Patent ID: 7798045

Claim:
A charging handle for a firearm comprising: a. A charging handle actuator having a diagonal notch on a dorsal side, said notch extending downward and towards a fore end of the actuator; b. A spring biased forward assist lever, residing on the dorsal side of the charging handle actuator and further comprising: i. a fore end capable of manipulation against the spring bias; ii. angled ears residing in the notch; and iii. a hook residing aft of a distal end of the actuator; and c. a charging handle blade residing on the dorsal side and towards the fore end of the charging handle actuator, said charging handle blade providing support for at least one user interface knob, wherein, when the fore end of the forward assist lever is manipulated against the spring bias, the forward assist lever moves forward and the ears, and correspondingly the hook, are biased downward, allowing the hook to interface with a bolt carrier.