of gun mounts permitting supported pointing of the gun for laying the gun, i.e. in the position to fire the gun and hitting the target.

Includes flexible cleaning devices for gun barrels, i.e. flexible wires or rope.

All arrangements, devices, systems for testing the functionality of a firearm, except for testing of sighting, aiming and laying means.

bore sighting devices

Adaptations of firearms for use in training without live ammunition or weapons specially adapted for training and simulation only.

Includes:

(torch-like)

MILES: Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System

Residual group for F41A 1/00-F41A 33/00, particularly listing common accessories such as dust covers, e.g. ejection port or muzzle covers, or adaptations for ambidextrous use of firearms.