Patent ID: 6223459
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: F41C

Abstract:
An improvement in a muzzleloading rifle having an elongated barrel, a receiver assembly at a rearward end of the barrel, a stock portion supporting the barrel and receiver assembly, a trigger mechanism associated with a firing mechanism which includes an exterior firing hammer pivotally secured to a side of the rifle and laterally positioned with respect to the receiver assembly, the improvement comprising,the firing hammer being pivotally mounted on the rifle and being movable between a rearward cocked position and a forward firing position and being releasably held by the trigger mechanism in the cocked position when manually moved to the cocked position,the firing hammer including an arm portion extending away from the pivotal connection between the hammer and the rifle,an elongated safety bolt slidably mounted in a transverse direction in the rifle and being movable between an outer safety position and an inner non-safety position, and being located in the outer position within a pivotal path of the arm portion of the hammer to engage the arm to prevent the forward rotation of the hammer to move to the firing position if the hammer is released for forward pivotal movement by the trigger mechanism,the safety bolt being selectably manually slidable into the rifle by the user to remove it from the safety position in the pivotal path of the arm portion so as to permit the hammer to pivot towards the firing position when released by the trigger assembly.