Patent ID: 7117623

Claim:
An improved frame construction for a firearm having a frame having a side terminating at a top planar surface, a slide constrained to move longitudinally between a forward and a rearward position, said slide defining a bottom planar surface extending parallel to and slidable across said frame top surface, said slide being removable from the frame, a barrel for receiving a cartridge, a firing pin longitudinally movable in the slide so as to strike the cartridge, a hammer arranged to strike the firing pin, a trigger, and a hammer trigger mechanism arranged to release the hammer when the trigger is pulled, said improvement comprising: said frame having a side opening commencing at said frame top planar surface and defining a recess in the side of the frame facing said side opening, said hammer trigger mechanism being disposed in said recess and accessible through said side opening, a side plate arranged to cover said side opening and arranged to be movable upwardly toward said slide, said side plate having a top planar surface disposed to be held in place by said slide bottom planar surface when the slide moves longitudinally between said forward and said rearward positions, said slide being removable from the frame to release the side plate when the slide is removed.