Patent ID: 8082833

Claim:
In combination with a machine gun having a receiver from which an outer end portion of an internal bolt pin outwardly projects, the bolt pin being movable between forward and rearward positions relative to the receiver and being spring-biased toward the forward position, bolt pin locking apparatus for releasably holding the bolt pin in its rearward position, said bolt pin locking apparatus comprising: a body having a slot extending inwardly through an outer surface portion thereof, and a latch member carried by said body for movement relative thereto between a locking position in which said latch member extends across and blocks an outer portion of said slot, and an unlocking position in which said latch member unblocks said outer portion of said slot, said body being externally mounted on the receiver in an orientation in which, with the bolt pin in its forward position, the open end of said slot is disposed rearwardly of and faces the outer bolt pin end portion and is spaced therefrom in a manner such that when the bolt pin is moved to its rearward position it is disposed in an inner end portion of said slot and rearwardly of said latch member, the bolt pin being movable to and holdable in its rearward position to thereby move the outer bolt pin end portion into said inner end portion of said slot, the latch member being movable from its unlocking position to its locking position to thereby block forward exit of the outer bolt end portion from said slot, and the bolt pin being releasable within said slot to permit the bolt pin to be spring-driven forwardly against the latch member to thereby releasably retain the bolt pin in its rearward position.